# Math Help - Integration w/ u-substitution, work is inside

1. ## Integration w/ u-substitution, work is inside

http://i36.tinypic.com/rsas13.jpg

Thanks in advance for any help!

2. Why use u-substitution on this problem?
$\int{t^2(t-\frac{2}{t}) dt}$
$\int{(t^3-2t)dt}$
$\frac{t^4}{4}-t^2+c$

I suppose if you HAVE to use u-substitution, you could let $u=t^2$ instead.
That would give you the following integral:
$\int{(\frac{u}{2}-1)du}$

3. Originally Posted by pflo
Why use u-substitution on this problem?
Well, that's what the lesson was on, so I just assumed we had to do it that way. But yeah, that's easier. Does that mean u-sub would be nearly impossible/very difficult if I were to do it?

4. Originally Posted by janedoe
Well, that's what the lesson was on, so I just assumed we had to do it that way. But yeah, that's easier. Does that mean u-sub would be nearly impossible/very difficult if I were to do it?
I edited my original reply to include a method where you could use u-substitution.

One note: When using u-substitution, always look for the derivative of u (the one with the original variable) to cancel out. In this case, you identified the problem with the substitution you originally did - couldn't cancel out the t's. But with $u=t^2$ the derivative would include a 't' which WOULD cancel out.