Solving integrals with absolute values

Shannabel
Messages
74
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


solve the integral [abs(x+1)(3+abs(x))]/(x+1) between -3 and 1


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


when x<-1 then [abs(x+1)(3+abs(x))]/(x+1) = [-(x+1)(3-x)]/(x+1) = -(3-x)
when -1<x<0 then [abs(x+1)(3+abs(x))]/(x+1) = (x+1)(3-x)/(x+1) = 3-x
when x>0 then [abs(x+1)(3+abs(x))]/(x+1) = (x+1)(3+x)/(x+1) = 3+x

so now i have:
(x-3)dx(between -3 and -1)+(3-x)dx(between -1 and 0)+(3+x)dx(between 0 and 1)
= ((1/2)x^2-3x)(between -3 and -1)+(3x-(1/2)x^2)(between -1 and 0)+(3x+(1/2)x^2)(between 0 and 1)
= (1/2)+3-((9/2)+9)+(0)-(-3-(9/2))+(3+(1/2))-0
= 1/2+3-9+3+3+1/2 = 1
i should have got -3... help??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi again Shannabel! :smile:

Can you recalculate (3x-(1/2)x^2)(between -1 and 0)?
 
I like Serena said:
Hi again Shannabel! :smile:

Can you recalculate (3x-(1/2)x^2)(between -1 and 0)?

thankyou! :)
 
Shannabel said:
thankyou! :)

I take it you did? And that you found the proper solution?

Then you're welcome! :smile:
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top