Integration by substitution for x√(x-1)

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Hello everybody
I'm working on a section for integration by substitution and I came across an integral that I don't know how to do a substitution for

[tex]\int_{1}^{2} x\sqrt{x-1} \,dx[/tex]

How can I do this problem?
 
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This isn't simple substitution. You can multiply the equation fancily by 1 and then use substitution. Tell me if this is too vague.

Edit: It seems someone else found it just by substitution. Oh well, I like my way better :p
 
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tandoorichicken said:
Hello everybody
I'm working on a section for integration by substitution and I came across an integral that I don't know how to do a substitution for

[tex]\int_{1}^{2} x\sqrt{x-1} \,dx[/tex]

How can I do this problem?

[tex]t=\sqrt{x-1}[/tex]
[tex]x=t^2+1[/tex]
[tex]dx=2tdt[/tex]

Your integral is:

[tex]\int_{make it you}^{make it you} (t^2+1)t^2 2dt[/tex]
 
Another choice is:
[tex]\int_{1}^{2}x\sqrt{x-1}dx=\int_{1}^{2}(x-1)^{\frac{3}{2}}dx+\int_{1}^{2}\sqrt{x-1}dx[/tex]
 
Thanks, everybody. Would you all care to check my work please?

[itex]\int_{1}^{2} x\sqrt{x-1} \,dx[/itex]
[itex]u = \sqrt{x-1}[/itex]
[itex]x = u^2 + 1[/itex]
[itex]\,du = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x-1}}\,dx[/itex]
[itex]\,dx = 2\sqrt{x-1} \,du = 2u\,du[/itex]
[itex]\int_{1}^{2} x\sqrt{x-1} \,dx = \int_{0}^{1} (u^2 + 1)u 2u\,du = \int_{0}^{1} 2u^4 + 2u^2 \,du = 2\int_{0}^{1} u^4 \,du + 2\int_{0}^{1} u^2 \,du = 2 + 2 = 4[/itex]

Is this correct?
 
Do the following integrals once more:
[tex]\int_{0}^{1}u^{4}du,\int_{0}^{1}u^{2}du[/tex]
 
Oh, whoops. Thanks for pointing that out.

[tex]\int u^4 \,du = \frac{u^5}{5} , \int u^2 \,du = \frac{u^3}{3}[/tex]
So then it becomes
[tex]\frac{2}{5} + \frac{2}{3} = \frac{16}{15}[/tex]
 
Seems much better! :biggrin: