Integral: I am considering a trigonometric substitution

In summary: It's possible that the TI simplifies the expression in a different way than you did. You can always check your work by taking the derivative of your answer and seeing if it matches the original expression.
  • #1
karush
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$\int\frac{3{x}^{3}}{\sqrt{4{x}^{2}-1}}dx $

I wasn't sure what substitution to use due to what is in radical?

$x=\frac{1}{2}\sec^2 \left({\theta}\right)\ dx=\frac{\sin\left({\theta}\right)}{\cos^3\left({}\right)}$
 
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  • #2
I think I would consider IBP here...

\(\displaystyle I=\int\frac{3x^3}{\sqrt{4x^2-1}}\,dx=\frac{3}{8}\int x^2\cdot\frac{8x}{\sqrt{4x^2-1}}\,dx\)

Can you proceed?
 
  • #3
Shouldn't
$x=\frac{1}{2} \sec\left({\theta}\right)$
 
  • #4
karush said:
Shouldn't
$x=\frac{1}{2} \sec\left({\theta}\right)$

You could try using that substitution, but you will wind up with something as difficult if not more so (if my calculations are correct), than the original. I really think IBP is the way to go here. :D
 
  • #5
But then how do we get rid of the radical?

To get $tan x$
 
  • #6
This is what I have in mind...

\(\displaystyle I=\int\frac{3x^3}{\sqrt{4x^2-1}}\,dx=\frac{3}{8}\int x^2\cdot\frac{8x}{\sqrt{4x^2-1}}\,dx\)

Now, using IBP, we let:

\(\displaystyle u=x^2\implies du=2x\,dx\)

\(\displaystyle dv=\frac{8x}{\sqrt{4x^2-1}}\,dx\implies v=2\sqrt{4x^2-1}\)

And so we now have:

\(\displaystyle I=\frac{3}{8}\left(2x^2\sqrt{4x^2-1}-\frac{1}{2}\int \sqrt{4x^2-1}8x\,dx\right)\)

Now integrating the remaining integral is just a matter of applying the power rule. :D
 
  • #7
Well that's pretty cool
Thank you

However thot by parts could be avoided
Guess not

I'll proceed to finish
 
  • #8
If you want to use a trigonometric substitution, then you will need to evaluate $3/64 \int \sec^4 \theta \,d\theta$ which can be easily evaluated by splitting $\sec^4 \theta=\sec^2 \theta(1+\tan^2\theta)$.
 
  • #9
karush said:
$\int\frac{3{x}^{3}}{\sqrt{4{x}^{2}-1}}dx $

I wasn't sure what substitution to use due to what is in radical?

$x=\frac{1}{2}\sec^2 \left({\theta}\right)\ dx=\frac{\sin\left({\theta}\right)}{\cos^3\left({}\right)}$

I think Mark is right that Integration by Parts will be the most direct method. I might also be inclined to try a HYPERBOLIC substitution $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = \frac{1}{2}\cosh{(t)} \implies \mathrm{d}x = \frac{1}{2}\sinh{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t \end{align*}$, giving

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{ \frac{3x^3}{\sqrt{4x^2 - 1}}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \int{ \frac{3 \left[ \frac{1}{2}\cosh{(t)} \right] ^3 }{\sqrt{ 4 \left[ \frac{1}{2}\cosh{(t)} \right] ^2 - 1 }} \,\frac{1}{2}\sinh{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t } \\ &= \int{ \frac{ \frac{3}{8}\cosh^3{(t)} }{ \sqrt{ \cosh^2{(t)} - 1 } } \, \frac{1}{2}\sinh{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t } \\ &= \frac{3}{16} \int{ \frac{\cosh^3{(t)} \sinh{(t)}}{\sinh{(t)}}\,\mathrm{d}t } \\ &= \frac{3}{16} \int{ \cosh^3{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t } \\ &= \frac{3}{16} \int{ \left[ 1 + \sinh^2{(t)} \right] \, \cosh{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t } \end{align*}$

and this can be finished with a very simple substitution $\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = \sinh{(t)} \implies \mathrm{d}u = \cosh{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t \end{align*}$. See how you go.
 
  • #10
By u substitution then

$\frac{3}{16}\int\left[1-{{u}^{2 }}\right]du
= \frac{3}{16}\left[u-\frac{{u}^{3}}{3}\right]+C$
 
  • #11
karush said:
By u substitution then

$\frac{3}{16}\int\left[1-{{u}^{2 }}\right]du
= \frac{3}{16}\left[u-\frac{{u}^{3}}{3}\right]+C$

Yes so now convert back to a function of x...
 
  • #12
$u=\sinh\left({t}\right)$
$$x=\frac{1}{2}\cosh\left({t}\right)$$

Plugging back in ?
 
  • #13
karush said:
$u=\sinh\left({t}\right)$
$$x=\frac{1}{2}\cosh\left({t}\right)$$

Plugging back in ?

Surely you can at least plug in u in terms of t. Then use the identity $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \cosh^2{(t)} - \sinh^2{(t)} \equiv 1 \end{align*}$ so that you can write $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sinh{(t)} = \sqrt{\cosh^2{(t)} - 1} \end{align*}$. That will be enough to write your answer in terms of x...
 
  • #14
$\displaystyle \begin{align*} u=\sinh{(t)}
= \sqrt{\cosh^2{(t)} - 1} \end{align*}$

$$\frac{3}{16}\int\left[1-{{u}^{2 }}\right]du
=\frac{3}{16}\left[u-\frac{{u}^{3}}{3}\right]+C
=\frac{3}{16}\left[\sqrt{\cosh^2{(t)} - 1}
-\frac{{(\cosh^2{(t)} - 1})^{3/2}}{3}\right]+C
$$

this looks weird?
 
  • #15
karush said:
$\displaystyle \begin{align*} u=\sinh{(t)}
= \sqrt{\cosh^2{(t)} - 1} \end{align*}$

$$\frac{3}{16}\int\left[1-{{u}^{2 }}\right]du
=\frac{3}{16}\left[u-\frac{{u}^{3}}{3}\right]+C
=\frac{3}{16}\left[\sqrt{\cosh^2{(t)} - 1}
-\frac{{(\cosh^2{(t)} - 1})^{3/2}}{3}\right]+C
$$

this looks weird?

It looks weird because you are not finished! Surely you can see that since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = \frac{1}{2}\cosh{(t)} \end{align*}$ then $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \cosh{(t)} = 2x \end{align*}$...
 
  • #16
$$\frac{3}{16}\left[\sqrt{4x^2 - 1}
-\frac{{(4x^2 - 1})^{3/2}}{3}\right]+C$$

ok the TI gave

$$\int\frac{3{x}^{3}}{\sqrt{4{x}^{2}-1}}dx
=\frac{\left(2{x}^{2}+1\right)\sqrt{4{x}^{2}-1}}{8}+C$$

so ?
 
Last edited:
  • #17
karush said:
$$\frac{3}{16}\left[\sqrt{4x^2 - 1}
-\frac{{(4x^2 - 1})^{3/2}}{3}\right]+C$$

ok the TI gave

$$\int\frac{3{x}^{3}}{\sqrt{4{x}^{2}-1}}dx
=\frac{\left(2{x}^{2}+1\right)\sqrt{4{x}^{2}-1}}{8}+C$$

so ?

Have you tried anything to see if the two expressions are in fact equivalent?
 
  • #18
They might be =
But I couldn't get an identity.
 

FAQ: Integral: I am considering a trigonometric substitution

What is a trigonometric substitution?

A trigonometric substitution is a technique used in calculus to simplify integrals involving algebraic expressions and trigonometric functions. It involves substituting a trigonometric function for a variable in the integral, making it easier to solve.

When should I use a trigonometric substitution?

Trigonometric substitutions are most commonly used when integrals involve expressions with square roots of the form √(a2 - x2) or √(x2 + a2), where a is a constant. They can also be used for integrals involving expressions with √(x2 - a2) or √(a2 - x2) raised to a power.

What are the common trigonometric substitutions?

The most common trigonometric substitutions are:

  • x = a sin θ
  • x = a cos θ
  • x = a tan θ
  • x = a sec θ
  • x = a csc θ
  • x = a cot θ

where θ is a variable and a is a constant.

Is there a specific method for solving integrals with trigonometric substitutions?

Yes, there is a specific method for solving integrals with trigonometric substitutions. The steps involved are:

  1. Identify the appropriate trigonometric substitution to use.
  2. Substitute the expression for x with the corresponding trigonometric function.
  3. Simplify the integral using trigonometric identities and algebraic manipulation.
  4. Use basic integration techniques to solve the simplified integral.
  5. Substitute back in the original variable to get the final answer.

Are there any important tips to keep in mind when using trigonometric substitutions?

Yes, there are a few important tips to keep in mind:

  • Always check the limits of integration after substituting in the trigonometric function.
  • Use trigonometric identities to simplify the integral as much as possible before attempting to integrate.
  • Be careful with signs when substituting in the trigonometric function.
  • If the integral involves a fraction, it may be helpful to convert it to a partial fraction before using a trigonometric substitution.

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