× Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask a question
Top Posters
Since Sunday
t
7
m
6
k
6
F
5
j
5
t
5
j
5
G
5
f
5
a
5
d
5
c
5
New Topic  
ijk90825 ijk90825
wrote...
Posts: 12
Rep: 0 0
11 years ago
For example:
[integral of 1/(x+5)] = ln|x+5|

I know you don't always put the absolute value signs there, so how do you know when you need them?
And Isn't that going to mess with your answer?
Read 425 times
2 Replies

Related Topics

Replies
wrote...
11 years ago
Well think about it you can't take the Ln of any negative number unless your working with complex numbers. So the Absolute value is just there to turn the negative into positive.

Example Ln|-10| would be correct
But Ln(-10) would be a non-existent solution
wrote...
11 years ago
The ln function is only defined when its argument is positive. (In your case the argument is x+5). And to ensure that an argument is positive, we sometimes need to put absolute value signs around it.

Eg: x+5 can be negative (when x<5), so we need ln|x+5| not ln(x+5)
      But x^2 +1 is always positive, so ln(x^2+1) is fine

Also, ln is not defined when its argument is zero. So I suppose technically for your integral your answer should be "ln|x+5| + constant, where x cannot equal -5", however, simply "ln|x+5| + constant" is generally written.
New Topic      
Explore
Post your homework questions and get free online help from our incredible volunteers
  981 People Browsing
Related Images
  
 1448
  
 234
  
 248
Your Opinion
What's your favorite funny biology word?
Votes: 334