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Exercise 7.5 · Q21

Q.Integrate the rational function 1ex−1\frac{1}{e^x-1} [Hint: Put ex=te^x=t]

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Appeared in past exams:MHT-CET 2025· Set pcm-2025-04-23-M· 2mreworded
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The key idea is to use the substitution ex=te^x = t, which transforms the integral into a rational function in tt. After simplifying by partial fractions, the result is ∫1ex−1 dx=log⁡∣ex−1∣−x+C\int \frac{1}{e^x - 1} \, dx = \log|e^x - 1| - x + C.

Why this approach works

The integrand 1ex−1\frac{1}{e^x - 1} is a rational function of exe^x, not of xx itself. Direct integration doesn't work because the denominator mixes an exponential with a constant. The hint suggests setting ex=te^x = t, which turns the exponential into a simple variable. This is a classic U-substitution (or rather, a t-substitution) that converts the problem into integrating a rational function in tt, which we can handle with partial fractions.

The substitution also changes dxdx: since t=ext = e^x, we have dt=exdx=t dxdt = e^x dx = t \, dx, so dx=dttdx = \frac{dt}{t}. This introduces an extra tt in the denominator, which actually helps simplify the expression.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Perform the substitution. Let t=ext = e^x. Then dt=exdx=t dxdt = e^x dx = t \, dx, so dx=dttdx = \frac{dt}{t}. The integral becomes:

∫1ex−1 dx=∫1t−1⋅dtt=∫dtt(t−1).\int \frac{1}{e^x - 1} \, dx = \int \frac{1}{t - 1} \cdot \frac{dt}{t} = \int \frac{dt}{t(t-1)}.

  1. Decompose into partial fractions. We need to write 1t(t−1)\frac{1}{t(t-1)} as a sum of simpler fractions. Set:

1t(t−1)=At+Bt−1.\frac{1}{t(t-1)} = \frac{A}{t} + \frac{B}{t-1}.

Multiply through by t(t−1)t(t-1):

1=A(t−1)+Bt.1 = A(t-1) + B t.

This must hold for all tt. Solve for AA and BB:

  • Let t=0t = 0: 1=A(−1)  ⟹  A=−11 = A(-1) \implies A = -1.
  • Let t=1t = 1: 1=B(1)  ⟹  B=11 = B(1) \implies B = 1. So:

1t(t−1)=−1t+1t−1.\frac{1}{t(t-1)} = -\frac{1}{t} + \frac{1}{t-1}.

  1. Integrate term by term. The integral becomes:

∫dtt(t−1)=∫(−1t+1t−1)dt=−log⁡∣t∣+log⁡∣t−1∣+C.\int \frac{dt}{t(t-1)} = \int \left( -\frac{1}{t} + \frac{1}{t-1} \right) dt = -\log|t| + \log|t-1| + C.

Combine the logs: …

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