# Simply Checking an Answer in Calculus

1. Feb 27, 2005

### The Bob

Hello all, again.

Simple question.

Compute $$\int_{9}^{4} (x - \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}) dx$$

I did this:

$$\int_{9}^{4} (x - \frac{1}{x^{0.5}}) dx$$ = $$\int_{9}^{4} (x - x^{-0.5}) dx$$

$$\left[ \frac{1}{2} x^2 - 2 x^{0.5} \right]_{9}^{4}$$ = $$\left[ \frac{x^2}{2} - 2 \sqrt{x} \right]_{9}^{4}$$

$$(\frac{81}{2} - 6) - (\frac{16}{2} - 4) = \frac{81 - 12}{2} - \frac{16 - 8}{2} = \frac{69}{2} - \frac{8}{2} = \frac{61}{2} = 30.5$$

2 months of calculus and and still I am not sure of what I have done wrong. The answers in my book gives $$10 \frac{2}{3}$$

So if it is right then can someone enlighten me to what I have done wrong please.

Cheers

2. Feb 27, 2005

### Pseudo Statistic

Third step...
x - x^-0.5 gives 1/2x^2 - 2x^0.5... hmmm...
Your work looks right to me.. maybe a book error?
K.

Last edited: Feb 27, 2005
3. Feb 27, 2005

### The Bob

That is what I was hoping for. I know I make simply mistakes but now 4 people reckon it is right.

Cheers. Still though, can anyone else see anything wrong at all???

4. Feb 27, 2005

### dextercioby

Nope,both your and the books answers are incorrect.My answer is $$-\frac{61}{2}$$ and i'm sure of it,because even my old rusty Maple says it is so...

Daniel.

5. Feb 27, 2005

### Pseudo Statistic

That's just weird.. even my calculator gives 30.5. :\
And yeah, I get the negative answer too... only mistake in his work I see now.

6. Feb 27, 2005

### The Bob

Oh nuts. I see what I did wrong. I have written the original limtis of the question the wrong way around. My fault (obviously). I'm not used to the Tex of calculus problems.

It should have been $$\int_{4}^{9} (x - \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}) dx$$ to give $$\frac{61}{2}$$

Cheers. At least I can go to college on Wednesday and now I am right.

7. Feb 27, 2005

### dextercioby

It seemed pretty weird to me too,with the larger value being the inferior limit,but,hey,anything is possible in mathemetics,right...?

Daiel.

8. Feb 28, 2005

### The Bob

Most things are possible but I am yet to see a larger, inferior limit too, Daiel.