MHB Understanding Fraction Simplification

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The discussion centers on the confusion regarding the simplification of the expression from 1 over the fourth root of (1 + x) to a form involving (1 + x) raised to the power of 3/4. Participants clarify that the original expression can be rewritten as (1 + x)^(-1/4), indicating that the transformation is related to integration rather than direct conversion. The conversation shifts to the convergence of the integral, with one participant concluding that the limit approaches infinity, indicating divergence. The final consensus is that the integral diverges due to the behavior of the function as it approaches infinity. Understanding these transformations and their implications is crucial for evaluating the integral's convergence.
shamieh
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Confused on how we go from

$$\frac{1}{^4\sqrt{1 + x}}$$ to $$\frac{4}{3}(1 + x)^\frac{3}{4}$$

Can someone please show me step-by-step. I need to see the basic steps.

Thanks in advance.
 
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shamieh said:
Confused on how we go from

$$\frac{1}{^4\sqrt{1 + x}}$$ to $$\frac{4}{3}(1 + x)^\frac{3}{4}$$

Can someone please show me step-by-step. I need to see the basic steps.

Thanks in advance.

These things are NOT the same, so you can't "convert" them...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{1}{\sqrt[4]{1 + x}} &= \frac{1}{ \left( 1 + x \right) ^{\frac{1}{4}} } \\ &= \left( 1 + x \right) ^{-\frac{1}{4}} \end{align*}$

It APPEARS though that you are trying to ANTIDIFFERENTIATE (Integrate) this function, which you should be able to do now...
 
Ahh! Thank you!(Yes)

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And this particular problem would be divergent since you would get $$a^{3/4}$$which is > 1 correct?
 
shamieh said:
Ahh! Thank you!(Yes)

- - - Updated - - -

And this particular problem would be divergent since you would get $$a^{3/4}$$which is > 1 correct?

What on EARTH are you talking about? WHAT is divergent? WHAT are you actually trying to do with this question?
 
Oh sorry the original problem is the equation up top as $$\int^\infty_0$$ and it's improper so i rewrote it as $$\int^a_0$$ thus; $$\lim_{a\to\infty}$$ and I ended up with a underneath the $$\sqrt{} $$to the $$^3$$ power.

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The initial question of the problem was Determine whether or not the integral is convergent or divergent. Sorry, forgot to include that.

So essentially I had this $$\lim_{a\to\infty} \frac{4}{3}(1 + a)^{3/4} - \frac{4}{3}$$ so I'm guessing since it's $$\infty$$ in the square root it's always going to keep growing no matter what and be Divergent
 
There are probably loads of proofs of this online, but I do not want to cheat. Here is my attempt: Convexity says that $$f(\lambda a + (1-\lambda)b) \leq \lambda f(a) + (1-\lambda) f(b)$$ $$f(b + \lambda(a-b)) \leq f(b) + \lambda (f(a) - f(b))$$ We know from the intermediate value theorem that there exists a ##c \in (b,a)## such that $$\frac{f(a) - f(b)}{a-b} = f'(c).$$ Hence $$f(b + \lambda(a-b)) \leq f(b) + \lambda (a - b) f'(c))$$ $$\frac{f(b + \lambda(a-b)) - f(b)}{\lambda(a-b)}...

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