Math  /  Calculus

Questionstion 5
Consider x2+1x3+3xdx\int \frac{x^{2}+1}{x^{3}+3 x} d x What is the most efficient u-substitution? Select only ONE answer. u=x3+3xu=x^{3}+3 x u=x+1\mathrm{u}=\mathrm{x}+1 u=x\mathrm{u}=\mathrm{x} u=x3u=x^{3} y=x2+1y=x^{2}+1 y=x2y=x^{2}

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? Which substitution makes this integral, x2+1x3+3xdx\int \frac{x^{2}+1}{x^{3}+3x} dx, the easiest to solve? Watch out! Don't just pick a substitution randomly!
Think about how the substitution will affect the *whole* integral, both the numerator *and* the denominator.

STEP 2

1. Analyze the Integral
2. Explore the Options
3. Choose the Best Substitution

STEP 3

Alright, let's look at what we've got!
We have this integral x2+1x3+3xdx\int \frac{x^{2}+1}{x^{3}+3x} dx.
Notice that the denominator is x3+3xx^{3} + 3x.

STEP 4

Now, think about what happens when we take the derivative of x3+3xx^{3} + 3x.
We get 3x2+33x^{2} + 3, using the power rule!

STEP 5

Hmm, 3x2+33x^{2} + 3 is pretty close to the numerator, x2+1x^{2} + 1, isn't it?
In fact, 3x2+33x^{2} + 3 is just 33 times x2+1x^{2} + 1.
This is a big clue!

STEP 6

Let's try the suggested substitution u=x3+3xu = x^{3} + 3x.
If we take the derivative of both sides with respect to xx, we get dudx=3x2+3\frac{du}{dx} = 3x^{2} + 3.

STEP 7

We can rewrite this as du=(3x2+3)dxdu = (3x^{2} + 3) dx.
Now, notice that we can divide both sides by 3 to get 13du=(x2+1)dx\frac{1}{3} du = (x^{2} + 1) dx.

STEP 8

Look at that!
The expression (x2+1)dx(x^{2} + 1) dx shows up in our original integral.
This means we can replace it with 13du\frac{1}{3} du.
This is a great sign!

STEP 9

With the substitution u=x3+3xu = x^{3} + 3x, our integral becomes 1u13du\int \frac{1}{u} \cdot \frac{1}{3} du, which simplifies to 131udu\frac{1}{3} \int \frac{1}{u} du.
Much easier, right?

STEP 10

The other substitutions won't simplify the integral as nicely.
For example, if we try u=xu = x, we get du=dxdu = dx, and the integral becomes u2+1u3+3udu\int \frac{u^{2}+1}{u^{3}+3u} du, which isn't any simpler!

STEP 11

Since u=x3+3xu = x^{3} + 3x transforms the integral into a much simpler form, it's the most efficient substitution.
It lets us rewrite the integral in terms of uu and dudu, making it much easier to solve.

STEP 12

The most efficient u-substitution is u=x3+3xu = x^{3} + 3x.

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