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Thread: Integration with exponential functions

  1. #1
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    Integration with exponential functions

    The problem is: \int\frac{3^{2x}}{1+3^{2x}}\dx

    The answer I get is: 1/2\ln|1+3^{2x}|+C by using the formula \int\frac{u'}{u}\du = \ln|u|+C

    Yet the answer is: \frac{\ln(3^{2x}+1)}{2\ln3}+C

    I am not sure how how the natural logarithm in the denominator. Would it be possible for someone to help me?
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  2. #2
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    Re: Integration with exponential functions

    Quote Originally Posted by Bashyboy View Post
    The problem is: \int\frac{3^{2x}}{1+3^{2x}}\dx

    The answer I get is: 1/2\ln|1+3^{2x}|+C by using the formula \int\frac{u'}{u}\du = \ln|u|+C

    Yet the answer is: \frac{\ln(3^{2x}+1)}{2\ln3}+C

    I am not sure how how the natural logarithm in the denominator. Would it be possible for someone to help me?
    The derivative D_x\left(3^{2x}\right)=2\left(3^{2x}\right)\ln(3).
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  3. #3
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    Re: Integration with exponential functions

    Quote Originally Posted by Bashyboy View Post
    The problem is: \int\frac{3^{2x}}{1+3^{2x}}\dx

    The answer I get is: 1/2\ln|1+3^{2x}|+C by using the formula \int\frac{u'}{u}\du = \ln|u|+C
    I presume the "u" is in the denominator because you let u= 1+ 3^{2x}. From that, du= (2x)3^{2x} ln(2)dx.
    Notice the "ln(2)" in the derivative. While it is true that the derivative of e^x is e^x, that is a special property of e. For any other base, say a^x we can use the fact that ln(x) is the inverse of e^x: a^x= e^{ln(a^x)}= e^{x ln(a)} so that the derivative of a^x is e^{x ln(a)} times the derivative of x ln(a) which is ln(a). That is, the derivative of a^x= e^{x ln(a)} is ln(a)e^{xln(a)}= ln(a) a^x.

    In other words, if u= 3^{2x}, then du= 2 ln(3) 3^{2x}dx so that 3^{2x}dx= \frac{du}{2 ln(3)}

    Yet the answer is: \frac{\ln(3^{2x}+1)}{2\ln3}+C

    I am not sure how how the natural logarithm in the denominator. Would it be possible for someone to help me?
    Last edited by HallsofIvy; May 6th 2012 at 03:47 PM.
    Thanks from Bashyboy
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