Question:

$\int \frac{dx}{(x + a)^{9/7} (x - b)^{5/7}}$ = ______.

Show Hint

If the sum of the powers of the two linear factors in the denominator is exactly 2, divide and multiply one factor by the other to create a $(\text{linear}/\text{linear})^n$ term and an $(x+k)^2$ term. The derivative of a linear fraction is always a constant over a square!
Updated On: Jun 19, 2026
  • $(7/(a + b)) [(x - b)/(x + a)]^{9/7} + c$, where c is the constant of integration
  • $(7/(a + b)) [(x - b)/(x + a)]^{5/7} + c$, where c is the constant of integration
  • $(7/(2(a + b))) [(x - b)/(x + a)]^{2/7} + c$, where c is the constant of integration
  • $(7/(a + b)) [(x - b)/(x + a)]^{1/7} + c$, where c is the constant of integration
    Note: Option (c) frequently appears in OCR text as $9/7$ due to poor print quality, but mathematically evaluates to $2/7$.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
We must integrate a fractional algebraic expression where the sum of the fractional powers in the denominator is an integer: $9/7 + 5/7 = 14/7 = 2$.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:

When integrating $\frac{dx}{(x-\alpha)^m (x-\beta)^n}$ where $m+n=2$, the standard algebraic trick is to force the terms into a single rational function raised to a power. We do this by factoring out one of the terms to create a perfect square denominator.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

Rewrite the integral by extracting $(x+a)^2$ from the denominator:
$$\int \frac{dx}{(x+a)^{9/7} (x-b)^{5/7}} = \int \frac{dx}{(x+a)^2 \cdot \frac{(x-b)^{5/7}}{(x+a)^{5/7}}}$$
$$= \int \frac{dx}{(x+a)^2 \left( \frac{x-b}{x+a} \right)^{5/7}}$$
Now, perform substitution. Let $t = \frac{x-b}{x+a}$.
Find $dt$ using the quotient rule:
$$dt = \frac{(x+a)\frac{d}{dx}(x-b) - (x-b)\frac{d}{dx}(x+a)}{(x+a)^2} dx$$
$$dt = \frac{(x+a)(1) - (x-b)(1)}{(x+a)^2} dx = \frac{a+b}{(x+a)^2} dx$$
So, $\frac{dx}{(x+a)^2} = \frac{dt}{a+b}$.
Substitute these components back into the modified integral:
$$= \int \frac{1}{t^{5/7}} \cdot \frac{dt}{a+b} = \frac{1}{a+b} \int t^{-5/7} dt$$
Integrate using the power rule:
$$= \frac{1}{a+b} \cdot \frac{t^{-5/7 + 1}}{-5/7 + 1} + c = \frac{1}{a+b} \cdot \frac{t^{2/7}}{2/7} + c$$
$$= \frac{7}{2(a+b)} t^{2/7} + c$$
Back-substitute $t$:
$$= \frac{7}{2(a+b)} \left( \frac{x-b}{x+a} \right)^{2/7} + c$$

Step 4: Final Answer:

The result matches option (c) (accounting for the OCR misread of the final power).
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