Why does symbolic integration return the wrong answer for this integral?

Hello! I'm trying to integrate 1/(1-x)^2 with the bounds 0 to x.

Now, other sources (Like WolframAlpha) return the result as -x/(x-1). However, MATLAB returns inf.

Can anyone explain why this would be?

syms x
expr = 1/(1-x)^2
int(expr, 0, x)
 
ans =
 
Inf

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

syms x a
expr = 1/(1-x)^2

expr = 

F = int(expr, x, 0, a)

F = 

subs(F,a,x)

ans = 

[Gareth Fuller]

That works- All I've got to do to get the desired result is some shuffling around of terms.

I'm curious as to why the Subs step is needed, and why it can't get the piecewise function with int(expr,0,x).

Thanks for providing a solution- that certainly helped me out.

Have a wonderful day!

[Walter Roberson]

I am not sure. My expectation was that I would be able to control the output by adding in an assume() or tossing in an 'IgnoreAnalyticConstraints' option, but those did not work.