MedVision ad

Intergration Using Substitution (1 Viewer)

FDownes

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Messages
197
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
I've got the basics of 'Intergration Using Substitution' down, but I'm having some trouble with the more complex questions. I was hoping someone might be able to go through one of the questions step-by-step so that I can understand it better.

So here's the question;

By using the substitution u^2 = x + 2, find ∫(x - 2)/[√(x + 2)] dx.

Can anyone help me out?
 
Last edited:

A High Way Man

all ova da world
Joined
Jul 16, 2007
Messages
1,605
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
OMG!!! this is the first time i can be the first to reply without someone else stealing my thunder.

well you have to use

u^2 = x + 2

differentiating you have

2u du = dx

so, thats easy enough

the integral is (x+2)dx/(x+2)^(1/2)

so, just substitute

the integral becomes
u (2u du)/u^2

= 2u^2 du

integrate that and you get

2u^3/3 as your indefinate integral

then sub u back in

[2(x+2)^3/2]/3 + C
 

FDownes

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Messages
197
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
I made the same mistake the first time I tried to answer the question. The intergral isn't ∫(x + 2)/[√(x + 2)] dx, it's ∫(x - 2)/[√(x + 2)] dx.

Sorry. ;)
 

Shadose

Enjoy Life
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
255
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
I got one I need help with too, can someone help me with this?

∫dx/(e^x+1) , using z=e^x+1

I would much appreciate it ^^
 

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Er ok...
z=e^x+1
z-1=e^x
dz=e^x dx

So to multiply by dz we also have to divide by e^x (since there's no e^x term present):

I(1/z * 1/e^x dz)
z-1=e^x, so:
I(1/z * 1/(z-1) dz)
Now use partial fractions:

A/z + B/(z-1) = 1/(z(z-1))
A(z-1)+Bz=1
let z=1, B=1
let z=0, A=-1, so:

I(1/z * 1/(z-1) dz) = I(1/(z-1) - 1/z dz)
= ln(z-1) - lnz + C

Now, z=e^x+1
z-1=e^x, so:

Answer is: ln(e^x) - ln(e^x+1) + C
= x - ln(e^x+1) + C

Test this answer by deriving:
Derivative is: 1 - e^x/(e^x+1) = (e^x+1)/(e^x+1) - e^x/(e^x+1) = 1/(e^x+1)

Yay. Although I used a 4unit method (partial fractions). Perhaps somebody can try this from a 3unit perspective.
 

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
LOL. Examining the end of my post where I derived my answer to confirm it, a simpler method struck me:

1/(e^x+1) = (e^x+1)/(e^x+1) - e^x/(e^x+1) = 1 - e^x/(e^x+1), so:
z=e^x+1
dz=e^x dx

Thus: I dx - I e^x/(e^x+1) dx = x - I dz/z = x - lnz + C = x - ln(e^x+1) + C.

Done.
 

Shadose

Enjoy Life
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
Messages
255
Gender
Male
HSC
2008
Slidey said:
LOL. Examining the end of my post where I derived my answer to confirm it, a simpler method struck me:

1/(e^x+1) = (e^x+1)/(e^x+1) - e^x/(e^x+1) = 1 - e^x/(e^x+1), so:
z=e^x+1
dz=e^x dx

Thus: I dx - I e^x/(e^x+1) dx = x - I dz/z = x - lnz + C = x - ln(e^x+1) + C.

Done.
Thnks ^^ Thats so smart!!
 
Last edited:

Slidey

But pieces of what?
Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
6,600
Gender
Male
HSC
2005
Remember that trick. It's fairly important and has saved my arse numerous times in maths questions and exams!

E.g.: what's the asymptote of y=x/(x+1)?

y=(x+1-1)/(x+1) = 1 - 1/(x+1)

So the asymptote is y=1 as x-> infinity.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top