How do you integrate int 2/sqrt(3x-7) using substitution?

1 Answer
Feb 17, 2017

(1/3)(sqrt(3x-7))

Explanation:

Set u=3x-7

That means that du=3dx. However, you don't have a 3 on the top.

Don't worry. Instead, just multiply the integral by 3/3. That way, you have the 3 sufficient for the substitution.

Your equation becomes:

int (3 * 2)/(3 sqrt(3x-7))dx

You can then substitute u into the square root and du for 3dx using the three on the top. You should then get

int 2/(3 sqrtu)

Now personally, I like to take the 2/3 out from the integral and write sqrtu as u^(-1/2). Rewriting this, you get

2/3 int u^(-1/2)

Ignore the 2/3 for now and focus on the int u^(-1/2). Add 1 to the power and then multiply by 1/2 since that's the number you get from adding 1 to the power. Simplify and you should have:

(1/3)(u^(1/2)).

Now since u=3x-7, we need to plug that back into the result. Also, the power of 1/2 is the same thing as the square root. Plugging in and writing a square root, we should get:

(1/3)(sqrt(3x-7))