Limits of Integration

Jason76

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\(\displaystyle y = 5x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle y = 10x^{-2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = 7\)

Finding the other limit of integration:

\(\displaystyle 5x^{-1} = 10x^{-2}\)

Next Step?

\(\displaystyle (5x^{-1})^{-1} = (10x^{-2})^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{1}{5}x = \dfrac{1}{10}x^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = \dfrac{5}{10}x^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = \dfrac{1}{2}x^{2}\) ???
 
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Not really sure what you want to do. What you have done is find where y is given by both
\(\displaystyle y = 5x^{-1}\)
and
\(\displaystyle y = 10x^{-2}\)
which, as you have shown with another minor step, would give
x = 2

But that leaves the x = 7 hanging out there to dry.
 
Not really sure what you want to do. What you have done is find where y is given by both
\(\displaystyle y = 5x^{-1}\)
and
\(\displaystyle y = 10x^{-2}\)
which, as you have shown with another minor step, would give
x = 2

But that leaves the x = 7 hanging out there to dry.

7 isn't really out there to dry. It's a given, and it's not an intersection of the two lines.

\(\displaystyle y = 5x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle y = 10x^{-2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = 7\)

Finding the other limit of integration:

\(\displaystyle 5x^{-1} = 10x^{-2}\)

Next Step?

\(\displaystyle (5x^{-1})^{-1} = (10x^{-2})^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{1}{5}x = \dfrac{1}{10}x^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = \dfrac{5}{10}x^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = \dfrac{1}{2}x^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 1= \dfrac{1}{2}x\)

\(\displaystyle 2 = x\)

(less steps - better way) Another strategy would be to get one single x value on one side, and then (using power manipulation) make that into \(\displaystyle x^{1}\)

\(\displaystyle y = 5x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle y = 10x^{-2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = 7\)

Finding the other limit of integration:

\(\displaystyle 5x^{-1} = 10x^{-2}\)

\(\displaystyle 5 = 10x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle (5)^{-1} = (10x^{-1})^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{1}{5} = \dfrac{1}{10}x\)

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{10}{5} = x\)

\(\displaystyle 2 = x\)

Here is another way:

Get the variable on one side, without a constant attached, then make it into \(\displaystyle x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle y = 5x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle y = 10x^{-2}\)

\(\displaystyle x = 7\)

Finding the other limit of integration:

\(\displaystyle 5x^{-1} = 10x^{-2}\)

\(\displaystyle 5 = 10x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{5}{10} = x^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle (\dfrac{5}{10})^{-1} = (x^{-1})^{-1}\)

\(\displaystyle (\dfrac{1/5}{1/10})= x\)

\(\displaystyle 2 = x\)

Now integrating:

\(\displaystyle \int_{2}^{7} 5x^{-1} - 10x^{-2} dx\)

\(\displaystyle \dfrac{1}{5}\ln|5x| + 10x^{-1}\) evaluated at 7 and 2

\(\displaystyle [\dfrac{1}{5}\ln|5(7)| + 10(7)^{-1}] - [\dfrac{1}{5}\ln|5(2)| + 10(2)^{-1}] = -3.320875979\) ??
 
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Yes, that is correct but you didn't say that in your first post. In you first post you found that the two curves intersect at x= 1. You did not say, perhaps because you thought it too obvious that the other limit of integration is given by the vertical line x= 7.
 
Yes, that is correct but you didn't say that in your first post. In you first post you found that the two curves intersect at x= 1. You did not say, perhaps because you thought it too obvious that the other limit of integration is given by the vertical line x= 7.

Limits of integration are correct, but not the integral.
 
In particular, \(\displaystyle \int 5x^{-1}dx= 5\int x^{-1}dx= 5 ln|x|+ C\)

\(\displaystyle \int 5x^{-1}dx\) is NOT "\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{5} ln|5x|+ C\)" What would make you think it was? Where did that "5x" come from?
 
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