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I have simplified the problem a bit using integration by parts, with $u = e^x(x+2)^2$ and $v = 1/(x+4)^2$ but I'm then stuck with how to integrate this:

$$\int\frac{e^x(x^2+4x+8)}{x+4}dx. $$

I've considered substituting $t = e^x$, but this doesn't seem to make the problem any easier.

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3 Answers 3

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Since \begin{align*} \left(\frac{x+2}{x+4}\right)^2 &= \frac{x^2+4x+4}{(x+4)^2} \\ &= \frac{4}{(x+4)^2}+\frac{x(x+4)}{(x+4)^2} \\ &= \frac{4}{(x+4)^2}+\frac{x}{x+4} \\ &=f'(x)+f(x), \\ \end{align*} let $$ \color{blue}{f(x)=\frac{x}{x+4}}. $$

Now for $C$ constant, since $$ \dfrac{d}{dx}(e^x f(x)+C) = (e^x f(x)+C)' = e^x f'(x)+e^x f(x), $$ we have $$ \int \left(e^x f'(x)+e^x f(x)\right)dx = e^x f(x)+C. $$ So for the above indefinite integral, $$ \begin{align*} \color{green}{\int e^x\left(\frac{x+2}{x+4}\right)^2 dx} &= \int e^x \left(f'(x) + f(x)\right) dx \\ &= \int \left(e^x f'(x)+e^x f(x)\right) dx \\ &= e^x f(x)+C \\ &= \color{green}{\frac{x\: e^x}{x+4} + C}. \end{align*} $$

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HINT:

$$(x+2)^2=(x+4-2)^2=(x+4)^2-4(x+4)+4$$

$$\int e^x[f'(x)+f(x)]dx=e^xf(x)+K$$

Can you recognize $f(x)$ here?

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks. Can you also help with the second integral? $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 30, 2017 at 15:28
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    $\begingroup$ @100110, You don't need to integrate by parts. Start as hinted $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 30, 2017 at 15:30
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, but I'd like to know how one deals with an integral like that. Thank you. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 30, 2017 at 15:33
  • $\begingroup$ @100110, Somehow we need to reach at the form $$e^x[f(x)+f'(x)]+$$ terms whose integration is simple enough See also : math.stackexchange.com/questions/687468/… math.stackexchange.com/questions/714204/… math.stackexchange.com/questions/1725611/… $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 30, 2017 at 15:37
  • $\begingroup$ @100110 if you were given that second form of the integral you gave us and wanted to integrate it, it might just be easier to go backwards in integration by parts to get to your original form and then using this (or others) hint. To go backwards, think about applying integration by parts the same way, but switching your $u$ and $dv$ a little bit $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 30, 2017 at 16:02
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\begin{align*}\int e^x\left(\frac{x+2}{x+4}\right)^2\,\mathrm dx&=\int\frac1{(x+4)^2}e^x(x+2)^2\,\mathrm dx\\&=-\frac{e^x(x+2)^2}{x+4}+\int e^x(x+2)\,\mathrm dx\\&=-\frac{e^x(x+2)^2}{x+4}+e^x(x+2)-\int e^x\,\mathrm dx\\&=-\frac{e^x(x+2)^2}{x+4}+e^x(x+1)\\&=\frac{xe^x}{x+4}.\end{align*}

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