Solving Surface Integral: x(C - x^2/3)^3/2 dx

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving the integral \(\int x (C - x^{2/3})^{3/2} dx\). Participants explore various substitution methods and techniques for evaluating this integral, including trigonometric and algebraic substitutions.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests a substitution \(C - \sqrt[3]{x^2} = C \cos^2 t\) and provides a detailed transformation of the integral into a trigonometric form.
  • Another participant questions the subtlety of the substitution and whether it could be easily guessed during an exam.
  • A different approach is proposed using \(u\) substitution, where \(u^2 = C - \sqrt[3]{x^2}\), leading to a new integral form.
  • Another participant introduces a substitution \(y = x^{1/3}\) to simplify the integral, suggesting that it can be solved by repeated integration by parts.
  • One participant offers yet another substitution \(u = \sqrt{C - x^{2/3}}\) and outlines the steps to transform the integral accordingly.
  • There is a mention of the need to simplify and combine terms in the integral after substitution, indicating a focus on algebraic manipulation.
  • Some participants engage in a light exchange about the effectiveness of the proposed methods, with one pointing out a previous post's content.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views and methods for solving the integral, with no consensus reached on a single approach. The discussion remains unresolved as different techniques are explored.

Contextual Notes

Some methods rely on specific assumptions about the substitutions and transformations, which may not be universally applicable. The discussion includes various mathematical steps that are not fully resolved.

gulsen
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[tex]\int x {(C - x^{2/3})}^{3/2} dx[/tex]

Any ideas?
 
Last edited:
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gulsen said:
[tex]\int x {(C - x^{2/3})}^{3/2} dx[/tex]

Any ideas?
[tex]\int x \sqrt{ \left( C - \sqrt[3]{x ^ 2} \right) ^ 3} dx[/tex]
To solve integrals with square roots like that, one can start off their problem by changing the variable x to some variable t such that:
[tex]C - \sqrt[3]{x ^ 2} = C \cos ^ 2 t[/tex]
So, let:
[tex]x = \sqrt{C ^ 3} \sin ^ 3 t \quad \quad \quad t \in \left[ -\frac{\pi}{2} ; \ \frac{\pi}{2} \right][/tex]
[tex]\Rightarrow dx = 3 \sqrt{C ^ 3} \cos t \sin ^ 2 t dt[/tex].
Substitute all to your integral yields:
[tex]\int x \sqrt{\left( C - \sqrt[3]{x ^ 2} \right) ^ 3} dx = 3 C ^ 3 \int \sin ^ 5 t \cos t \sqrt{ \left( C - \sqrt[3]{C ^ 3 \sin ^ 6 t} \right) ^ 3} dt = 3 C ^ 3 \int \sin ^ 5 t \cos t \sqrt{ \left( C - C \sin ^ 2 t} \right) ^ 3} dt[/tex]
[tex]= 3 \sqrt{C ^ 9} \int \sin ^ 5 t \cos ^ 4 t dt[/tex]
You can go from here, right? :)
 
Last edited:
Yup, thanks! :)
But isn't this substitution very subtle? Am I an oracle to guess it instantenously in an exam!?
 
Well it may appear ingenious, but really [itex]sin^2t + cos^2t=1[/itex] so the idea of substituting some function of [itex]sin t[/itex] is going to be a good idea. Once you have that idea, you can work out what powers you need &c.
 
gulsen said:
Yup, thanks! :)
But isn't this substitution very subtle? Am I an oracle to guess it instantenously in an exam!?
Nah, you don't need to be an oracle to know it.
To solve square root, there are some common ways:
The first way is to use an u substitution:
u2 = everything inside the square root, so that when you squre root it, it'll become u. In your problem:
[tex]u ^ 2 = C - \sqrt[3]{x ^ 2}[/tex].
Then [tex]2u du = -\frac{2}{3 \sqrt[3]{x}} dx \Rightarrow dx = 3u \sqrt[3]{x}[/tex].
Substitute all to your integral, and it will become:
[tex]\int x \sqrt{ \left( C - \sqrt[3]{x ^ 2} \right) ^ 3} dx = 3 \int u ^ 4 \sqrt[3]{x ^ 4} du = 3 \int u ^ 4 (C - u ^ 2) ^ 2 du[/tex]
Try it to see if you can arrive at the same answer as you previously got.
------------------
The second way is to use trig substitution. Change x to u such that everything inside the square root become something * cos2u, so that again when you square root it, it will be come: [tex]\sqrt{\mbox{something}} \times \cos u[/tex].
So let:
[tex]C - \sqrt[3]{x ^ 2} = C \cos ^ 2 t[/tex]
[tex]\Leftrightarrow \sqrt[3]{x ^ 2} = C \sin ^ 2 t[/tex]
[tex]\Leftrightarrow x = \sqrt{C ^ 3} \sin ^ 3 t[/tex]
[tex]\Rightarrow dx = 3 \sqrt{C ^ 3} \cos t \sin ^ 2 t dt[/tex]
...
Can you get this? :)
 
Alternatively, you may choose:
[tex]y=x^{\frac{1}{3}}\to{dx}=3y^{2}dy[/tex]
And, hence:
[tex]\int{x}(C-x^{\frac{2}{3}})^{\frac{3}{2}}dx=\int{3y^{5}}(C-y^{2})^{\frac{3}{2}}dy[/tex]

This is solved nicely by repeated integrations by parts.
 
even better...

Let [tex]u = \sqrt{C-x^{\frac{2}{3}}[/tex]


Then [tex]x = (C-u^2)^{\frac{3}{2}} \Rightarrow[/tex]
...

[tex]dx = \frac{3}{2}(C-u^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}(-2)udu\Rightarrow[/tex]

...

[tex]dx = -3(C-u^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}udu[/tex]
...
Then: [tex]\int x(C-x^{\frac{2}{3}})^{\frac{3}{2}}dx = \int[ (C-u^2)^{\frac{3}{2}})(u^3)(-3(C-u^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}udu)][/tex]

Put the two [tex](C-u^2)[/tex] terms together and simplifying:

[tex]= -3\int (C-u^2)^2u^4du \Rightarrow -3\int(c^2 - 2Cu^2 + u^4)(u^4)du[/tex]

...
[tex]=-3\int(u^4c^2 - 2u^6C + u^8)du[/tex]
...
[tex]=-3[C^2\int u^4du - 2C\int u^6 du + \int u^8 du][/tex]

:)
 
daveyp225 said:
even better...
...
Have you looked closely at the fifth post of this thread, daveyp225?? :rolleyes:
 
VietDao29 said:
Have you looked closely at the fifth post of this thread, daveyp225?? :rolleyes:
Evidently not.
 

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