Interesting integration problem

collpitt
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Homework Statement


In the given integral, both A and B are constants.


Homework Equations



∫{[A+(1/x²-Bx)]^1/2}dx


The Attempt at a Solution


Well, I have solved the problem by expanding the root and considering the first two terms only,
but it gives a very crude approximation of the required result.
Anyone having any ideas or comments, please do reply.

Thank you.
 
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Is this a problem in a homework or something? I can't see how to do it. Was it a definite or indefinite integral? If definite, can you do something numerical?
 
Well actually it is sort of a homework problem and unfortunately, it is indefinite. I am looking for a numerical solution by defining the limits. It would be very helpful if you could give me a good algorithm for the numerical integration.

Thank you!
 
Well, for an algorithm, just google Simpson's Rule. (Try the 3/8 one first).

But, I don't really see how this will help if the integral is indefinite. What you really need is an anti-derivative and I just don't think that a non-really-complicated one exists.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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