How do you integrate x+4(x+1)2+4 using partial fractions?

1 Answer
Apr 18, 2018

x+4(x+1)2+4dx=ln(x+1)2+4+32arctan(x+12)+C

Explanation:

There is no way to really perform partial fraction decomposition here; however, we may integrate using the following substitution:

u=x+1
x=u1
du=dx

u1+4u2+4dx=u+3u2+4du

We may split this up as follows:

uu2+4du+3duu2+4

uu2+4du=12ln(u2+4) -- this can be solved with a mental substitution, as the differential of u2+4 shows up in the numerator with a bit of simplification. We do not attach absolute value bars as u2+4 is always positive.

3duu2+4=32arctan(u2).

This comes from the common integral, dxx2+a2=1aarctan(xa). For our case, a=4=2.

Thus, rewriting in terms of x and simplifying the logarithm, we see

x+4(x+1)2+4dx=ln(x+1)2+4+32arctan(x+12)+C