Integration by Parts: Evaluate ∫ 1 ÷ (16 + x2) dx

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves evaluating the integral ∫ 1 ÷ (16 + x²) dx, with a focus on using integration by parts. Participants are exploring different methods to approach the integral, including potential substitutions and alternative techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand how to apply integration by parts to the integral, expressing uncertainty about how to split the function into suitable parts for u and v'.
  • Some participants question whether integration by parts is the appropriate method for this integral, suggesting that a change of variable or simple fraction expansion might be more suitable.
  • Others note the presence of the arctangent function in the solution and discuss different ways to arrive at that result.
  • There are corrections and clarifications regarding the algebraic manipulation of the integral, with some participants pointing out errors in previous posts.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various methods being considered. Some participants have provided alternative approaches and corrections to earlier statements, indicating a collaborative effort to clarify the problem. However, there is no explicit consensus on the best method to use.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through potential misunderstandings about the integral's form and the appropriate techniques to apply, including the constraints of homework rules that may limit the methods discussed.

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Homework Statement


Use integration by parts to evaluate the integral:
∫ 1 ÷ (16 + x2) dx


Homework Equations


∫ u dv = uv - ∫ v u' du


The Attempt at a Solution


That's the problem, I don't know how to start. How would I divide up 1/(16 + x2) into two? So there would be a value for u and v'.

Maybe this isn't so much a question of how do you solve the integral, but how do you split the above polynomial. There's also tan in the answer, but I'm not sure how to get to that.
Any help to point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Are you sure the problem asks you to do this integral by parts?

The derivative of Arctg(x) is 1/(1 + x²) so simply factoring 1/16 then performing a change of variable y=x/4 gives the result.
 
It can be done by parts, but it's also interesting to do it by simple fraction expansion.
 
uneditable. See below.
 
Last edited:
Schrödinger's Dog said:
If I can do it either way then it must be easy :smile:

Spoiler:-

[tex]\int \frac{1}{16+x^2} => \frac {1}{16}+\frac{1}{x^2} =>\int \frac {1}{16}+x^{-2}[/tex]

This is incorrect: [tex]\frac{1}{16+x^2}\neq\frac{1}{16}+\frac{1}{x^2}[/tex]

substitute du.=arctan g(x) integrate using the sum rule and then simplify.:smile:

[tex]= \frac{1}{4}. tan^{-1}. \frac {4}{x}+C[/tex]

There is an error here, it should read: [tex]= \frac{1}{4}. tan^{-1}. \frac {x}{4}+C[/tex]
 
Last edited:
cristo said:
This is incorrect: [tex]\frac{1}{16+x^3}\neq\frac{1}{16}+\frac{1}{x^2}<br /> <br /> There is an error here, it should read: [tex]= \frac{1}{4}. tan^{-1}. \frac {x}{4}+C[/tex][/tex]
[tex] Tell me about it. I keep trying to correct this but am getting nowhere fast. Thanks for the tex. I'll alter it so it reads correctly, my bad. I realized my mistake and have spent the last ten minutes trying to correct it bear with me.<br /> <br /> I can't edit it any further but you should end up with<br /> <br /> [tex]= \frac{1}{4}. tan^{-1}. \frac {x}{4}+C[/tex]<br /> <br /> That was an hour well spent <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":smile:" title="Smile :smile:" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":smile:" /> certainly learned a lot about editting <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":smile:" title="Smile :smile:" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":smile:" /><br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="dextercioby" data-source="post: 1230111" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-title"> dextercioby said: </div> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> It can be done by parts, but it's also interesting to do it by simple fraction expansion. </div> </div> </blockquote><br /> If I can do it either way then it must be easy <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":smile:" title="Smile :smile:" data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":smile:" /><br /> <br /> [tex]\int\frac{1}{(16+x^2)} = \frac{1}{16(1+1/16x^2)}[/tex]<br /> <br /> It's pretty straight forward from here.<br /> <br /> Spoiler.<br /> <br /> [tex]\int \frac {1}{16}(1+x^2) where = \frac{1}{1+x^2}=tan^{-1}g(x)=>[/tex][tex]\frac{1}{4}. tan^{-1}. \frac {x}{4}+C[/tex]<br /> <br /> Sorry <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":frown:" title="Frown :frown:" data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":frown:" />[/tex]
 
Last edited:

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