# Basic logarithmic expression

• Feb 3rd 2014, 12:02 PM
jguzman
Basic logarithmic expression
As a result of looking for the analytical solution to the following indefinite integral

$\int\frac{dx}{(1-x)}=\int\frac{dt}{\tau}$

I came to the following expression:

$-log(1-x) = t/\tau + C$

for $C$ being the integration constant. I am trying now to get the expression of $x(t)$ and I am not sure about the following steps:

1) Multiply both terms by -1 (not sure if this is valid with logarithmic expressions):

$log(1-x) = -t/\tau - C$

2) Apply exponentiation to both sides of the previous expression:

$(1-x) = \exp{(-t/\tau)} - \exp{C}$

Since $\exp{C}$ is a constant ( $K$), I am not sure how to proceed further. , I would try something like:

$x = 1-exp(-t/\tau) +K$

But this is not correct. I would appreciate if somebody would give a hint.

• Feb 3rd 2014, 12:08 PM
HallsofIvy
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
What, exactly, are you trying to say? Yes $-log(1- x)= -t/\tau+ C$ is the general solution to the integration. But what does "for C" mean?
• Feb 3rd 2014, 01:04 PM
jguzman
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
I re-edited the post again...
• Feb 3rd 2014, 01:25 PM
Soroban
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
Hello, jguzman!

If we have an arbitrary constant, $C_1$ and multiply by -1,
. . we get $-C_1$, another arbitrary constant.
We might as well call it $C_2.$

Then we raise $e$ to the power $C_2.$
. . We get: $e^{C_2}$, another arbitrary constant.
We might as well call it $C_3.$

Get the idea?

Quote:

$\int\frac{dx}{(1-x)}=\int\frac{dt}{\tau}$

I came to the following expression: . $-\ln(1-x) \,=\, \frac{t}{\tau} + C_1$

Multiply by $-1\!:\;\ln(1-x) \:=\:-\frac{t}{\tau} + C_2$

Exponentiate: . $1-x \;=\;e^{-\frac{t}{\tau} + C_2} \;=\;e^{-\frac{t}{\tau}}\!\cdot\!e^{C_2}\;=\;e^{\frac{t}{ \tau}}\!\cdot\!C_3$

We have: . $1-x \;=\;C_3e^{\frac{t}{\tau}}$

Therefore: . $x \;=\;1 + Ce^{\frac{t}{\tau}}$
• Feb 3rd 2014, 04:22 PM
Prove It
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
Quote:

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
What, exactly, are you trying to say? Yes $-log(1- x)= -t/\tau+ C$ is the general solution to the integration. But what does "for C" mean?

Actually, it's \displaystyle \begin{align*} -\log{ |1 -x | } = -\frac{t}{\tau} + C \end{align*}.
• Feb 7th 2014, 03:23 AM
jguzman
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
Hi everybody!

You guys helped me a lot!. I figured out how to reach to the solution. I'll post it here just in case somebody need it!

From the original expression:

$\frac{dx}{dt}=\frac{(1-x)}{\tau}$

by separating the variables we have:

$\frac{dx}{(1-x)}=\frac{dt}{\tau}$

with substitution of $u = (1-x)$, I get that $dx = -du$

To obtain the following expression to be solved by direct integration:

$\int\frac{-du}{u}=\int\frac{dt}{\tau}$

whose solution is:

$-ln|u| = t/\tau + C$

for $C$ being the integration constant. Thanks Prove It for your excellent post about it!

Now it's simple to follow Soroban:

$-ln|(1-x)| = t/\tau + C$

$ln|(1-x)| = -t/\tau - C$

$1-x = \exp(-t/\tau - C)$, this was the difficult step for me :S

$1-x = \exp(-t/\tau)*\exp(-C)$, now let $K=\exp(-C)$

$1-x = \exp(-t/\tau)*K$

$-x = -1 + K*\exp(-t/\tau)$

$x = 1 - K*\exp(-t/\tau)$

Thanks so much !!!
• Feb 7th 2014, 03:28 AM
Prove It
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
Quote:

Originally Posted by jguzman
Hi everybody!

You guys helped me a lot!. I figured out how to reach to the solution. I'll post it here just in case somebody need it!

From the original expression:

$\frac{dx}{dt}=\frac{(1-x)}{\tau}$

by separating the variables we have:

$\frac{dx}{(1-x)}=\frac{dt}{\tau}$

with substitution of $u = (1-x)$, I get that $dx = -du$

To obtain the following expression to be solved by direct integration:

$\int\frac{-du}{u}=\int\frac{dt}{\tau}$

whose solution is:

$-ln|u| = t/\tau + C$

for $C$ being the integration constant. Thanks Prove It for your excellent post about it!

Now it's simple to follow Soroban:

$-ln|(1-x)| = t/\tau + C$

$ln|(1-x)| = -t/\tau - C$

$1-x = \exp(-t/\tau - C)$, this was the difficult step for me :S

$1-x = \exp(-t/\tau)*\exp(-C)$, now let $K=\exp(-C)$

$1-x = \exp(-t/\tau)*K$

$-x = -1 + K*\exp(-t/\tau)$

$x = 1 - K*\exp(-t/\tau)$

Thanks so much !!!

The final answer is correct, just a couple of notes. You can't just disregard the absolute value.

\displaystyle \begin{align*} \ln{ \left| 1 - x \right| } &= -\frac{t}{\tau} - C \\ \left| 1 - x \right| &= e^{-\frac{t}{\tau} - C} \\ \left| 1 - x \right| &= e^{-C} e^{-\frac{t}{\tau}} \\ 1 - x &= \pm e^{-C} e^{-\frac{t}{\tau}} \\ 1 - x &= K \, e^{-\frac{t}{\tau}} \textrm{ where } K = \pm e^{-C} \end{align*}
• Feb 7th 2014, 03:59 AM
jguzman
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
Quote:

Originally Posted by Prove It
The final answer is correct, just a couple of notes. You can't just disregard the absolute value.

\displaystyle \begin{align*} \ln{ \left| 1 - x \right| } &= -\frac{t}{\tau} - C \\ \left| 1 - x \right| &= e^{-\frac{t}{\tau} - C} \\ \left| 1 - x \right| &= e^{-C} e^{-\frac{t}{\tau}} \\ 1 - x &= \pm e^{-C} e^{-\frac{t}{\tau}} \\ 1 - x &= K \, e^{-\frac{t}{\tau}} \textrm{ where } K = \pm e^{-C} \end{align*}

Wov, this now explains several things. I was "having the feeling" that the sign of integration constant, while not being so relevant for the whole arithmetic, may be important for finding the solution, and was wondering how this would affect the resulting expression.

Now, the correct solution would be...

$x(t) = 1 \pm K e^{\frac{-t}{\tau}}$

Due to the nature of the model, $x(t) \le 1$, then having the negative sing for $K$ makes sense in that context. It's so good to have the mathematical rigor!.

Again and again, many thanks!
• Feb 7th 2014, 04:02 AM
Prove It
Re: Basic logarithmic expression
It's fine to have just one sign for the K, since the fact that plus or minus a constant is still a constant. I just wanted to point out what happens to the absolute value in the solving for x.