How do you evaluate the integral int (x^3+x^2+x+1)/(x(x+4))?

1 Answer
Jan 3, 2017

1/2x^2 - 3x + 1/4ln|x| + 51/4ln|x + 4| + C

Explanation:

We start by dividing x^3 + x^2 + x + 1 by x^2 + 4x.

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So, we have (x^3 + x^2 + x + 1)/(x^2 + 4x) = x - 3 + (13x+ 1)/(x^2 + 4x)

We can integrate x - 3 using the power rule. However, we will need to use partial fractions for the second part of the integral.

x^2 + 4x can be factored as x(x + 4).

A/x + B/(x + 4) = (13x + 1)/(x(x + 4))

A(x + 4) + B(x) = 13x + 1

Ax + 4A + Bx = 13x + 1

(A + B)x + 4A = 13x + 1

Write a system of equations:

{(A + B = 13), (4A = 1):}

Solving, we get A = 1/4 and B = 51/4.

=intx - 3 + 1/(4x) + 51/(4(x + 4)) dx

= 1/2x^2 - 3x + 1/4ln|x| + 51/4ln|x + 4| + C

Hopefully this helps!