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Find derivative of $$y= \frac{ax+b}{cx+d}$$

I found it to be $$\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{a}{cx+d}-\frac{c(ax+b)}{(cx+d)^2}$$

Use it to evaluate:

$$\int_0^1{\frac{1}{(x+3)^2}}\ln\left(\frac{x+1}{x+3}\right)dx$$

I figured that here $y=\frac{x+1}{x+3}$ and $$\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{1}{x+3}-\frac{(x+1)}{(x+3)^2}$$

and using the technique I learned from my last question I did this:

$$\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{(x+3)}{(x+3)^2}-\frac{(x+1)}{(x+3)^2}=\frac{2}{(x+3)^2}$$

which I could then substitute back, having changed the limits by substituting $1$ into $y$ and then $0$ into $y$:

$$y|_{x=1}=\frac{x+1}{x+3}=\frac{1}{2}$$

$$y|_{x=0}=\frac{1}{3}=\frac{1}{3}$$

$$2\int_0^1{\frac{dy}{dx}}\ln(y)dx=2\int_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2}{\ln(y)dy}$$

This gives me:

$$2\int_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2}{\ln(y)dy}$$

$$=2\left[y(\ln(y)-1)\right]_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2} = 2\left[\frac{1}{2}\left(\ln\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)-\frac{1}{2}\right)\right]-\frac{1}{3}\left[\ln\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)-\frac{1}{3}\right]\\$$

$$\ln\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)-1-\frac{2}{3}\ln\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)+\frac{2}{9}$$

The problem is I am supposed to end up with something else. Can anyone spot any issues with this?

EDIT: This is the answer I am supposed to be getting:

$$\frac{1}{6}\ln(3)-\frac{1}{4}\ln(2)-\frac{1}{12}$$

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    What's the answer supposed to be?2012-08-06
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    If $dy/dx=2/(x+3)^2$, then $1/(x+3)^2=(1/2)dy/dx$. You've used $2dy/dx$ instead.2012-08-06

3 Answers 3

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You should have been careful when multiplying by $2$, I think that you should have multiplied by $\frac{1}{2}$ in your formal calculation.

Also, you may need to rewrite your answer a bit to get it right, such as computing $\frac{2}{9} - 1 = -\frac{7}{9}$, which is implicitly required from you by any textbook, I presume.

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    I posted the answer now, the reason I stopped there was that it was not going toward the answer needed. See above.2012-08-06
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    also can you elaborate on why I should multiply but a half instead of 2? Thanks2012-08-06
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    @Magpie: For your second question, see my comment to your post. In short, if $dy/dx=2f$, then $f=\frac12 dy/dx$, not $2dy/dx$.2012-08-06
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    yeah that works. Thanks.2012-08-06
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  • You have:

$$\dfrac{dy}{dx}=\dfrac{(x+3)}{(x+3)^2}-\dfrac{(x+1)}{(x+3)^2}=\dfrac{2}{(x+3)^2}$$

But the integral is $I=\int_0^1{\dfrac{1}{(x+3)^2}}\ln\left(\dfrac{x+1}{x+3}\right)dx$ where ${\dfrac{1}{(x+3)^2}}$ is actually $\dfrac 12 \times \dfrac{2}{(x+3)^2}$. Therefore: $$I= \dfrac 12 \int_0^1{\frac{dy}{dx}}\ln(y)dx=\dfrac 12 \int_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2}{\ln(y)dy}$$

  • The other issue might be:

$$\dfrac 12 \int_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2}{\ln(y)dy}=\dfrac 12 \bigg[y(\ln(y)-1\bigg]_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2} =\\\frac 12 \left(\frac{1}{2}\left(\ln\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)-1\right)-\frac{1}{3}\left(\ln\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)-1\right)\right) \\=\frac 12 \left(-\frac 12 \ln 2 - \frac 12 +\frac 13 \ln 3+ \frac 13\right)\\=\frac 16 \ln 3 -\frac 14 \ln 2 -\frac 1{12}$$

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    What do you mean the other issue might be? Once I did the $\frac{1}{2}$ I had the right answer. That what you've written needs correcting I think.2012-08-06
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    @Magpie: Well, I thought you did not notice $\ln \frac 12 = - \ln 2$.2012-08-06
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    Ok, I think I was ok with the logs but just to chekc I have put up what I did further up in the question. LEt me know if you see any problems with it.thanks2012-08-06
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    @Magpie: No, that doesn't seem correct. You have $\int \ln x dx= x(\ln x -1)+C$.2012-08-06
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    ok I have added a step to show what i was thinking, but I have to admit, I don't really get what you mean.2012-08-06
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    @Magpie: You've written $\frac 12 (\ln (\frac 12)- \frac 12)$ but it should be $\frac 12 (\ln (\frac 12)- 1)$. I don't how to explain more explicitly.2012-08-06
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    @Gigali. I still think it should be $-\frac{1}{12}$. Check that please.2012-08-06
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The solution I have now is:

$$\frac{1}{2}\int_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2}\ln(y)dy=\frac{1}{2}\left[y(ln(y)-1)\right]_\frac{1}{3}^\frac{1}{2}$$

$$=\frac{1}{2}\left[\frac{1}{2}\ln(\frac{1}{2})-\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{3}\ln(\frac{1}{3})+\frac{1}{3}\right]\\$$

$$=\frac{1}{2}\ln\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)-\frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{3}\ln\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)+\frac{1}{6}$$

$$=-\frac{1}{4}\ln(2)+\frac{1}{6}\ln({3})-\frac{6}{24}+\frac{4}{24}$$

$$=-\frac{1}{4}\ln(2)+\frac{1}{6}\ln({3})-\frac{1}{12}$$