Please help me find my mistake in this integration

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around an integration problem involving the substitution method and the evaluation of limits. The original poster attempts to integrate a function from 1 to infinity and is seeking assistance in identifying an error in their calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the substitution made by the original poster and the subsequent change of limits. There is a focus on whether the limits were correctly adjusted after the substitution, with some participants questioning the accuracy of the limits used in the evaluation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on the importance of adjusting limits correctly after substitution. There is a recognition of the potential for misunderstanding in the evaluation process, but no consensus has been reached regarding the specific mistake.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need for clarity in notation, particularly regarding the use of brackets in the integral expression, which may contribute to confusion in interpreting the problem.

Dell
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[tex]\int[/tex]dx/x*(x2-1)0.5 (from 1 to infinity)

i said t=(x2-1)0.5, therefore x2=t2+1
dt=x/(x2-1)0.5

so now i have

[tex]\int[/tex]dx/x*(x2-1)0.5=[tex]\int[/tex]xdx/x2*(x2-1)0.5=[tex]\int[/tex]dt/x2=[tex]\int[/tex]dt/t+1 (now integral from 0 to infinity)

[tex]\int[/tex]dt/t+1 (from 0 to infinity)

=lim arctan(t)[tex]^{b}_{0}[/tex]=pi/4
b-inf


but the correct answer is pi/2, can ANYONE see where i have gone wrong?
 
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You didn't adjust your limits after the substitution. If [itex]t=\sqrt{x^2-1}[/itex] and x goes from 1 to infinity then t goes from 0 to infinity.

ps. It would be nice if you use brackets properly so we don't have to guess which function is actually being integrated.
 
if you look at the 5th line of text youll see that i did change my limits,
 
I missed that, still are you sure you didn't use the old limits? As they yields pi/4. So what's arctan(0) and what's arctan(x) with x going to infinity? Hint: your mistake has to do with filling in the limits.
 
Last edited:

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