S6.7.r.19 Rational Expression Integral (complete the square?)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integral of a rational expression, specifically the integral $$\int\frac{x+1}{9{x}^{2}+6x+5}\, dx$$. Participants explore methods for solving this integral, including completing the square and using substitution techniques. The conversation includes both theoretical approaches and practical integration techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that completing the square might be a way to solve the integral but expresses uncertainty about how it leads to the provided answer.
  • Another participant proposes rewriting the integral into two separate fractions to facilitate integration, indicating that a substitution could be beneficial.
  • Participants derive that the derivative of the denominator, $$9x^2 + 6x + 5$$, is $$18x + 6$$, which is relevant for the integration process.
  • It is noted that the first term of the rewritten integral can be integrated using substitution, leading to a logarithmic result, while the second term may involve completing the square.
  • One participant confirms the correctness of the logarithmic integration result and mentions that the absolute value signs can be omitted since the expression is always nonnegative.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method for solving the integral, as multiple approaches are discussed, and uncertainty remains regarding the completion of the square for the second part of the integral.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nonnegativity of the denominator are made, which may affect the integration process. The discussion does not resolve the integration of the second part of the expression.

karush
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$\Large{S6.7.R.19}$

$$\displaystyle
I=\int\frac{x+1}{9{x}^{2}+6x+5}\, dx
=\frac{1}{18}\ln\left({9{x}^{2}+6x+5}\right)
+\frac{1}{9}\arctan\left[{\frac{1}{2}\left(3x+1\right)}\right]+C
$$
$\text{from the given I thought completing the square would be the way to solve this} \\$
$\text{but I don't see how this would result in the answer.}$
 
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karush said:
$\Large{S6.7.R.19}$

$$\displaystyle
I=\int\frac{x+1}{9{x}^{2}+6x+5}\, dx
=\frac{1}{18}\ln\left({9{x}^{2}+6x+5}\right)
+\frac{1}{9}\arctan\left[{\frac{1}{2}\left(3x+1\right)}\right]+C
$$
$\text{from the given I thought completing the square would be the way to solve this} \\$
$\text{but I don't see how this would result in the answer.}$

I would start by rewriting it in two separate fractions, one where a u substitution can be used... Notice that $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x}\,\left( 9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5 \right) = 18\,x + 6 \end{align*}$, so we should probably rewrite the integral as...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{ \frac{x + 1}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} \,\mathrm{d}x } &= \frac{1}{18} \int{ \frac{18\,x + 18}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} } \\ &= \frac{1}{18} \int{ \frac{18\,x + 6}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} + \frac{12}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} \,\mathrm{d}x } \end{align*}$

The first term can be integrated with substitution $\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = 9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5 \implies \mathrm{d}x = \left( 18\,x + 6 \right) \,\mathrm{d}x \end{align*}$ and the second can be solved with your idea of completing the square in the denominator.
 
$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x}\,\left( 9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5 \right) = 18\,x + 6 \end{align*}$

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{ \frac{x + 1}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} \,\mathrm{d}x } &= \frac{1}{18} \int{ \frac{18\,x + 18}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} } \\ &= \frac{1}{18} \int{ \frac{18\,x + 6}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} + \frac{12}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} \,\mathrm{d}x } \end{align*}$

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = 9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5 \implies \mathrm{d}x = \left( 18\,x + 6 \right) \,\mathrm{d}x \end{align*}$

$\displaystyle
\frac{1}{18} \int{\frac{18x + 6}{9\,x^2 + 6x + 5}} \, dx
= \frac{1}{18}\int\frac{1}{u}\, du =\frac{1}{18}\ln\left({9\,x^2 + 6x+5}\right)$
 
Last edited:
karush said:
$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x}\,\left( 9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5 \right) = 18\,x + 6 \end{align*}$

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{ \frac{x + 1}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} \,\mathrm{d}x } &= \frac{1}{18} \int{ \frac{18\,x + 18}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} } \\ &= \frac{1}{18} \int{ \frac{18\,x + 6}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} + \frac{12}{9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5} \,\mathrm{d}x } \end{align*}$

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = 9\,x^2 + 6\,x + 5 \implies \mathrm{d}x = \left( 18\,x + 6 \right) \,\mathrm{d}x \end{align*}$

$\displaystyle
\frac{1}{18} \int{\frac{18x + 6}{9\,x^2 + 6x + 5}} \, dx
= \frac{1}{18}\int\frac{1}{u}\, du =\frac{1}{18}\ln\left({9\,x^2 + 6x+5}\right)$

That is correct so far. Notice you can leave out the absolute value signs in the logarithm as the quantity is always nonnegative anyway.

Now how about the second part?
 

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