Roberto’s Notes on Integral Calculus

Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 11

Integration by inverse substitution

by using the tangent function
What you need to know already: What you can learn here:
 How to use inverse trig substitution to  How to use inverse trig substitution to
integrate a function involving a a 2  b2 x 2 or integrate a function involving a b2 x 2  a 2
b2 x 2  a 2 form. form.

As you have probably already figured out, integrals containing a

factor of the form b2 x 2  a 2 still use an inverse substitution. In fact, 2. Try to compute the new integral with suitable
this substitution uses again the identity linking secant and tangent, but methods.
in the opposite direction. 3. If this works, change back to the original
variable, by using other trigonometric identities
and/or the triangle model, as necessary.
Strategy for integrals that contain
And again, the same issues presented in the earlier sections
b2 x 2  a 2 regarding domain and extended uses apply here. All you need is
For integrands involving a factor of this form: practice, so here are two examples.
1. Try the inverse substitution:


bx  a tan  , bdx  a sec2  d x2
Example: dx
x 9
2

We use the suggested substitution:

Integral Calculus Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 11: Integration by inverse substitution by using tangent Page 1
 x
x  3tan  , dx  3sec2  d ,  tan  4  x2
3 x
This has the triangle representation shown here.

x2  9 2
x
This changes the integral to:
 2sec2  d sec 2  d 1 sec  d
3  4 tan 2
4  4 tan 2 

 

2 tan  2sec  4 tan 2 
2

This leads to:

Working with this integral seems confusing, so we change it to sine and

  
x2 9 tan 2 
dx  3sec2  d  9 tan 2  sec  d cosine:
x2  9 9 tan 2   9 1 cos 2  1 cos 
 
1
 d  d
 sec  1 sec d  9 sec   sec  d cos  sin  4 sin 2 
2
9 2 3 4
This is clearer, as it suggests another substitution, this time of the usual kind:
By using earlier information about this integrand we find that this equals:
u  sin  , du  cos d ,
1 1 
 9  sec  tan   ln sec   tan    c This produces:
2 2
1 cos 
 
1 2 1
Finally, we use the triangle model to get back to x: d  u du   u 1  c
4 sin 
2
4 4
2  x x2  9 1 x 9 x 
2


x
dx  9   ln  c At this point we have to go all the way back to the original variable. First
x 9
2
 18 2 3 3 

back to :

x
dx 1 1
 c   c
2
4 x 2 4u 4sin 
Boy, these integrals lead to rather unexpected conclusions! And finally back to x:
Yes: who’d have thunk, eh? Here is another one.
4  x2
x
dx 1
 c   c
2
4  x2 x 4x
4
x
dx 4  x2
Example:
2
4 x 2
The fact that the integral contains no trigonometric functions suggests that
perhaps a regular substitution may work as well: try to find it!
We use the inverse substitution x  2 tan  , dx  2sec  d
2
, represented
by this triangle model:

Integral Calculus Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 11: Integration by inverse substitution by using tangent Page 2
 Summary
 To deal with integrands that contain a square root of the form b2 x 2  a 2 , we use the inverse substitution bx  a tan  , bdx  a sec  d and hope that the resulting
2

integral can be computed.

 To return to the original variable, standard trigonometric identities and a suitable triangle model allow us to obtain an elegant formula for the integral.

Common errors to avoid

 Watch the algebra as you do the substitutions, both ways.
 Use the triangle model to return to the original variable, rather than constructing convoluted compositions of trig functions and their inverses.

Learning questions for Section I 2-11

Review questions:

1. Describe when and how to use the method of integration by inverse substitution by using the tangent function.

Memory questions:

1. Which inverse substitution is used to integrate functions containing a factor of the form a2  b2 x2 ?

Integral Calculus Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 11: Integration by inverse substitution by using tangent Page 3
 Computation questions:
Evaluate the integrals proposed in question 1-4 by using an inverse substitution and, if possible, also a regular substitution.

 
x2 x3
1. dx . 3. dx
 
2
2 3/ 2
x 4
2
x a
2

 
cosh 3 x 3
2. dx 4. dx
 
2 3/2
cosh 2 x  4 x2  5

Theory questions:

1. Are inverse trig substitutions used to integrate trig functions?

What questions do you have for your instructor?

Integral Calculus Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 11: Integration by inverse substitution by using tangent Page 4