# Math Help - Integral involving e, exponents and fractions

1. ## Integral involving e, exponents and fractions

Is someone able to show me how I'd calculate this integral (showing working steps)? Any help would be greatly appreciate.

$\int{{-5x^3 e^{-5x}}\over{3}} - {5x^2 e^{-5x} dx}$

2. Originally Posted by drew.walker
Is someone able to show me how I'd calculate this integral (showing working steps)? Any help would be greatly appreciate.

$\int{{-5x^3 e^{-5x}}\over{3}} - {5x^2 e^{-5x} dx}$
This is the same as

$\tfrac{1}{3}\int\left[-5x^3e^{-5x}+3x^2e^{-5x}\right]\,dx-\int6x^2e^{-5x}\,dx=\tfrac{1}{3}\int\frac{\,d}{\,dx}\left[x^3e^{-5x}\right]\,dx-6\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx$ $=\tfrac{1}{3}x^3e^{-5x}-6\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx$.

Now apply integration by parts twice to $\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx$ and then you're done!

Can you take it from here?

3. Yeah, I think I'm okay from there. I knew there was a way to simplify the integral, but I just couldn't see it. Been doing this for too long tonight! Thanks.

4. Actually, something I'm confused about. Why did you bother making the equation:

$
\tfrac{1}{3}\int\left[-5x^3e^{-5x}+3x^2e^{-5x}\right]\,dx-\int6x^2e^{-5x}\,dx
$

rather than just:
$
\tfrac{1}{3}\int-5x^3e^{-5x}\,dx-\int5x^2e^{-5x}\,dx
$

Wouldn't the second option be equal, but easier to solve?

5. Originally Posted by drew.walker
Actually, something I'm confused about. Why did you bother making the equation:

$
\tfrac{1}{3}\int\left[-5x^3e^{-5x}+3x^2e^{-5x}\right]\,dx-\int6x^2e^{-5x}\,dx
$

rather than just:
$
\tfrac{1}{3}\int-5x^3e^{-5x}\,dx-\int5x^2e^{-5x}\,dx
$

Wouldn't the second option be equal, but easier to solve?
Let's see!

Let's focus on $\int -5x^3e^{-5x}\,dx$.

Let $u=-5x^3$ and $\,dv=e^{-5x}\,dx$

Then $\,du=-15x^2\,dx$ and $v=-\tfrac{1}{5}e^{-5x}$

Thus, $\int -5x^3e^{-5x}\,dx=x^3e^{-5x}-3\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx$.

Now, note that $\tfrac{1}{3}\int -5x^3e^{-5x}\,dx-5\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx=\tfrac{1}{3}\left[x^3e^{-5x}-3\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx\right]-5\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx$ $=\tfrac{1}{3}x^3e^{-5x}-\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx-5\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx=\tfrac{1}{3}x^3e^{-5x}-6\int x^2e^{-5x}\,dx$

So you'll end up with the same thing!

I just thought forcing product rule in the integrand would save time in integrating ==> you only need to apply integration by parts twice.