Solve Integration Help: Find Antiderivative

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the antiderivative of a rational function using integration by partial fractions. The function is expressed as a fraction with a polynomial in the numerator and a product of factors in the denominator.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the method of integration by partial fractions and the process of equating coefficients after expanding the right side of the equation. There are attempts to identify errors in the original poster's calculations and suggestions for correcting them.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided feedback on the original poster's approach, pointing out potential mistakes in the expansion and coefficient matching. The original poster acknowledges the input and indicates a change in their calculations, leading to a revised set of coefficients.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of using software tools like MATLAB and Mathematica for verification, highlighting the complexity of the problem and the reliance on computational assistance.

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1. Homework Statement

Find the antiderivative:

\int\frac{2x^3-5x^2+5x-12}{(x-1)^2(x^2+4)}




Homework Equations





3. The Attempt at a Solution
Using Integration by Partial Fractions:

\int\frac{2x^3-5x^2+5x-12}{(x-1)^2(x^2+4)} = \frac{A}{(x-1)}+\frac{B}{(x-1)^2}+\frac{Cx+D}{(x^2+4)}

2x3-5x2+5x-12 = A(x-1)(x2+4)+B(x2+4)+(Cx+D)(x-1)2

Multiplying out:

= -4A+4Ax-Ax2+Ax3+Bx2+4B+Cx+D-2Cx2-2Dx-Cx3+Dx2

Collecting like terms:

2x3-5x2+5x-12 = x3(A-C)+x2(B-2C+D-A)+x(4A+C-2D) + (D+4B)

Equating corresponding coefficients gives

A-C = 2
B-2C+D-A = -5
4A+C-2D =5
D+4B-4A=-12

in the matrix form:

1, 0, -1, 0, 2
-1, 1, -2, 1, -5
4, 0, 1, -2, 5
-4, 4, 0, 1, -12

I used MATLAB to get the reduced-row echelon form:

rref=

1, 0, 0, 0, 27
0, 1, 0, 0, 8
0, 0, 1, 0, 25
0, 0, 0, 1, 64

Therefore, A=27, B=8, C= 25 and D=64 (?)

\int \frac{27}{(x-1)}+ \int \frac{8}{(x-1)^2}+ \int \frac{25x+64}{(x^2+4)}

= 27 Log(-1 + x)-8/(x-1)+32arctan(x/2)+25/2log(4+x2)

I'm not sure if this is the correct answer to this problem, because I tried solving it using mathematica and I got:

\frac{2}{(x-1)} + log(x-1) + (1/2) log (4+x^2)

I really appreciate it if someone could show me my mistakes. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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2x^3-5x^2+5x-12 = A(x-1)(x^2+4)+B(x^2+4)+(Cx+D)(x-1)^2

is true for all values of x. Put x=1
you'd get -10=5B =>B=-2. So I think you did something wrong in multiplying out.
 
You got some of your coefficients wrong when you expanded the right side of your equation. After collecting like terms I got these coefficients:
x^3: A + C (you have A - C)
x^2: -A + B - 2C + D (same)
x: 4A + C - 2D (same)
1: -4A + 4B + D (you have 4B + D at first, but apparently added in the -4A term in later work)

I didn't work this through, but I did find that B = -2.
 
Thanks for your input guys! Changing "-1" to "1" made all the difference!

I row-reduced the new matrix and got:

A=1, B=-2, C=1 and D=0

And eventually I got the right answer. Thanks very much for spotting my error.
 

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