calculus – Integrating $\frac{1}{(1-x)^2}$ into Different Functions

calculusderivativesindefinite-integralsintegration

Background

I want to "trick" some students by showing that $$\int \frac{1}{(1-x)^2} \mathrm dx = \frac1{1-x} + C$$ in one instance and $$\int \frac{1}{(1-x)^2} \mathrm dx = \frac x{1-x} + C$$ in another.

Obviously these look like two different results due to the different numerator, but as the more astute will point out, the difference between these functions is a constant, and they therefore have the same derivative.

Question

When solving the integral, using the substitution $u = 1-x$ we naturally arrive that the first results, but is there a way of solving the integral that "naturally" yields the second result?

Best Answer

Why not get them to differentiate $$\frac{x}{1-x}$$ using the quotient rule:

$$\frac{\mathrm d}{\mathrm dx}\left(\frac{x}{1-x}\right) = \frac{1.(1-x) - (-1).x}{(1-x)^2}$$ which simplifies very naturally to give$$\frac{1}{(1-x)^2}.$$

This would imply $$\int \frac{1}{(1-x)^2} \mathrm dx = \frac x{1-x} + C$$

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