The Student Room Group

C4 integration by substitution question - where did i go wrong?

(in this question i'm using S as the integration symbol)

y = 3 / (1+4x)^1/2

Where R is the region bounded by the x axis, x = 0 and x = 2, use integration to find the area R.

let u = (1+4x)
du/dx = 4, therefore dx = 1/4 du

finding limits of u:
when x = 0, u = 1
when x = 2, u = 9

substituting back:
3 S u^-1/2 + 1/4 du - with limits 1 to 9
= 3[2u^(1/2) + x/4] limits 1 to 9
= 3[2(1+4x)^(1/2) + x/4] limits 1 to 9

substituting limits in:
3[2(1+4(9))^(1/2) + 9/4] - 3[2(1+4(1))^(1/2) + x/4]
3[14.4155...] - 3[4.7221...]
= 43.2465 -14.1664...
= 29.1 (2sf)


according to the mark scheme, the answer is 3. anyone know where i went wrong?
3[2(1+4x)^(1/2) + x/4] limits 1 to 9

Here. You don't need to substitute x back in if you've changed your limits for u.

I.e. you can either use the limits for u and what you've just integrated (generally easiest), or you can substitute x back in and use the original limits.
Reply 2
y= 3/(1+4x)^1/2

u = 1+ 4x

du/dx = 4, so 1/4 du = dx

so you are integrating 3/4 u^-1/2 du

then change the limits, x=2, u =9
x=0, u = 1

so integrate with limits of 9 and 1, 3/4u^-1/2 du

gives you 3/2 u^1/2 with limits 9 and 1

which equals 4.5 - 1.5

= 3

=]
Reply 3
JakeyTheSnake
3[2(1+4x)^(1/2) + x/4] limits 1 to 9

Here. You don't need to substitute x back in if you've changed your limits for u.

I.e. you can either use the limits for u and what you've just integrated (generally easiest), or you can substitute x back in and use the original limits.
ah ofcourse..

i think another mistake of mine was ADDING the 1/4 when i was supposed to MULTIPLY by 1/4

thanks
Reply 4
the_somalian
ah ofcourse..

thanks

No, you're still wrong. You don't add the (1/4)du, you multiply through by it...
Reply 5
andrew.P
y= 3/(1+4x)^1/2

u = 1+ 4x

du/dx = 4, so 1/4 du = dx

so you are integrating 3/4 u^-1/2 du

then change the limits, x=2, u =9
x=0, u = 1

so integrate with limits of 9 and 1, 3/4u^-1/2 du

gives you 3/2 u^1/2 with limits 9 and 1

which equals 4.5 - 1.5

= 3

=]
yep that works, thanks a lot
Reply 6
can anyone tell me how you would integrate 7/6x+2?
Reply 7
the_somalian
can anyone tell me how you would integrate 7/6x+2?

What is the integral of 1/x ?
Reply 8
the_somalian
can anyone tell me how you would integrate 7/6x+2?


thats: 7 (1/6x+2)

1/6x+2 integrated becomes (1/6) ln|6x+2| (apply the ln, then work out the derivative of 6x+2 as 6.. as its integration you divide by 1/6)

so (7/6) ln|6x+2| + c is your answer
ln x
Reply 10
andrew.P
thats: 7 (1/6x+2)

1/6x+2 integrated becomes (1/6) ln|6x+2| (apply the ln, then work out the derivative of 6x+2 as 6.. as its integration you divide by 1/6)

so (7/6) ln|6x+2| + c is your answer
i meant 7/(6x+2)

so would it be 7 (ln|6x+2|) ?
Reply 11
the_somalian
(in this question i'm using S as the integration symbol)

y = 3 / (1+4x)^1/2

Where R is the region bounded by the x axis, x = 0 and x = 2, use integration to find the area R.

let u = (1+4x)
du/dx = 4, therefore dx = 1/4 du

finding limits of u:
when x = 0, u = 1
when x = 2, u = 9



Up to here you are right.

the_somalian


substituting back:
3 S u^-1/2 + 1/4 du - with limits 1 to 9


This is wrong. It is not + 1/4 du it is multiplying by 1/4 du. Originally you were multiplying by dx, you have substituted in 1/4 du for dx so you still multiply.

Also, you do not have to substitute x back in, just integrate u as you would integrate x.

You should end up with 1/4[6u^1/2] as the term you sbstitue the limits into and from this you get 3.
Reply 12
yep, thanks for the help laurie.. do you know if this is right?

y = 7/(6x+2)

integrated: 7(ln|6x+2|)
Reply 13
the_somalian
yep, thanks for the help laurie.. do you know if this is right?

y = 7/(6x+2)

integrated: 7(ln|6x+2|)


Uh don't think so if dy/dx =7/(6x+2) then y=7/6(ln l6x+2l) because when you differentiate ln of 'something' you also have to multiply by the differential of the 'something' in this case 6.
abx+k dx=ablnbx+k+C\displaystyle \int \dfrac{a}{bx + k} \ dx = \frac{a}{b} ln |bx + k| + C
Reply 15
the_somalian
i meant 7/(6x+2)

so would it be 7 (ln|6x+2|) ?


yeah i assumed thats what you meant that's how i did my answer:

remember you have to divide by the derivative of the (6x+2) which is 6 so 7/6 ln|6x+2|
Reply 16
Actually, I think you can also use this substitution:


So,
2u(du/dx)=4
lower limit = 1, upper limit = √9=3.

That way, when you integrate,
∫3 / (1+4x)^1/2 dx from 0 to 2
=∫3/u * (2u/4) du from 1 to 3
=∫3/2 du from 1 to 3
=[3u/2] 1 to 3
=9/2 - 3/2 = 6/2 = 3.

It's less of a pain, IMO, since you're getting rid of the surds - I mean, the whole point of the substitution method is to make the integration a bit simpler, right?

Latest