What is the integral of $\frac{x^2-1}{\sqrt{2x-1}}$?

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter karush
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integral of the function $\frac{x^2-1}{\sqrt{2x-1}}$. Participants explore various substitution methods and approaches to simplify and evaluate the integral, engaging in technical reasoning and mathematical manipulation.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a substitution $u=2x-1$, leading to a transformed integral that incorporates $u$.
  • Another participant agrees with the substitution and suggests multiplying by a factor to facilitate further simplification.
  • A later reply indicates a consideration of alternative substitutions, such as $v=u+1$, to potentially apply trigonometric identities.
  • Participants discuss simplifying the integrand into terms that can be handled using the power rule.
  • One participant presents a different substitution $u=\sqrt{2x-1}$, leading to a new expression for the integral.
  • Further calculations are shared, detailing the breakdown of the integral into manageable components involving powers of $u$.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to evaluate the integral, with multiple substitution methods and simplification strategies being discussed. The discussion remains open-ended with various perspectives on how to proceed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the next steps in their calculations, indicating that the discussion involves unresolved mathematical steps and assumptions about the best method to use.

karush
Gold Member
MHB
Messages
3,240
Reaction score
5
$\tiny{307.4.5.71}$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
I_{71}&=\int{\frac{x^2-1}{\sqrt{2x-1}}}dx\\
u&=2x-1\therefore dx=\frac{1}{2}du\\
x&=\frac{u+1}{2}\\
I_u&= \int{\frac{{[(1/2)(u+1)]}^2-1}{\sqrt{u}}}
\cdot \frac{1}{2} \, du\\
\end{align}

$\textit{not sure what is best to do next?}$
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your substitution is a good one...let's write the integral as:

$$I=\frac{1}{2}\int\frac{\left(\frac{u+1}{2}\right)^2-1}{u^{\frac{1}{2}}}\,du$$

Next, let's multiply by $$1=\frac{4}{4}$$:

$$I=\frac{1}{8}\int\frac{(u+1)^2-4}{u^{\frac{1}{2}}}\,du$$

Can you proceed?
 
$\tiny{307.4.5.71}$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
I_{71}&=\int{\frac{x^2-1}{\sqrt{2x-1}}}dx\\
u&=2x-1\therefore dx=\frac{1}{2}du\\
x&=\frac{u+1}{2}\\
I_u&= \int{\frac{{[(1/2)(u+1)]}^2-1}{\sqrt{u}}}
\cdot \frac{1}{2} \, du\\
&=\frac{1}{8}\int\frac{(u+1)^2-4}{u^{\frac{1}{2}}}\,du
=\frac{1}{8}\int\frac{u^2+2u-3}{u^{1/2}}
\end{align}

$\text{this or go with $v=u+1$ for a trig id}$
 
Last edited:
Just simplify the integrand...you will have 3 terms containing u to various powers, to which you can then apply the power rule. (Yes)
 
$$\int\frac{x^2-1}{\sqrt{2x-1}}\,\text{d}x$$

$$u=\sqrt{2x-1}\quad x=\frac{u^2+1}{2}$$

$$\text{d}u=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2x-1}}\text{ d}x$$

$$\int\left(\frac{u^2+1}{2}\right)^2-1\text{ d}u$$
 
$\tiny{307.4.5.71}$
\begin{align}
\displaystyle
I_{71}&=\int{\frac{x^2-1}{\sqrt{2x-1}}}dx\\
u&=2x-1\therefore dx=\frac{1}{2}du\\
x&=\frac{u+1}{2}\\
I_u&= \int{\frac{{[(1/2)(u+1)]}^2-1}{\sqrt{u}}}
\cdot \frac{1}{2} \, du\\
&=\frac{1}{8}\int\frac{(u+1)^2-4}{u^{\frac{1}{2}}}\,du
=\frac{1}{8}\int\frac{u^2+2u-3}{u^{1/2}}\, du\\
&=\frac{1}{8}\left[\int\frac{u^2}{u^{1/2}} \, du
+2\int\frac{u}{u^{1/2}}\, du
-3\int\frac{1}{u^{1/2}}\, du\right] \\
&=\frac{1}{8}\left[\dfrac{2u^\frac{5}{2}}{5}
+\dfrac{4u^\frac{3}{2}}{3}
-6\sqrt{u}\right]\\
I&=\dfrac{\frac{\left(2x-1\right)^\frac{5}{2}}{5}+\frac{2\left(2x-1\right)^\frac{3}{2}}{3}+\sqrt{2x-1}}{4}-\sqrt{2x-1}
\end{align}
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K