The Student Room Group

need help integrating this

Scroll to see replies

Original post by _gcx
Safe to say, Symbolab doesn't handle it very well, lol, and Wolfram separates out the xx again on the first step.


Rightfully so, it spirals out of A-Level maths.

Besides, when he/she changes xx24x\sqrt{x^2-4} into x44x2\sqrt{x^4-4x^2} it means that x2=x\sqrt{x^2}=x whereas x2x\sqrt{x^2} \equiv \vert x \vert so the two integrands are in fact not the same. It would be fine if x>0x>0 however.
Just do it by inspection. x is 0.5*(the derivative of the function inside the brackets)

Quick Reply