Find: $\int \frac{2x+3}{x^2(x+3)} dx$.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → $\frac{1}{3} \ln \left| \frac{x}{x+3} \right| - \frac{1}{x} + C$
$I = \int \frac{2x+3}{x^2(x+3)} dx$ ...(i)
$\frac{2x+3}{x^2(x+3)} = \frac{A}{x} + \frac{B}{x^2} + \frac{C}{x+3}$ ...(ii)
$\frac{2x+3}{x^2(x+3)} =\frac{Ax(x+3) + B(x+3) + C(x^2)}{x^2(x+3)}$
$2x+3 = Ax(x+3) + B(x+3) + C(x^2)$
Put $x=0$:
$2(0)+3 = A(0) + B(3) + C(0)$
$3 = 0+3B+0$
$⇒B = 1$
Put $x=-3$
$2(-3)+3 = A(0) + B(0) + C(-3)^2$
$-3 =0+0+ 9C$
$⇒C = -\frac{1}{3}$
Put $x=1$:
$2(1)+3 = A(1)(4) + B(4) + C(1)$
$5=4A+4B+C$
$5 = 4A + 4(1) + (-\frac{1}{3})$
$4A = 5 - 4 + \frac{1}{3}$
$4A= 1 + \frac{1}{3}$
$4A= \frac{4}{3} ⇒A = \frac{1}{3}$
$∴\frac{2x+3}{x^2(x+3)} = \left( \frac{1/3}{x} + \frac{1}{x^2} - \frac{1/3}{x+3} \right)$
Now, $I = \int \frac{2x+3}{x^2(x+3)} dx$
$ = \int \left( \frac{1}{3x} + \frac{1}{x^2} - \frac{1}{3(x+3)} \right) dx$
$=\frac{1}{3}\int\frac{1}{x}dx+\int\frac{1}{x^2}dx-\frac{1}{3}\int\frac{1}{x+3}dx$
$I = \frac{1}{3} \ln|x| - \frac{1}{x} - \frac{1}{3} \ln|x+3| + C$