Integration by parts, where am I going wrong?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 2K views
Kaldanis
Messages
106
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



[itex]\int_{1}^{2} x^2 e^{x} dx[/itex]

Homework Equations



Integrating by parts. Writing out chain rule, integrating both sides and rearranging gives ∫f(x)g'(x) dx = f(x)g(x) - ∫f'(x)g(x) dx

The Attempt at a Solution



[itex]\int_{1}^{2} x^2 e^{x} dx = \left[x^2 e^x\right]_{1}^{2} - \int_{1}^{2} 2x e^{x} dx[/itex]

Applying again gives:

[itex]\int_{1}^{2} x^2 e^{x} dx = \left[x^2 e^x\right]_{1}^{2} - \left(\left[2x e^x\right]_{1}^{2} - \int_{1}^{2} 2 e^{x} dx\right)[/itex]

Integrating last term gives:

[itex]\int_{1}^{2} x^2 e^{x} dx = \left[x^2 e^x\right]_{1}^{2} - \left(\left[2x e^x\right]_{1}^{2} - \left[2e^x\right]_{1}^{2}\right)[/itex]

When I simplify this I get -2e2 + 3e, however I know the answer should be 2e2-e.

Can someone please point out where my mistake is?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
vela said:
You got the calculus part right. You just didn't simplify it correctly, but we can't tell you where since you didn't show us that part of your work.

Ah yeah, I was getting frustrated with trying to write it out in latex! But thanks for letting me know I've at least got all that part right, I'll try again a few more times and then write it out here if I can't get it
 
you didnt show you last step so I think you made a sign error there.

(4ee - e) - ( 4ee - 2e - (2ee - 2e) ) ==> 4ee - e - 4ee + 2e + 2ee - 2e ==> 2ee - e
 
Thank you :D I got it. I screwed up a + and - my first 50 times of trying to solve this.

(22e2-12e) - ( (2*2e2 - 2e) - (2e2 - 2e) )
= (4e2 - e) - ( (4e2 - 2e) - (2e2 - 2e) )
= (4e2 - e) - ( 4e2 - 2e -2e2 + 2e )
= 4e2 - e - 4e2 + 2e + 2e2 - 2e
= 2e2 - e