Tuesday Jan 11 − Lecture 4 : More Integration Methods : Trigonometric Substitution

(Refers to Section 9.4 in your text)

Expectations:

1. Solve integrals of functions containing a2 − x2, a2 + x2 or x2 − a2 by applying an

appropriate trig substitution.
2. Solve definite integrals by trig substitution.

4.1 The method of Trigonometric substitution − This method applies to integrands

containing a2 − x2, a2 + x2 or x2 − a2. It is summarized in the following table:

The integrand
Substitute Apply the identity
contains

1 − sin2θ = cos2θ
a2 − x2
x = a sin θ, −π/2 ≤ θ ≤ π/2 Sometimes
where | x| ≤ a
cos2θ = (1/2)(1 + cos 2θ).

a2 + x2 x = a tan θ, −π/2 < θ < π/2 1 + tan2θ = sec2θ

x = a sec θ,
x2 − a2
sec2θ − 1 = tan2θ
where 0 < a ≤ x
0 ≤ θ < π/2, π ≤ θ < 3π/2

Note − The restriction x = a sec θ, 0 ≤ θ < π/2, π ≤ θ < 3π/2 is due to the way θ =
arcsec y is defined in your text. That is,

θ = arcsec y iff sec θ = y and θ ∈ [0 , π/2) ∪ [π , 3π/2).

The inverse of trigonometric functions are defined on intervals where the function is one-
to-one.

The function sec θ is 1-1 on [0 , π/2) ∪ [π , 3π/2).

In particular, when the integrand contains the following square roots, applying the
substitutions indicated in the table above we get the following nice simplifications of the
integrand:

The integrand
Substituting as in the table above we get:
contains:

(a2 − x2)1/2 = (a2 − a2 sin2 θ)1/2

= (a2 cos2 θ)1/2
(a2 − x2)1/2 = a cos2 θ

Since x = a sin θ , dx = a cos θ dθ

(a2 + x2)1/2 = (a2 + a2 tan2 θ)1/2

= (a2 sec2 θ)1/2
(a2 + x2)1/2 = a sec2 θ

Since x = a tan θ , dx = a sec2 θ dθ

(x2 − a2)1/2 = (a2sec2θ − a2)1/2

= (a2 tan2 θ)1/2
(x2 − a2)1/2,
= a | tan θ |
= a tan θ
where
(since θ ∈ [0 , π/2) ∪ [π , 3π/2) )
|x|≥a>0
Since x = a sec θ, dx = a sec θ tan θ dθ
 ∫
4.2 Example − Find x3/√(1 − x2) dx, where | x | < 1.

Solution:

• We have a = 1. So we substitute x = a sin θ = sin θ, −π/2 ≤ θ ≤ π/2.

• Then dx = cos θ dθ.

∫x /√(1 − x ) dx = ∫[sin θ /√(1 − sin θ) ] cos θ dθ

3 2 3 2

∫
= sin2θ (1/ √cos2θ) cos θ sin θ dθ
(Since the power of sine is odd factor out sin θ)

∫
= sin2θ (1/ | cos θ | ) cos θ sin θ dθ

∫
= sin2θ (1/ cos θ ) cos θ sin θ dθ
(Since cos θ is positive on −π/2 ≤ θ ≤ π/2. )

∫
= [1 − cos2θ ] sinθ dθ

∫
= − [1 − u2 ] du (Let u = cos θ. Then du = −sinθ dθ )

= −u + (1/3)u3 + C

= (1/3) cos3θ − cos θ + C.

• A "reference" triangle shows that cos θ = √(1 − x2)

 • Thus

∫x /√(1 − x ) dx = (1/3) (1 − x )
3 2 2 3/2
− √(1 − x2) + C.

∫
4.3 Example − Find √(a2 − x2) dx, | x | < a.

Solution:

o So we substitute x = a sin θ , −π/2 ≤ θ ≤ π/2.

o Then dx = a cos θ dθ.

∫√(a − x ) dx = ∫[√(a − a sin θ) ] a cos θ dθ

2 2 2 2 2

∫
= a2cos2θdθ

∫
= (1/2)a2 (1 + cos 2θ) dθ

= (a2/2)( θ + (1/2) sin 2θ ) + C

= (a2/2)(θ + sin θ cos θ ) + C.

o A "reference" triangle shows that cos θ = (1/a)√(a2 − x2):

 o Since x = a sin θ implies θ = arcsin (x/a)

∫√(a − x ) dx = (a /2)(θ + sin θ cos θ ) + C

2 2 2

= (a2/2)[arcsin (x/a) + (x/a)(1/a)√(a2 − x2) ] + C

= (a2/2)arcsin (x/a) + (x/2)√(a2 − x2) + C.

∫
4.4 Example − Find 1/(4x2 + 9)2 dx.

Solution:

o ∫
Let v = 2x. The integrand can then be expressed in the form 1/(4x2 + 9)2 dx

∫
= (1/2) 1/( v2 + 32)2dv.

o Then we substitute v = a tan θ , −π/2 < θ < π/2.

ƒ That is v = 3 tan θ. Then dv = 3 sec θ dθ .
2

o Then dv = 3 sec2 θ dθ .

∫1/(4x + 9) dx = (1/2)∫1/( v + 3 ) dv
2 2 2 2 2

∫
= (3/2) sec2θ / [9tan2 θ + 9 ]2 dθ
 ∫
= (3/2) sec2θ / [9sec2 θ ]2 dθ (Using the identity tan2θ + 1 = sec2θ . )

= (1/54)∫1/sec θ dθ
2

∫
= (1/54) cos2 θ dθ

= (1/108)∫(1 + cos 2θ) dθ

= (1/108)( θ + (1/2) sin 2θ ) + C

= (1/108)(θ + sin θ cos θ ) + C.

o Given that v = 3 tan θ, a "reference" triangle shows that

• sin θ = v/√(v2 + 9) = 2x/√(4x2 + 9),

• cos θ = 3/√(v2 + 9)

= 3/√(4x2 + 9).

• θ = arctan(v/3)

= arctan(2x/3)

o Thus

∫1/(4x + 9) dx = (1/108)(θ + sin θ cos θ ) + C

2 2

= (1/108)[arctan(2x/3) + [2x/√(4x2 + 9)][ 3/√(4x2 + 9)] ] + C.

4.5 Example − Find ∫[√(x − 25) / x] dx, | x | > 5.

2

Solution:

• Let x = 5 sec θ, 0 ≤ θ < π/2, π ≤ θ < 3π/2

• Then dx = 5 sec θ tan θ dθ .

 • So √(x2 − 25) = √[25(sec2θ − 1)] = 5 | tan θ | = 5 tan θ. (since 0 ≤ θ < π/2,
π ≤ θ ≤ 3π/2 and so tan θ is positive there. )

∫[√(x − 25) / x ] dx = ∫[(5 tan θ) / (5 sec θ)] 5 sec θ tan θ dθ

2

∫
= 5 tan2θ dθ

= 5∫sec θ − 1 dθ
2

= 5tan θ − 5θ + C

= √(x2 − 25) − 5 arcsec(x/5) + C. (Since tan θ = √(x2 − 25) / 5.)

4.6 Example − A definite integral problem: Find ∫ 1/2 to √(3)/2 x /√(1 − x2) dx, where | x | < 1.
3

Solution:

• We have a = 1. So we substitute x = a sin θ = sin θ , π/2 ≤ θ ≤ π/2

• Then dx = cos θ dθ.

• If x = 1/2, then

θ = arcsin x = arcsin (1/2) = π/6.

If x = √(3)/2, then
 θ = arcsin √(3)/2 = π/3.

∫ 1/2 to √(3)/2 x /√(1 − x2) dx =

3
∫ π/6 to π/3 [sin3θ /√(1 − sin2θ) ] cos θ dθ

= ∫ π/6 to π/3 sin

3
θ dθ

= ∫ π/6 to π/3 (1 − cos2θ ) sinθ dθ (Let u = cos θ. Then du = −sinθ dθ)

= (1/3) cos3θ − cos θ | π/6 to π/3

= (1/3) [cos3π/3 − cos π/3] − (1/3)[cos3π/6 − cos π/6]

= (1/3) [1/8 − 1/2] − (1/3)[(√(3)/2)3 − √(3)/2 ]

4.7 Exercise − Show ∫1/√(a − x ) dx = arcsin (x/a) + C. (a > 0, a > x )

2 2 2 2

4.8 Exercise − Show ∫1/(x 2

− a2 ) dx = (1/2a) ln | (x − a) / (x + a) | + C. (a > 0)

4.9 Exercise − Show ∫1/(x 2

+ a2 ) dx = (1/a) arctan (x/a) + C.

4.10 Question − Find an antiderivative of arccos (x/a). (Answer : −1/√(a2 − x2 ).)

∫
4.10.1 Question − We see that arcsin (x/a) + C = 1/√(a2 − x2 ) dx = − −1/√(a2 − x2 ) ∫
dx = − arccos (x/a) + C.

Then one might say arcsin (x/a) = − arccos (x/a). Is this true? If not, why?