Let's do some derivative #2

Calculus Level 2

0 x 2 ( 1 + t ) f ( t ) d t = 6 x 4 \large \int_0^{x^2} (1+t) f(t) \, dt = 6x^4

Find a real valued function f f defined and continuous for x 0 x\ge 0 such that the equation above is true. Submit your answer as the value of f ( 1 ) f(1) .


The answer is 6.

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4 solutions

Akhil Bansal
Nov 1, 2015

0 x 2 ( 1 + t ) f ( t ) dt = 6 x 4 \Rightarrow \displaystyle\int_0^{x^2} ( 1 + t)\color{#3D99F6}{f}(t) \text{dt} = 6x^4

Applying Second fundamental theorem of calculus ,

( 1 + x 2 ) f ( x 2 ) ( 2 x ) = 24 x 3 \Rightarrow ( 1 + x^2)\color{#3D99F6}{f}(x^2)(2x) = 24x^3

f ( x 2 ) = 12 x 2 1 + x 2 \Rightarrow \color{#3D99F6}{f}(\color{#D61F06}{x^2})= \dfrac{12\color{#D61F06}{x^2}}{1 + \color{#D61F06}{x^2}}

Substituting x 2 = 1 \color{#D61F06}{x^2} = 1

f ( 1 ) = 6 \Rightarrow \color{#3D99F6}{f(1)} = 6

Who came up with this silly name "Newton Leibniz Rule"?... it's the Leibniz (Integral) Rule.

Also, what you are using here isn't the Leibniz Rule, which concerns functions of two variables, but the second fundamental theorem of calculus .

Otto Bretscher - 5 years, 7 months ago

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Thankyou sir, Edited

Akhil Bansal - 5 years, 7 months ago

According to wikipedia the second fundamental theorem of calculus is also sometimes referred to as the Newton Leibniz Axiom.

Bill Bell - 5 years, 7 months ago

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Oh no, this is getting even worse... no wonder our calculus students are getting confused. This certainly is no axiom, but a theorem that is not that hard to prove.

Thank you for letting me know, though, in case my students ever bring this up.

Otto Bretscher - 5 years, 7 months ago

Assuming the fundamental theorem of Calculus and, that two differentiable functions in (a, b) such that they have the same derivative differ by a constant. With this in mind, the functions of both members of the equality vanish at x = 0. Then, It is sufficient to match the derivatives ( 1 + x 2 1 + x^2 )f( x 2 x^2 )2x = 24 x 3 x^3 . (Now, x 0 x\ge 0 ) \Rightarrow f(x)= 12x / (1 + x) \Rightarrow f(1) = 6

Harish Sasikumar
Nov 10, 2015

It is very simple to show that 0 x 2 12 t d t = 6 x 4 \int_{0}^{x^2} 12t dt =6x^4 comparing it with the question , we can find f(t), f ( t ) = 12 t 1 + t f(t) = \frac{12t}{1+t} Hence f ( 1 ) = 6 f(1)=6

Moderator note:

For completeness, you should state that for integrals of continuous functions, if a b f ( x ) d x = a b g ( x ) d x \int_a^b f(x) \, dx = \int_a^b g(x) \, dx , for all values a , b a, b in some interval [ A , B ] [ A, B ] , then for all points c c in [ A , B ] [A,B] , we have f ( c ) = g ( c ) f(c) = g(c) .

This seems obvious, so how do we go about proving it?

I think you were lucky. I don't agree with this solution. Two different functions can have the same definite integrals and they can be different. Yoy only have to think in two functions that differs in a constant.

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 7 months ago

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Of course, it is an informed guess based on experience. And that is a way to solve mathematics. This is a solution which satisfies the description in the question and luck (chance or probability) has nothing to do with it.

If it does, show me where I am wrong.

Harish Sasikumar - 5 years, 7 months ago

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I think you are not wrong in this question, but I think if you apply this "method" next time, probably you'll be wrong. You have reason about the question.. the question is to find a function and this funtion fullfields it, but I don't like the form how you have solved, it's all.

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 7 months ago

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@Guillermo Templado My method is plainly "find an answer which satisfies the question". So there is a possibility that it won't work. But it will never go wrong. As you pointed out, many don't like it (sometimes even me!).

Historically, this method has done so much good to humanity that it cannot be ignored.

Harish Sasikumar - 5 years, 7 months ago

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@Harish Sasikumar jaja,ok, I don't want to argue.

Guillermo Templado - 5 years, 7 months ago
Nick Smith
Nov 2, 2015

So we're given the following equation.

0 x 2 ( 1 + t ) f ( t ) d t = 6 x 4 \int _{ 0 }^{ { x }^{ 2 } }{ (1+t)f(t)\quad dt\quad=\quad 6{ x }^{ 4 } }

Since t = x 2 t\quad=\quad { x }^{ 2 } we can rewrite this in terms of t as follows.

0 t ( 1 + t ) f ( t ) d t = 6 t 2 \int _{ 0 }^{ t }{ (1+t)f(t)\quad dt\quad=\quad 6{ t }^{ 2 } }

Then we can take the derivative of f with respect to t on both sides

d f d t 0 t ( 1 + t ) f ( t ) d t = d f d t 6 t 2 \frac { df }{ dt } \int _{ 0 }^{ t }{ (1+t)f(t)\quad dt\quad =\quad \frac { df }{ dt } 6{ t }^{ 2 } }

\Longrightarrow ( 1 + t ) f ( t ) = 12 t (1+t)f(t)\quad =\quad 12t

\Longrightarrow f ( t ) = 12 t 1 + t f(t)=\frac { 12t }{ 1+t }

\Longrightarrow f ( 1 ) = 12 2 = 6 f(1)=\frac { 12 }{ 2 } =6

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