Which Integral Calculation is Correct?

In summary: It's easy to make a mistake when doing indefinite integrals, and it's very easy to check your work by differentiating your answer. If the derivatives don't match up, then you know you've made a mistake.
  • #1
basty
95
0

Homework Statement



Which one is correct?

##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx = \frac{1}{3} (3x+2)(2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \frac{1}{15} (2x+1)^{\frac{5}{2}} + C##

or

##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx = \frac{1}{3} (3x+2)(2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \frac{1}{5} (2x+1)^{\frac{5}{2}} + C##

?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx##

Let

##u = 3x+2##

Then

##\frac{du}{dx} = 3##

or

##du = 3 \ dx##

Let

##dv = (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx##

Then

##v = \frac{1}{3} (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}}##

So

##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx##

##= uv - \int v \ du##

##= (3x+2) \frac{1}{3} (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \int \frac{1}{3} (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} (3 \ dx)##

##= \frac{1}{3} (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \int (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} dx##

##= \frac{1}{3} (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \frac{1}{5} (2x+1)^{\frac{5}{2}} + C##
 
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  • #2
You'll have an easier time with this is you don't integrate by parts. Do a u-substitution instead with u=2x+1. Much easier.

But I worked through your steps I and I got what you got.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
Tom Mattson said:
You'll have an easier time with this is you don't integrate by parts.

What integration method I should use?

Tom Mattson said:
Do a u-substitution instead with u=2x+1. Much easier.

Do you mean changing the ##u = 2x + 1## instead of ##u = 3x + 2##?

If so, let me re-work this integration, by part.

##\int (3x + 2)(2x + 1)^{\frac{1}{2}}dx##

Let

##u = 2x + 1##

Then

##\frac{du}{dx} = 2##

Or

##du = 2 \ dx##

####

Let

##dv = (3x + 2) \ dx##

Then

##v = \frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x##

So

##\int (3x + 2)(2x + 1)^{\frac{1}{2}}dx##

##= uv - \int v \ du##

##= (2x + 1) (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x) - \int (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x)(2 \ dx)##

##= (2x + 1) (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x) - \int (3x^2 + 4x) dx##

##= (2x + 1) (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x) - x^3 - 2x^2 + C##

##= x^3 + 4x^2 + \frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x - x^3 - 2x^2 + C##

##= \frac{7}{2}x^2 + 2x + C##

Is it correct?

Because this is an integration by part, why use ##u = 2x + 1## instead of ##u = (2x + 1)^{\frac{1}{2}}##?

Will the result be the same or different?
 
Last edited:
  • #4
basty said:
So

##\int (3x + 2)(2x + 1)^{\frac{1}{2}}dx##

##= uv - \int v \ du##

##= (2x + 1) (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x) - \int (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x)(2 \ dx)##

##= (2x + 1) (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x) - \int (3x^2 + 4x) dx##

##= (2x + 1) (\frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x) - x^3 - 2x^2 + C##

##= x^3 + 4x^2 + \frac{3}{2}x^2 + 2x - x^3 - 2x^2 + C##

##= \frac{7}{2}x^2 + 2x + C##

Is it correct?
No, it's not even close. This is something that you can check for yourself. If you differentiate (7/2)x2 + 2x + C, do you get (3x + 2)(2x + 1)1/2?

When you're doing integration by parts, whatever you choose for u and dv has to multiply to give you the integrand you start with.
basty said:
Because this is an integration by part, why use ##u = 2x + 1## instead of ##u = (2x + 1)^{\frac{1}{2}}##?
You don't. I think that what Tom Mattson had in mind was an ordinary substitution.
basty said:
Will the result be the same or different?
The answer to this should be obvious.
 
  • #5
I was just thinking u-substitution. u=2x+1, so x=(u-1)/2 and dx=du/2. Seems like less of a hassle to me because you need 2 u-substitutions in your integration by parts anyway.
 
  • #6
∫(3x+2)(2x+1)^0.5dx
let f'(x) = (2x + 1)^0.5 ==> f(x) = ((2x + 1)^1.5)/ 3
g(x) = 2x + 2 ==> g'(x) = 2
= (2x + 2)((2x + 1)^1.5) / 3 - 2/3∫(2x + 1)^1.5 dx
= (2x + 2)((2x + 1)^1.5) / 3 - 1/3(2x + 1)^2.5 + c
= 1/3((2x + 2)(2x+1)^1.5 - (2x + 1)^ 2.5) + c
 
  • #7
ARaslan said:
∫(3x+2)(2x+1)^0.5dx
let f'(x) = (2x + 1)^0.5 ==> f(x) = ((2x + 1)^1.5)/ 3
g(x) = 2x + 2 ==> g'(x) = 2
= (2x + 2)((2x + 1)^1.5) / 3 - 2/3∫(2x + 1)^1.5 dx
= (2x + 2)((2x + 1)^1.5) / 3 - 1/3(2x + 1)^2.5 + c
= 1/3((2x + 2)(2x+1)^1.5 - (2x + 1)^ 2.5) + c

g(x) is not (2x + 2) but (3x + 2).
 
  • #8
basty said:

Homework Statement



Which one is correct?

##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx = \frac{1}{3} (3x+2)(2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \frac{1}{15} (2x+1)^{\frac{5}{2}} + C##

or

##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx = \frac{1}{3} (3x+2)(2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \frac{1}{5} (2x+1)^{\frac{5}{2}} + C##

?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution



##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx##

Let

##u = 3x+2##

Then

##\frac{du}{dx} = 3##

or

##du = 3 \ dx##

Let

##dv = (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx##

Then

##v = \frac{1}{3} (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}}##

So

##\int (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{1}{2}} dx##

##= uv - \int v \ du##

##= (3x+2) \frac{1}{3} (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \int \frac{1}{3} (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} (3 \ dx)##

##= \frac{1}{3} (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \int (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} dx##

##= \frac{1}{3} (3x+2) (2x+1)^{\frac{3}{2}} - \frac{1}{5} (2x+1)^{\frac{5}{2}} + C##

You can easily check for yourself which (if any) of the two answers is correct. Just differentiate both of them and see which (if any) gives you back the original integrand ##(3x+2)(2x+1)^{1/2}##. You should develop the habit of always doing this automatically whenever you do indefinite integrations.
 
  • #9
Ray Vickson said:
You should develop the habit of always doing this automatically whenever you do indefinite integrations.
I strongly agree.
 

FAQ: Which Integral Calculation is Correct?

What is integration by parts?

Integration by parts is a method used in calculus to integrate a product of two functions. It involves using the product rule of differentiation to manipulate the integrand into a form that can be easily integrated.

When is integration by parts used?

Integration by parts is typically used when the integrand contains a product of two functions, such as a polynomial multiplied by a trigonometric function or an exponential function.

What is the formula for integration by parts?

The formula for integration by parts is ∫u dv = uv - ∫v du, where u and v are the two functions being integrated and du and dv are their respective differentials.

How do you choose u and dv when using integration by parts?

When choosing u and dv, it is important to follow the LIATE rule, which stands for Logarithmic, Inverse trigonometric, Algebraic, Trigonometric, and Exponential. In general, u should be the "first" function in the LIATE list, while dv should be the "second" function.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using integration by parts?

Some common mistakes to avoid when using integration by parts include forgetting to apply the formula correctly, incorrectly choosing u and dv, and forgetting to include the constant of integration when integrating the resulting expression. It is also important to check for algebraic errors when simplifying the final expression.

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