Chapter 4: Problem 45
Find the integral. \(\int \frac{x}{x^{4}+1} d x\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The integral \(\int \frac{x}{x^{4}+1}d x = \frac{1}{4}\ln |x^{4}+1|\)
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Substitution
Let \(u=x^{4}+1\). Then, the differential of \(u\) is \(du=4x^{3}dx\). Now, it's clear from the given integral that multiplying and dividing it by 4 doesn't change its value, so we transform the original integral \(\int \frac{x}{x^{4}+1}d x\) to \(\frac{1}{4} \int \frac{4x}{x^{4}+1}d x = \frac{1}{4} \int \frac{du}{u}\).
02
Perform Integration
The integral of \(\frac{1}{u}\) with respect to \(u\) is \(\ln |u|\), therefore applying the integral gives us \(\frac{1}{4} \int \frac{du}{u} = \frac{1}{4}\ln |u|\) .
03
Substitute u back into the Integral
In step 1, we defined \(u=x^{4}+1\). We replace this back into our integral expression from step 2. Thus, our final answer will be \(\frac{1}{4}\ln |x^{4}+1|\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Integration Techniques
When we encounter an integral, it often requires a bit more than straightforward application of rules. Various integration techniques exist to simplify and solve intricate integrals. These methods are tools in our calculus toolkit, such as:
- Substitution: Useful when the integral contains a function and its derivative.
- Integration by Parts: Ideal for products of functions, reminiscent of the product rule in differentiation.
- Partial Fraction Decomposition: Valuable for integrals involving rational functions.
Substitution Method
The substitution method is akin to reversing the chain rule from differentiation. It involves substituting part of the integral with a single variable, typically denoted as \(u\), to make the integral easier to solve. This method becomes especially handy when you spot a function and its derivative present within the integrand.
Here's how it works:
Here's how it works:
- Select a substitution: Identify a part of the integrand to substitute, like \(u = x^4 + 1\) in our example.
- Differentiate \(u\): Compute \(du\) by differentiating your substitution, in this case, \(du = 4x^3 dx\).
- Adjust the integral: Rewrite the integral in terms of \(u\), often requiring adjustments like multiplying by constants to match the differential.
In \(\int \frac{x}{x^4 + 1} dx\), this step results in \(\frac{1}{4} \int \frac{du}{u}\). - Integrate: Solve the simpler integral with respect to \(u\).
- Back-substitute: Replace \(u\) with the original variable expressions to complete the solution.
Definite and Indefinite Integrals
In calculus, integrals come in two flavors: definite and indefinite. Each serves a different purpose but is related in concept.
**Indefinite Integrals:**
**Indefinite Integrals:**
- An indefinite integral is the most basic form and is expressed as \(\int f(x) \, dx\).
- It represents a family of functions, or antiderivatives, that we denote with a constant of integration \(C\).
- For instance, the solution \(\frac{1}{4}\ln|x^4 + 1| + C\) is an indefinite integral.
- They are evaluated over a specific interval \([a, b]\) and give a numerical value.
- Mathematically represented as \(\int_{a}^{b} f(x) \, dx\), indicating the area under the curve from \(a\) to \(b\).
- The result of a definite integral is a number, unlike the function result of an indefinite integral.