Integral: Solving the Difficult One

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In summary, "Integral: Solving the Difficult One" is a mathematical concept used in calculus to find an unknown function using a known derivative. It is important in science as it allows us to model and understand the behavior of physical systems. It is different from the concept of "Derivative: Finding the Easy One" as it calculates the area under the curve of a function instead of the rate of change. The main steps involved in solving an integral are identifying the function, determining the limits of integration, finding the indefinite integral, evaluating the definite integral, and adding a constant of integration if necessary. Some common applications of "Integral: Solving the Difficult One" include calculating distance, work, center of mass, and probability, as
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Natarajan
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Consider the following:

\(\displaystyle \int \left(\frac{x-1}{x+1}\right)^4\,dx\)

I am unable to solve this.
 
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  • #2
Hello and welcome to MHB, Natarajan!

I have moved your thread since this forum is a better fit for your question.

I think the first thing I would do is write:

\(\displaystyle \frac{x-1}{x+1}=\frac{x+1-2}{x+1}=1-\frac{2}{x+1}\)

Let's substitute:

\(\displaystyle u=x+1\implies du=dx\)

Now, apply the binomial theorem:

\(\displaystyle \left(1-2u^{-1}\right)^4=16u^{-4}-32u^{-3}+24u^{-2}-8u^{-1}+1\)

Now you can integrate term by term, and then back-substitute for $u$. Can you proceed?
 

FAQ: Integral: Solving the Difficult One

What is "Integral: Solving the Difficult One"?

"Integral: Solving the Difficult One" is a mathematical concept that involves finding an unknown function by using a known derivative. It is an important tool in calculus and is used to solve a wide range of problems in physics, engineering, and other fields.

How is "Integral: Solving the Difficult One" different from "Derivative: Finding the Easy One"?

"Integral: Solving the Difficult One" and "Derivative: Finding the Easy One" are two sides of the same coin in calculus. While the derivative calculates the rate of change of a function, the integral calculates the area under the curve of a function. In other words, the derivative tells us how the function is changing, while the integral tells us the total change over a given interval.

What are the main steps involved in solving an integral?

The main steps involved in solving an integral are: identifying the function to be integrated, determining the limits of integration, finding the indefinite integral, evaluating the definite integral using the limits of integration, and adding any constant of integration if necessary.

Why is "Integral: Solving the Difficult One" important in science?

"Integral: Solving the Difficult One" is important in science because it allows us to model and understand the behavior of physical systems. Many real-world problems involve quantities that change continuously, and the integral helps us determine the total effect of this change over a given interval. It is also used in many scientific fields, such as physics, engineering, economics, and statistics, to name a few.

What are some common applications of "Integral: Solving the Difficult One"?

"Integral: Solving the Difficult One" has numerous applications in science, some of which include calculating the distance traveled by an object with changing velocity, determining the work done by a variable force, finding the center of mass of an object, and calculating the probability of an event occurring within a given range. It also has applications in optimization, such as finding the minimum or maximum value of a function.

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