Integrals Involving Trigonometric Substitution

I. Integrals of the Form

a2 x2

Suppose that you have an integral of the form

a 2 x 2 where a is a positive
constant. If you make the substitution x a sin , where 2 2 , then
a 2 x 2 a 2 a 2 sin 2 a 2 (1 sin 2 ) a 2 cos 2 a cos because
cos 0 since 2 2 . Also, dx a cos d . Also, x a sin
x
x
sin arcsin .
a
a
x
a
s
sin y s and r = a

a
a2 x2
a2 s2
.
a

x 2 s 2 a 2 x a 2 s 2 cos

Example: Find

4 x 2 dx .

Let x 2 sin where 2 2 . Then

2 cos d .

4 x 2 dx

4 x 2 2 cos and dx

(2 cos )(2 cos d ) 4 cos d

2

1
1

4 sin cos C 2 2 sin cos C =

2
2

x
x x 4 x
2 arcsin 2
2
2 2

C =

2
x x 4 x
+ C.
2 arcsin
2
2

Lets check this answer.

4 x2

2
d
x x 4 x
2 arcsin
dx
2
2

1
2
1 x
2

1 1 2 x
x
2 2 2 4 x 2

4 x 2

2
4 x2

x2
2 4 x2

4 x 2 4 x 2 4 x 2 2(4 x 2 )

4 x 2 and so it checks.
2
2
2
2 4 x
2 4 x

II. Integrals of the Form

a2 x2

Suppose that you have an integral of the form

a 2 x 2 where a is a positive
constant. If you make the substitution x a tan , where 2 2 , then
a 2 x 2 a 2 a 2 tan 2 a 2 (1 tan 2 ) a 2 sec 2 a sec because
sec 0 since 2 2 . Also, dx a sec 2 d . Also, x a tan
x
x
tan arctan .
a
a
x
a2 x2
s
tan y s and x = a

a
a
2
2
2
2
2
a s r r a s .
Example: Find

x 2 4 dx .

Let x 2 tan where 2 2 . Then

2 sec 2 d .

x 2 4 dx

x 2 4 2 sec and dx =

(2 sec )(2 sec 2 d ) 4 sec 3 d

1
1

4 sec tan ln sec tan C 2 sec tan 2 ln sec tan C =

2
2

x 2 4 x
x2 4 x

2
C
2 ln

2 2
2
2

x x2 4
2 ln
2

x2 4

x2 4 x C .
2

x2 4 x

2x

1 2x 1 2
1
x2
x

2
2
2 x2 4 2
x

x
2
x

4
x

2
2
2
2

x x 4 x x 4 4
x 4
1
2x2 8
2

2
2
2
2
2
x

x
x

4
2
x

4
2
x

Lets check this answer.

d 1
2
x x 4 2 ln
dx 2

x2 4
x 4
2

x 2 4 and so it checks.

III. Integrals of the Form

x2 a2

Suppose that you have an integral of the form

x 2 a 2 where a is a positive
constant. If you make the substitution x a sec , where 0 2 or 3 2 ,
x 2 a 2 a 2 sec 2 a 2 a 2 (sec 2 1) a 2 tan 2 a tan because
tan 0 for 0 2 or 3 2 . Also, dx a sec tan d . Also,
x
x
x a sec sec arc sec .
a
a
s
Consider sec where 0 2 s 0
a
x = a and r = s a 2 y 2 s 2 y s 2 a 2 .
x
x2 a2
s

Consider sec where 3 2 s 0

a
x a and r s a 2 y 2 s 2 y s 2 a 2 .
a
then

Example: Find

x2 4
dx .
x

Let x 2 sec where 0 2 or 3 2 . Then

dx 2 sec tan d . Thus,

x2 4
dx
x

x 2 4 2 tan and

2 tan 2 sec tan d

2 sec

2 tan 2 d 2 (sec 2 1) d 2 tan 2 C

x2 4
2arc sec x C =
2

2
2

x2 4

x
x 2 4 2arc sec C . This answer does check.
2
a 2 u 2 , a 2 u 2 , and

IV. Integrals of the Form

u2 a2

A. Sometimes, you should make a usubstitution before you make a trigonometric

substitution.
Example: Find

9 4x2
dx .
x2

Let u 2 4 x 2 u 2 x du 2dx . Also, a 2 9 a 3 .

9 4x2
9 4x 2
9 u2
=
dx
2

2
dx

2
du . Let u 3 sin
x2
4x2
u2
where 2 2 . 9 u 2 3 cos and du 3 cos d
3 cos (3 cos d )
2 cot 2 d
2
(3 sin )

2 (csc 1) d 2 cot 2 C

9 u2
du 2
u2
2

9 u2
2 arcsin u C
2
u

9 4x2
2 arcsin 2 x C =
2

2 x
3

9 4x2
2x
2 arcsin C .
x
3

9 u2

B. Sometimes, you have to complete the square before making a usubstitution or a

trigonometric substitution.
Example 1: Find

1
dx .
4 x 8 x 13
2

Complete the square for 4 x 2 8 x 13 :

4 x 2 8 x 13 4( x 2 2 x ) 13
= 4( x 2 2 x 1) 13 4
= 4( x 1) 2 9

4
Let u 4( x 1) u 2( x 1) du 2dx . Also, a 2 9 a 3 .
1
1
1
1
dx
dx
du
Thus,
2
2
2
2 u 9
4 x 8 x 13
4( x 1) 9
2

1 1
1
u
2( x 1)
C.
arctan C arctan
2 3
6
3
3
Example 2: Find

15 6 x 9 x 2 dx .

Complete the square for 15 6 x 9 x 2 :

15 6 x 9 x 2 9 x 2 6 x 15
2

9 x 2 x 15
3

2
1

9 x 2 x 15 1
3
9

2
16 (9 x 6 x 1) 16 (3 x 1) 2
Let u 2 (3 x 1) 2 u 3 x 1 du 3dx . Also, a 2 16 a 4 .
1
15 6 x 9 x 2 dx
16 (3 x 1) 2 3dx
Thus,
3
1
16 u 2 du . Let u 4 sin where . Then,
2
2
3

16 u 2 4 cos and du 4 cos d .

1
16
(4 cos )(4 cos d )
3
3

2
8
u 8 u 16 u
arcsin
3
4
4 3 4

1
3

16 u 2 du =

8
8
cos 2 d sin cos C
3
3

2
8
3x 1 (3 x 1) 15 6 x 9 x
arcsin
C .

3
6
4

16 u 2

Practice Sheet for Trigonometric Substitution

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

x2
25 4 x 2

dx =

x2
x 2 2 x 10
1
x 2 4x 2 9

dx =

dx =

1
x 2 2x 5

dx =

(5)

dx =

15 2 x x 2

(6)

9 x 2 dx =

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

1
3

x2 4

dx

x 2 1 dx

e x 1 e 2 x dx

x
7 6x x 2

dx

6
(11)

u a
du
u2

(12)

9 x 2 25

(13)

x2 1
dx
x

(14)

(15)

(16)

1 x

x2

x3
1 x

1
x2 1

dx

dx

dx

dx

2 2

Solution Key for Trigonometric Substitution

(1) First, let u 4 x u 2 x du 2 dx

2

1
8

4x 2
25 4 x 2

2dx

1
8

u2
25 u 2

x2
25 4 x 2

dx =

du . Next, make the trigonometric substitution

5
u 5 sin du 5 cos d and

25 u 2 5 cos

25 u 2

Thus,

1
8

result

u2

du 1
2
8
25 u

sin 2 d

25 sin 2
5 cos d 25 sin 2 d . Using the
5 cos
8

1
1
sin cos , we get
2
2

x2
25 4 x 2

2
25
25
u 25 u 25 u
sin cos C
arcsin
16
16
5
5 16 5

25 2 x 25 4 x 2

16 5
5
(1) By long division,

Thus,

dx

25

16

C 25 arcsin 2 x

16
5

C 25 arcsin 2 x 1 x 25 4 x 2 C .

16
5 8

x2
2 x 10
2x 2
8
.
1 2
1 2
2
2
x 2 x 10
x 2 x 10
x 2 x 10 x 2 x 10

x2
dx 1 dx
x 2 2 x 10

2x 2
1
dx 8
dx
x 2 x 10
( x 1) 2 9
2

8
x 1
x ln x 2 2 x 10 arctan
C .
3
2

(2) First, let u 2 4 x 2 u 2 x du 2 dx

4x

1
2

4x 9
2

2 dx 2

1
2

u2 9

1
x 2 4x 2 9

du . Next, make the trigonometric

substitution u 3 sec du 3 sec x tan x dx and

u2 9

dx =

3
8

u 2 9 3 tan

Thus, 2

1
u 9

du 2

9 sec (3 tan ) 3sec tan d 9 cos d

1

2
2 u 2 9
2 4 x 2 9
sin C
C
C

9
9
u
9
2
x

4x 2 9
C.
9x

(3) First complete the square to get x 2 2 x 5 ( x 1) 2 4 . Next, let u x 1

du dx

1
x 2 2x 5

dx =

1
u2 4

du . Make the trigonometric

substitution u 2 tan du 2 sec 2 d and

u 2 4 2 sec

u2 4

ln

1
u 4
2

du =

2 sec 2 d
2 sec

u2 4 u
C ln
2
2

sec d ln sec tan C =

u 2 4 u C ln

x 2 2 x 5 ( x 1) C .

(5) First, complete the square: 15 2 x x 2 x 2 2 x 15 ( x 2 2 x 1) 16

16 ( x 1) 2 . Next, let u x 1 du dx

1
16 u 2

1
15 2 x x 2

dx

du . Make the trigonometric substitution u 4 sin du 4 cos d

9

and 16 u 2 4 cos
4
u

16 u 2
Thus,

1
16 u

x 1
arcsin
C
4
arcsin 0

du =
3

1
4 cos d 1 d C arcsin u C
4 cos
4
3

1
x 1
dx arcsin
arcsin

2
4 1
15 2 x x 2

. [Note: You would not need to make the trigonometric substitution

6

if you recognized that

du = arcsin u C .]
16 u 2
4

(6) Make the trigonometric substitution x 3 sin dx 3 cos d and

3 cos
3
x

9 x2
Thus,

9
2

9 x 2 dx

(3 cos )(3 cos d ) 9 cos d

2

1 cos 2 d 9 9 sin 2 C 9 9 sin cos C

2

2
9
x 9 x 9 x
arcsin
2
3
3 2 3

C 9 arcsin x x 9 x C

2
2
3

10

9 x2

9 x

2
9
x x 9x
dx = arcsin
2
3
2

9 9 9

. [Note:
2 2 2 2 2

of radius 3,

9
9
arcsin 1 arcsin(1)
2
3 2

9 x 2 dx represents the area of a semicircle

1
9
(3) 2
.]
2
2

(7) Make the trigonometric substitution x 2 sec dx 2 sec tan d and

x 2 4 2 tan
x

x 4
2

2
Thus,

1
3

x 4
2

dx

8 sec 2 tan
1

2 sec tan d 1
8

x2 4
C .
8x 2

1
1
1
x
sin cos C arc sec
16
16
16
2

(8)

cos d

Make the trigonometric substitution x tan dx sec 2 d and

x2 1

sec
x

x2 1

1
Thus,

x 2 1 dx

(sec )(sec 2 d )

sec 3 d

1
sec tan
2

1
1
1
ln sec x tan x C x x 2 1 ln x x 2 1 C .
2
2
2

11

x
x
(9) Make the u substitution u e du e dx

1 e 2 x dx

1 u 2 du .

Next, make the trigonometric substitution u sin du cos d and

1
1
1 u 2 cos
1 u 2 du cos 2 d sin cos C
2
2

1
1
arcsin u u 1 u 2 C
2
2
1
1
arcsin e x e x 1 e 2 x C .
2
2

1 u2

(10) First, complete the square: 7 6 x x 2 x 2 6 x 7 ( x 2 6 x) 7

( x 2 6 x 9) 7 9 16 ( x 3) 2 . Next, let u x 3 du dx and
x
u3
u
dx
du
du
x u3
7 6x x 2
16 u 2
16 u 2
1
3
1
1
du
16 u 2 2 (2u du ) 3
du
2
16 u 2
16 u 2

1
2 16 u 2
2

3 arcsin u4 C 16 u

u
3 arcsin C
4

x 3
7 6 x x 2 3 arcsin
C.
4

(11) Make the trigonometric substitution u a tan du a sec 2 d and

u 2 a 2 a sec

(a sec )(a sec 2 d )

a 2 tan 2

sec
d
sec 2 1

sec d

u2 a2
du
u2
u

sec

sec
d
sec 2 1

sec
d
tan 2

u2 a2

sec d csc cot d ln sec tan

12

csc C ln

u2 a2 u
u2 a2

C ln
a
a
u

u2 a2
u a u
C.
u
2

(12) Let u 2 9 x 2 u 3x du 3dx using Problem

9 x 2 25
(3 dx) 3
9x 2

u 2 25
9 x 2 25
2
du

3
ln
3
x

9
x

25

C .
x
u2

(13) Make the trigonometric substitution x sec dx sec tan d and

x 2 1 tan

sec

x2 1
dx
x

1 d tan C

(tan )(sec tan d )

sec

tan 2 d

x 1 arc sec x C .

x 1

1
(14) Make the trigonometric substitution x sin dx cos d and 1 x 2
cos

x3

sin 3
cos d
cos

dx
1 x2
1
2
sin 3 d sin 2 cos cos C
3
3
1
2
x2 1 x2
1 x2 C .
3
3

1 x2

(15) Make the trigonometric substitution x tan dx sec 2 d and

13

x2 1

sec

1
x 1
2

dx

1
(sec 2 d )
sec

sec d ln sec tan C

ln

x2 1

x2 1 x C .

(16) Make the trigonometric substitution x tan dx sec 2 x dx and 1 x 2

1
sec 2
sec 2
dx

d
(1 x 2 ) 2
sec 4
1
1
cos 2 d sin cos C
x
1 x2
2
2
1
1
x 1

C
arctan x

2
2 1 x 2 1 x 2
1
1 x
arctan x
C .
1
2
2 1 x2

14