# Unsolvable Problem?

1. Apr 30, 2008

### roam

[SOLVED] Unsolvable Problem?

Hello!

How can we find the antiderivative of $$2(1 + lnx)(x^x)^2$$

As it stands it is not algebraically solvable.
This question is from my calculus' book, but the solutions are not provided...

Does anyone know of any mthod we can use to integrate this?

2. Apr 30, 2008

### uman

Substitution. $$u=(x^x)^2$$.

3. Apr 30, 2008

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Oh, that is clever!

4. Apr 30, 2008

### ice109

actually that is the antiderivative x^(2x)

5. Apr 30, 2008

### uman

Yep.

$$\int 2(1+\log x)(x^x)^2\, dx$$: $$u=(x^x)^2$$; by logarithmic differentiation we find $$du=2(x^x)^2(\log x + 1)$$ so the integral is $$\int\, du = u = (x^x)^2 = x^{2x}$$.

6. Apr 30, 2008

### ice109

so how did you figure out that substitution?

7. Apr 30, 2008

### LukeD

If I had to guess, I'd have to say it was either
1. a barter for his soul with some demon/deity
2. divine intervention
3. ??? can't think of any other possibility

Seriously, that was clever

8. Apr 30, 2008

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
I suspect that he realized that, since the derivative of xx involves a logarithm, and there was a logarithm in the problem, he should try something like u= xx, tried it, saw that it didn't quite work and then played with it until he found something that did.

Two many math students seem to think that the way you solve a math problem is to stare at the paper until the solution springs, like Venus, full grown from your forehead.

9. Apr 30, 2008

### ice109

maybe but writing simply for the sake of writing isn't effective either.

10. Apr 30, 2008

### uman

I dunno, I just saw it and tried it and voilà, it worked.

I knew the answer was $$(x^x)^2$$ before I solved the problem, which may or may not have helped, but probably did.

11. Apr 30, 2008

### uman

Also I left out a $$dx$$ in my first post.

12. Apr 30, 2008

### uman

Also (and sorry for the triple post!) $$u=x^x$$ would have worked just as well.

13. Apr 30, 2008

### roam

O.K...

Here is my working, by using substitution:

Let I = ∫2(1+lnx)(x^x)2 dx

Let u = x^x

∴ lnu = lnx^x

∴ lnu = xlnx

∴ 1/u × dudx = x×1/x + 1×lnx

∴ du/dx = u ×(1+lnx)

∴ du = x^x^×(1+lnx)dx

∴ dx = du / x^x^×(1+lnx)

∴ I = ∫2(1+lnx)(x^x)^2 dx

= ∫2(1+lnx)(x^x)^2{du / [x^x×(1+lnx)]}

= ∫2 x^xdu

= ∫ 2u du

= u² + c

= (x^x)^2 + c

= x^2x + c

I didn't know if it was correct but now since you have the same solution as me then it must be right...

Many thanks.

Last edited: Apr 30, 2008
14. May 1, 2008

### uman

Yep, that seems right although it was hard to follow somewhat because you didn't use LaTeX...

15. May 1, 2008

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
That makes for quite an amusing thread title! :tongue2:

16. May 1, 2008

### Defennder

I concur.

17. May 1, 2008

### uman

Oh man I was just thinking that! You have mah brain, cristo.

18. May 6, 2008

### chi2cali08

my calculus teacher taught us this a couple weeks ago. its pretty useful

19. May 8, 2008

### roam

Sorry...

But it looked unsolvable to me because the original question looked like this: $$2(1 + lnx)x^{x^2}$$
$$2(1 + lnx)(x^x)^2$$