Quotient rule integration problem

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the integration of rational functions using the quotient rule. It establishes that the integral of a linear function in the denominator, such as \(\int \frac{1}{2x+3}dx\), results in \(\frac{\ln |2x+3|}{2}+c\). In contrast, the integral \(\int \frac{1}{x^2+x}dx\) does not yield a simple logarithmic form due to the quadratic nature of the denominator, necessitating the use of the quotient rule for differentiation. The conclusion is that logarithmic integration is straightforward only when the denominator is a linear function.

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\int \frac{1}{2x+3}=\frac{\ln |2x+3|}{2}+c

so why is \int \frac{1}{x^2+x}\neq \frac{\ln |x^2+x|}{2x+1}+c ?

is it because in general ,

\int \frac{1}{x}=\ln |x|+c

the denominator is meant to be only linear function ?
 
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Yes, because to go the other way, that is, take the derivative of the result \frac{ln|x^2+x|}{2x+1} you need to use the quotient rule. It's not as simple as treating 2x+1 as a constant, which is what you instead get if the function in the log is linear.

e.g.

\int\frac{1}{ax}dx=\frac{ln|ax|}{a}

\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{ln|ax|}{a}\right)=\frac{1}{ax}\frac{a}{a}=\frac{1}{ax}

While

\int\frac{1}{ax^2}dx \neq \frac{ln|ax^2|}{2ax}

\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{ln|ax^2|}{2ax}\right)=\frac{\frac{1}{ax^2}.2ax-2a.ln|ax^2|}{4a^2x^2} \neq \frac{1}{ax^2} as required.
 


Mentallic said:
Yes, because to go the other way, that is, take the derivative of the result \frac{ln|x^2+x|}{2x+1} you need to use the quotient rule. It's not as simple as treating 2x+1 as a constant, which is what you instead get if the function in the log is linear.

e.g.

\int\frac{1}{ax}dx=\frac{ln|ax|}{a}

\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{ln|ax|}{a}\right)=\frac{1}{ax}\frac{a}{a}=\frac{1}{ax}

While

\int\frac{1}{ax^2}dx \neq \frac{ln|ax^2|}{2ax}

\frac{d}{dx}\left(\frac{ln|ax^2|}{2ax}\right)=\frac{\frac{1}{ax^2}.2ax-2a.ln|ax^2|}{4a^2x^2} \neq \frac{1}{ax^2} as required.


thanks , so it only works when the denominator is a linear function .
 

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