A student claims that

MATHEMATICS · Single correct · A Level · Mathematics · Integration · Integration

Problem

A student claims that ∫(2x)(x2+1)5 dx=(x2+1)6+C\displaystyle\int (2x)(x^{2}+1)^{5}\,dx=(x^{2}+1)^{6}+C. After differentiating (x2+1)6+C(x^{2}+1)^{6}+C, what conclusion should the student reach? (a) The claim is incorrect; the derivative is 6(x2+1)56(x^{2}+1)^{5}, which is missing the factor 2x2x. (b) The claim is correct, because any multiplicative constant can be absorbed into CC. (c) The claim is incorrect; the derivative is 12x(x2+1)512x(x^{2}+1)^{5}, which contains an extra factor of 66. (d) The claim is incorrect; the derivative is 12x(x2+1)612x(x^{2}+1)^{6}, so the exponent of (x2+1)(x^{2}+1) is one too high.

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