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General antiderivative of a power-function sum

Consider the function h(x)=3x2+4x2/3.h(x) = \frac{3}{x^2} + 4x^{2/3}. Find the general antiderivative H(x)H(x) of h(x)h(x).

Hint

Rewrite 3x2\frac{3}{x^2} as 3x−23x^{-2}, then apply the power rule for antiderivatives ∫xn dx=xn+1n+1+C\int x^n\,dx = \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} + C to each term separately. Don't forget the constant of integration at the end.

Step-by-step solution

Rewrite h(x)h(x) using exponent notation: h(x)=3x−2+4x2/3h(x) = 3x^{-2} + 4x^{2/3}. This makes it clear both terms are simple powers of xx, so the power rule for antiderivatives can be applied to each.

For the first term, ∫3x−2 dx=3⋅x−1−1=−3x−1=−3x\int 3x^{-2}\,dx = 3\cdot\frac{x^{-1}}{-1} = -3x^{-1} = -\frac{3}{x}. For the second term, ∫4x2/3 dx=4⋅x5/35/3=125x5/3\int 4x^{2/3}\,dx = 4\cdot\frac{x^{5/3}}{5/3} = \frac{12}{5}x^{5/3}. Adding these and including the arbitrary constant gives H(x)=−3x+125x5/3+CH(x) = -\frac{3}{x} + \frac{12}{5}x^{5/3} + C.

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