Integration: Sometimes It Just Can’t Be Done!

Having looked at what it takes to work out an indefinite integral, using all our tools, we need to face something that isn’t explained often enough: Some integrals aren’t just difficult; they’re impossible! We’ll look at what we’ve said in several cases where this issue arose.

Integration: It Takes a Whole Toolbox

Individual techniques of integration, as discussed in the last two posts, don’t represent the reality of the process, any more than demonstrating how to use a hammer or a screwdriver shows how to do carpentry. Let’s look at two questions we’ve had about challenging integrals that require a combination of methods. We’ll be using substitution, …

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Integration: Choosing a Substitution to Try

Having looked at two basic techniques of integration, let’s start putting things together. How do you approach an integral without knowing what method to use? We’ll focus on substitution here, which is also called “change of variables”.

Integrating Rational Functions: Beyond Partial Fractions

A couple recent questions offered tricks for integrating rational functions, opportunistically modifying or working around the usual method of partial fractions. We have previously discussed this method in Partial Fractions: How and Why, and in Integration: Partial Fractions and Substitution, where we looked at other variations.

What is a Ratio, Really?

A recent question reminded me I hadn’t yet written about the complexity surrounding the definition of ratio (and related terms, like rate and fraction). Here are four questions about the words.

Finding Length of a Roll: Facing Reality

Last time we looked at how to find the length of material on a roll, making some necessary simplifications. Here, I want to look at some variations on that: first, about carpet in particular, and then about wire on a spool.

Finding a Locus: Algebra and Geometry

Last time we looked at the meaning of the concept of locus. This time, we’ll explore seven examples, from two students. We’ll look at both algebraic (equation) and geometric (description) perspectives.

What is the Meaning of “Locus”?

A recent question asked about an interesting locus, which led me to realize we haven’t talked about that topic in general. Here we’ll look at what a locus is, using three simple examples, and then dig into a question about the wording.