What method would you use, and/or what substitution would you make, to solve this integral?

[Random Variable]

While working on a physics problem involving terminal velocity I came across a integral of the form ?1/(ax^2+bx+c) dx. I "cheated" and looked it up in a table.

 

[Hyperion042]

Quadratic formula + Partial Fractions.

 

[imported_Tick]

You could do it with U-sub AND integrate by parts, but partial fractions is way easier.

 

[Random Variable]

Originally posted by: Tick
You could do it with U-sub AND integrate by parts, but partial fractions is way easier.

Woulld I factor the denominator into [x-b+(b^2-4*a*c)^(1/2)/(2*a)]*[x-b-(b^2-4*a*c)^(1/2)/(2*a)] and then somehow try to find constants A and B so that 1/(ax^2+bx+c) = A/[x-b+(b^2-4*a*c)^(1/2)/(2*a)] + B/[(x-b-(b^2-4*a*c)^(1/2)/(2*a)]?

 

[KillerCharlie]

It's a physics problem, not a math problem. That's what tables are for.

Is this terminal velocity of an object falling through a fluid?

 

[probzy]

Use the calculator.