Calculators TI-89 Titanium INTEGRATION Flaw?

[Switch_fx]

TI-89 Titanium INTEGRATION Flaw?

Ok so this is my first post, and I am in dire need of assistance. I have a big exam tomorrow and if I can't figure out why my TI-89 is screwing up this simple integration I am in some trouble...

I am looking for the integral of : 1/[G-(Cv)/M] with respect to "v"

(erroneus, G=gravitational constant, C=drag coefficient, M=mass, and V=velocity)

anyways...
I know the correct answer is : -(M/C)[ln(G-(Cv)/M)]

but my TI-89 calculator gives back the answer as:

-(M/C)[ln(|Cv-GM|)]

If anyone could please explain to me why this is so or what I am doing wrong it would be of great help...and yes I am inputting the integral in the correct fashion

Thanks to anyone who can help!


~SWITCH

 

[d_leet]

If you get rid of the fraction in the denominator in the original function you will arrive at the answe your calculator does, however you should notice that these only differ by a constant and that when you integrate you always have to add on a constant of integration.

 

[Switch_fx]

Why would I get rid of the fraction in the denominator? And if I get rid of it what do I replace it with?

 

[HallsofIvy]

You asked a question, you got an answer. Read the answer again. By the way, neither your answer nor the calculator's answer is correct!

Both are missing the added constant. d_leet's point is that your and the calculator's answer differ only by a constant.

 

[ssd]

If we leave the constant part, the calculator is right in general, as it gives the absolute value of quantity inside logarithm.

 

[DrKareem]

Maybe if it's hard for you to integrate 1/(1-ax) with respect to x then you do have a problem?

Taken from 1/a onwards, the integral of 1/1-ax is (-1/a) ln |1-ax|. Knowing how that solve your problem without needing the calculator.

 

[arunma]

Ok so this is my first post, and I am in dire need of assistance. I have a big exam tomorrow and if I can't figure out why my TI-89 is screwing up this simple integration I am in some trouble...

I am looking for the integral of : 1/[G-(Cv)/M] with respect to "v"

(erroneus, G=gravitational constant, C=drag coefficient, M=mass, and V=velocity)

anyways...
I know the correct answer is : -(M/C)[ln(G-(Cv)/M)]

but my TI-89 calculator gives back the answer as:

-(M/C)[ln(|Cv-GM|)]

If anyone could please explain to me why this is so or what I am doing wrong it would be of great help...and yes I am inputting the integral in the correct fashion

Thanks to anyone who can help!


~SWITCH

Take the "correct" answer, and use the logarithmic rule for division: ln(a/b) = ln(a) - ln(b). Normally I'd get in trouble for telling you that, but you could have just as easily looked it up in the textbook, so I thought I'd save you a couple minutes of tedious page turning. Anyway, considering what the others here have told you, just by expanding your answer in this way, you should be convinced that your answer and the 89's answer are the same.