How you calculate this? int_0^2(2x^3-6x+9x-5)/(x^2-2x+5)^n.Suggestion:Forming an odd function by substitution x-1=t,like int_(-1)^1f(t)dt=0.

2 Answers
May 13, 2017

See below.

Explanation:

Assuming that the integral is

int_0^2(2x^3-6x^2+9x-5)/(x^2-2x+5)^n dx we have that

2x^3-6x^2+9x-5 = 2(x-1)(x^2-2x+5/2)

Now, changing variables

y = x^2-2x+5

with

dy = (2x-2)dx

the integral can be stated as

int_(y(0))^(y(2)) 2(x-1) (y-5/2)/y^ndy/(2x-2)=int_(y(0))^(y(2))(y-5/2)/y^n dy

or

int_(y(0))^(y(2))(y-5/2)/y^n dy=[y^-n ((5 y)/(2 (n-1)) + y^2/(2 - n))]_(y(0))^(y(2))

May 16, 2017

Following the suggestion:

Explanation:

Let t = x-1, so that x=t+1 and dx = dt.

When x=0, t=-1 and when x=2, t=1.

The numerator of the integrand becomes

2x^3-6x^2+9x-5 = 2(t+1)^3-6(t+1)^2+9(t+1)-5

= 2(t^3+3t^2+3t+1)-6(t^2+2t+1)+9(t+1)-5

= 2t^3+cancel(6t^2)+6t+2-cancel(6t^2)-12t-6+9t+9-5

= 2t^3+3t.

This polynomial is odd.

And the denominator becomes

(x^2-2x+5)^n = ((t+1)^2-2(t+1)+5)^n

= (t^2+2t+1-2t-2+5)^n

= (t^2+4)^n

This polynomial is even, so the quotient if the two polynomials is odd.

Therefore

int_0^2 (2x^3-6x^2+9x-5)/(x^2-2x+5)^n dx = int_-1^1 (2t^3+3t)/(t^2+4)^n dt

Because the integrand in the new integral is odd and we are integrating from -a to a, the integral is 0.

int_0^2 (2x^3-6x^2+9x-5)/(x^2-2x+5)^n dx = int_-1^1 (2t^3+3t)/(t^2+4)^n dt = 0

Bonus note

The substitution also shows us that the graph of the original integrand is symmetric with respect to the point (1,0).

(If (1+a,b) is on the graph then (1-a,-b) is also on the graph.)