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let y = 3xlyounamu said:How do you integrate 3^(x-1)?
Very comprehensive, Andrew. Appreciate it.vds700 said:let y = 3x
x = log3y
=lny/ln3
dx/dy = 1/yln3
dy/dx = yln 3
=3x ln3
there4fore I(3x ln3) dx = 3x
I3x-1 dx
=I3x . (1/3) dx
=(1/3) 3x /ln3 (from above)
=3x-1/ln3
hope this makes sense
of course, i knew that. That's an awesome video, man. Pity that you weren't there to show your stuff. Notable participants were only like Andrew (not vds) and fusca.morning storm said:haha you guys are good.
ioh and namu, did you know i made the video in your signature haha...
Sometimes when you don't know how to integrate, it helps to derive them if they're simple functions. ESPECIALLY true of exponentials.lyounamu said:How do you integrate 3^(x-1)?
Captin gay said:ues the fact that 3^(x-1) = e^(ln (3^(x-1)))
HEY TOM!! finally found u on BOS. lol.morning storm said:haha you guys are good.
ioh and namu, did you know i made the video in your signature haha...
nice work mate- I didn't think to use implicit differentiation.Slidey said:Sometimes when you don't know how to integrate, it helps to derive them if they're simple functions. ESPECIALLY true of exponentials.
Derivative: (x-1)' * ln(3) * 3^(x-1) = ln(3) * 3^(x-1).
Thus the integral would probably be the opposite, or 3^(x-1)/ln(3).
I say this because in a test when you forget, it really helps to know ways to 'guess' the answer with a high degree of accuracy and speed.
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If I were vds, I'd be showing you how to derive it using this method, personally (implicit differentiation - 4 unit technique, but a great tool to learn, and very easy, and clearer):
y=3^(x-1)
Convert x to a function of y using the natural logarithmic function:
ln(y) = (x-1)*ln(3)
Take derivative w.r.t. x:
d(ln(y))/dx = ln(3)*(x-1)/dx
y'/y = ln(3) (remember d(ln(f(x)))/dx = f'(x)/f(x) because y is a function of x - chain rule)
y'=ln(3)y
y'=ln(3)*3^(x-1)
or shorter:
y=3^(x-1)
ln(y) = ln(3)*(x-1)
y'/y = ln(3)
y'=ln(3)*y
y'=ln(3)*3^(x-1)
Although, vds is actually implicitly using implicit differentiation anyway, which is a bit of a mind fuck - because they're actually both equivalent to the chain rule. The benefit to his method I guess is that I think you get taught his 'derivative of an inverse function' method in normal 2 unit maths.
Also, if you know the integral of 3^x but not 3^(x-1), use 'integration by substitution' (a 3 unit technique which is the reverse chain rule)).
let u=x-1
then d(u)/dx = d(x-1)/dx = 1
but it's easier to just go: du = 1 dr, or du=dx
thus y=3^u
hence integral Int 3^(x-1) dx becomes Int 3^u du
answer: 3^u/ln(3)
sub in u=x-1:
final answer: Int y = 3^(x-1)/ln(3)
it's based on the fact that: dy/dx = du/dx * dy/du (chain rule again).
E.g.:
chain rule:
y=(x^2+1)^7
let u=x^2+1, u'=2x
y=u^7
y'=7*u'*u^6 (u is a function of x)
y' = 14x(x^2+1)^6
Or more formally:
dy/dx = dy/du * du/dx
dy/dx = 7u^6 * u' = 7(x^2+1)^6 * 2x = 14x(x^2+1)^6
inverse chain rule:
y = 14x(x^2+1)^6
Int y dx = Int 14x(x^2+1)^6 dx
let u = x^2+1, du/dx = 2x, du = 2x dx
so Int 14x(x^2+1)^6 dx = Int 7 * u^6 * du
answer = u^7 = (x^2+1)^7
short version:
Int 14x(x^2+1)^6 dx
u=x^2+1, du=2x dx
Int 7u^6 dx = u^7
= (x^2+1)^7
You are awesome! Seriously, you are not just there to help someone. You are there to teach someone a valuable lesson too! I learnt heaps from you from this thread. Thanks.Slidey said:If you'd read my post, it's about understanding multiple methods. This is important, because Iyounamu is doing Maths Extension 2, where maths means a little more than simply rote learning.
But hey, you'll go real far with that attitude: "This method works, thus I don't need to understand why or bother with alternate methods."
I'm not sure why I didn't put it in the forum guidelines, but just so you know, multiple solutions to a problem are encouraged here for precisely the reasons above. It's not just about solving somebody's homework problem and moving on.![]()