LECTURE 7

Integration by Trigonometric Substitution

If the integrand contains an expression of the form √𝑎2 − 𝑢2 , √𝑎2 + 𝑢2 𝑜𝑟 √𝑢2 − 𝑎2 , where
𝑎 > 0, it is possible to perform the integration by making a trigonometric substitution that
results in an integral involving trigonometric functions. We consider each form as a separate
case.

Case 1: The integrand contains an expression of the form √𝑎2 − 𝑢2 , where 𝑎 > 0.
𝜋 𝜋
We let 𝑢 = a sin 𝜃 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 𝑖𝑓 𝑢 ≥ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 2 ≤ 𝜃 < 0 𝑖𝑓 𝑢 < 0 and
2
𝑢
𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1
𝑎

Case 2: The integrand contains an expression of the form √𝑎2 + 𝑢2 , where 𝑎 > 0.
𝜋 𝜋
We let 𝑢 = a tan 𝜃 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 0 ≤ 𝜃 < 𝑖𝑓 𝑢 ≥ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 2 < 𝜃 < 0 𝑖𝑓 𝑢 < 0 and
2
𝑢
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑎

Case 3: The integrand contains an expression of the form √𝑢2 − 𝑎2 , where 𝑎 > 0.
𝜋 3𝜋
We let 𝑢 = a sec 𝜃 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 0 ≤ 𝜃 < 𝑖𝑓 𝑢 ≥ 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜋 ≤ 𝜃 < 𝑖𝑓 𝑢 ≤ −𝑎 and
2 2
−1 𝑢
𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑎

Example 7.1 Integrate the following functions:

1. ∫ √2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥
2. ∫
√𝑥 2 +2𝑥+2
𝑑𝑥
3. ∫
𝑥√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
6 𝑑𝑥
4. ∫3 2 2
𝑥 √𝑥 +3

Solution:

1. ∫ √2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
= ∫ √−1(−2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 ) 𝑑𝑥
= ∫ √−1(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
= ∫ √−1(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 − 1) 𝑑𝑥

1|P age
= ∫ √−1((𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1) − 1) 𝑑𝑥

= ∫ √−1((𝑥 − 1)2 − 1) 𝑑𝑥
= ∫ √−(𝑥 − 1)2 + 1 𝑑𝑥
= ∫ √1−(𝑥 − 1)2 𝑑𝑥

The integrand is in the form √𝑎2 −𝑢2 so 𝑢 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃 . We let

𝑢2 = (𝑥 − 1)2 , 𝑢 = 𝑥 − 1, 𝑎2 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = 1 . Since , 𝑢 = 𝑥 − 1, then

𝑥 − 1 = 1 sin 𝜃
𝑥 − 1 = sin 𝜃

𝑑𝑥 = cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 −1 (𝑥 − 1)

∫ √1−(𝑥 − 1)2 𝑑𝑥

= ∫ √1−𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= ∫ √𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= ∫ cos 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
1+cos 2𝜃
=∫ 𝑑𝜃
2
1
= ∫(1 + cos 2𝜃) 𝑑𝜃
2
1 1
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃 + ∫ cos 2𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2 2
1 1
= 𝜃 + ∫ cos 2𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2 2
Let 𝑢1 = 2𝜃 and 𝑑𝑢1 = 2𝑑𝜃
1 1 1
= 𝜃 + ( ) ∫ cos 2𝜃 (2𝑑𝜃)
2 2 2
1 1
= 𝜃 + ∫ cos 𝑢1 𝑑𝑢1
2 4
1 1
= 𝜃 + sin 𝑢1 + 𝐶
2 4
1 1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 (𝑥 − 1) + sin 2𝜃 +𝐶
2 4
1 −1 1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝑥 − 1) + (2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 ) + 𝐶
2 4
1 1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 (𝑥 − 1) + sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶
2 2

Earlier we have seen that sin 𝜃 = 𝑥 − 1. And we know that

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑥−1
sin 𝜃 = = =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐 1

Using Pythagorean theorem 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2

𝑏 = √𝑐 2 − 𝑎2

𝑏 = √12 − (𝑥 − 1)2

2|P age
 𝑏 = √1 − (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1)

𝑏 = √1 − 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1

𝑏 = √2𝑥 − 𝑥 2
To illustrate the relation using the right triangle, we have

𝑥−1 1

√2𝑥 − 𝑥 2
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
From here, we can obtain the value of cos 𝜃. Since cos 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒

√2𝑥−𝑥 2
cos 𝜃 =
1
cos 𝜃 = √2𝑥 − 𝑥 2
1 1
𝑠𝑖𝑛 −1 (𝑥 − 1) + sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶
2 2
1 −1 (𝑥 1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 − 1) + (𝑥 − 1)√2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 𝐶
2 2
𝑑𝑥
2. ∫
√𝑥 2 +2𝑥+2
𝑑𝑥
=∫
√(𝑥 2 +2𝑥)+2
𝑑𝑥
=∫
√(𝑥 2 +2𝑥+1)+2−1
𝑑𝑥
=∫
√(𝑥+1)2 +1

The integrand is in the form √𝑢2 + 𝑎2 so 𝑢 = 𝑎 tan 𝜃 . We let

𝑢2 = (𝑥 + 1)2 , 𝑢 = 𝑥 + 1, 𝑎2 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = 1 . Since , 𝑢 = 𝑥 + 1, then

𝑥 + 1 = 1 tan 𝜃
𝑥 + 1 = tan 𝜃

𝑑𝑥 = sec 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑥 + 1)
𝑑𝑥
∫
√(𝑥+1)2 +1
sec2 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
√tan2 𝜃+1
sec2 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
√sec2 𝜃
sec2 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
sec 𝜃
= ∫ sec 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= ln|sec 𝜃 + tan 𝜃 | + 𝐶

3|P age
 Earlier we have seen that tan 𝜃 = 𝑥 + 1. And we know that
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑥+1
tan 𝜃 = = =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 1

Using Pythagorean theorem 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2

𝑐 = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2

𝑐 = √(𝑥 + 1)2 + 12

𝑐 = √𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 + 1

𝑐 = √𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2
To illustrate the relation using the right triangle, we have

𝑥+1 √𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2

𝜃
1
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
From here, we can obtain the value of sec 𝜃. Since sec 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

√𝑥 2 +2𝑥+2
sec 𝜃 =
1
sec 𝜃 = √𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
+2
ln|sec 𝜃 + tan 𝜃 | + 𝐶
= ln|√𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2 + 𝑥 + 1| + 𝐶
𝑑𝑥
3. ∫
𝑥√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥
=∫
𝑥√−(−2𝑎𝑥+𝑥 2 )
𝑑𝑥
=∫
𝑥√−(𝑥 2 −2𝑎𝑥+𝑎2 −𝑎2 )
𝑑𝑥
=∫
𝑥√−((𝑥 2 −2𝑎𝑥+𝑎2 )−𝑎2 )
𝑑𝑥
=∫
𝑥√−((𝑥−𝑎)2 −𝑎2 )
𝑑𝑥
=∫
𝑥√−(𝑥−𝑎)2 +𝑎2
𝑑𝑥
=∫
𝑥√𝑎2 −(𝑥−𝑎)2

The integrand is in the form √𝑎2 − 𝑢2 so 𝑢 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃 . We let

𝑢2 = (𝑥 − 𝑎)2 , 𝑢 = 𝑥 − 𝑎, 𝑎2 = 𝑎2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = 𝑎 . Since , 𝑢 = 𝑥 − 𝑎, then

𝑥 − 𝑎 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃

4|P age
𝑥 − 𝑎 = a sin 𝜃

𝑑𝑥 = a cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
a sin 𝜃 = 𝑥 − 𝑎 , 𝑥 = a sin 𝜃 + 𝑎
𝑥−𝑎
sin 𝜃 =
𝑎

𝑥−𝑎
𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 −1 ( )
𝑎

𝑑𝑥
∫
𝑥√𝑎2 −(𝑥−𝑎)2
a cos 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
(a sin 𝜃+𝑎)√𝑎2 −(a sin 𝜃)2
𝑎 cos 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
𝑎( sin 𝜃+1)√𝑎2 −a2 sin2 𝜃
𝑎 cos 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
𝑎( sin 𝜃+1)√𝑎2 (1−sin2 𝜃)
cos 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
( sin 𝜃+1)𝑎√1−sin2 𝜃
cos 𝜃𝑑𝜃
=∫
( sin 𝜃+1)𝑎√cos2 𝜃
1 cos 𝜃𝑑𝜃
= ∫
𝑎 ( sin 𝜃+1) cos 𝜃
1 𝑑𝜃
= ∫
𝑎 sin 𝜃+1
1 𝑑𝜃 sin 𝜃−1
= ∫ sin 𝜃+1 ∙ sin 𝜃−1
𝑎
1 ( sin 𝜃−1)𝑑𝜃
= ∫ sin2 𝜃−1
𝑎
1 ( sin 𝜃−1)𝑑𝜃
= ∫ cos2 𝜃
𝑎
1 sin 𝜃𝑑𝜃 1 𝑑𝜃
= ∫ cos2 𝜃 − 𝑎 ∫ cos2 𝜃
𝑎
1 1
=
𝑎
∫ cos −2 𝜃 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 − 𝑎 ∫ sec 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
Let 𝑢 = cos 𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑢 = − sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
1 1
= − ∫ cos −2 𝜃 (− sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃) − ∫ sec 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑎 𝑎
1 1
= − ∫ u−2 𝑑𝑢 − ∫ sec 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑎 𝑎
1 u−1 1
=− ( ) − tan 𝜃 + 𝐶
𝑎 −1 𝑎
1 1 1
= ( ) − tan 𝜃 + 𝐶
𝑎 u 𝑎
1 1 1
= ( ) − tan 𝜃 + 𝐶
𝑎 cos 𝜃 𝑎
1 1
= − tan 𝜃 + 𝐶
acos 𝜃 𝑎
sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃
= − +𝐶
𝑎 𝑎
𝑥−𝑎
Earlier we have seen that sin 𝜃 = . And we know that
𝑎

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑥−𝑎
sin 𝜃 = = =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐 𝑎

𝑏 = √𝑐 2 − 𝑎2

5|P age
 𝑏 = √𝑎2 − (𝑥 − 𝑎)2

𝑏 = √𝑎2 − (𝑥 2 − 2𝑎𝑥 + 𝑎2 )

𝑏 = √𝑎2 −𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎2

𝑏 = √−𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑥

𝑏 = √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
To illustrate the relation using the right triangle, we have

𝑥−𝑎 𝑎

𝜃
√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
From here, we can obtain the value of sec 𝜃 and tan 𝜃. Since sec 𝜃 = and
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐 𝑎
sec 𝜃 = = =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑥−𝑎
tan 𝜃 = = =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2

sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃
− +𝐶
𝑎 𝑎
𝑎 𝑥−𝑎
√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥2 √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥2
= − +𝐶
𝑎 𝑎
𝑎 𝑥−𝑎
= − +𝐶
𝑎√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 𝑎√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
1 𝑥−𝑎
= − +𝐶
√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 𝑎√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
1 √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 𝑥−𝑎 √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
= ∙ − ∙ +𝐶
√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 𝑎√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 √2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 (𝑥−𝑎)√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
= − +𝐶
2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 𝑎(2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 )
√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 (𝑥−𝑎)√2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2
= − +𝐶
2𝑎𝑥−𝑥 2 2𝑎2 𝑥−𝑎𝑥 2

6 𝑑𝑥
4. ∫3
𝑥 3 √𝑥 2 −9

The integrand is in the form √𝑢2 − 𝑎2 so 𝑢 = 𝑎 sec 𝜃 . We let

𝑢2 = 𝑥 2 , 𝑢 = 𝑥, 𝑎2 = 9 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = 3 . Since , 𝑢 = 𝑥, then

𝑥 = 3 sec 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 3 sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

6|P age
3 sec 𝜃 = 𝑥
𝑥
sec 𝜃 =
3

𝑥
𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( )
3

6 𝑑𝑥
∫3
𝑥 3 √𝑥 2 −9
6 3 sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃𝑑𝜃
= ∫3
(3 sec 𝜃)3 √(3 sec 𝜃)2 −9
6 3 sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃𝑑𝜃
= ∫3
27 sec3 𝜃√9 sec2 𝜃−9
6 tan 𝜃𝑑𝜃
= ∫3
9 sec2 𝜃(3)√sec2 𝜃−1
1 6 tan 𝜃𝑑𝜃
= ∫
27 3 sec2 𝜃√tan2 𝜃
1 6 tan 𝜃𝑑𝜃
= ∫
27 3 sec2 𝜃 tan 𝜃
1 6 𝑑𝜃
= ∫
27 3 sec2 𝜃
1 6
=
27 3
∫ cos 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
1 6 1+cos 2𝜃
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃
27 3 2
1 6
=
54 3
∫ (1 + cos 2𝜃)𝑑𝜃
1 6 1 6
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃 + 54 ∫3 cos 2𝜃 𝑑𝜃
54 3
1 1 6
= 𝜃 + ∫3 cos 2𝜃 𝑑𝜃
54 54
Let 𝑢1 = 2𝜃, 𝑑𝑢1 = 2𝑑𝜃
1 1 1 6
= 𝜃 + ( ) ∫ cos 2𝜃 (2𝑑𝜃)
54 54 2 3
1 1 6
= 𝜃 + ∫ 3
cos 𝑢1 𝑑𝑢1
54 108
1 1
= 𝜃+ sin 𝑢1 + 𝐶
54 108
1 𝑥 1
= 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + sin 2𝜃 + 𝐶
54 3 108
1 𝑥 1
= 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + (2sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃) +𝐶
54 3 108
1 𝑥 1
= 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶
54 3 54

𝑥
Earlier we have seen that sec 𝜃 = . And we know that
3

ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐 𝑥
sec 𝜃 = = =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 3

𝑎 = √𝑐 2 − 𝑏 2

𝑎 = √𝑥 2 − 32

𝑎 = √𝑥 2 − 9
To illustrate the relation using the right triangle, we have

𝑥 7|P age
√𝑥 2 − 9

𝜃
3
 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
From here, we can obtain the value of sin 𝜃 and cos 𝜃. Since sin 𝜃 = and
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
cos 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎 √𝑥 2 −9
sin 𝜃 = = =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐 𝑥

𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑏 3
cos 𝜃 = = =
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑐 𝑥

1 𝑥 1
𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶
54 3 54
1 𝑥 1 √𝑥 2 −9 3
= 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + ( )( ) + 𝐶
54 3 54 𝑥 𝑥
1 𝑥 1 √𝑥 2 −9 1
= 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) +
( )( ) +𝐶
54 3 18 𝑥 𝑥
6
1 𝑥 √𝑥 2 −9
= [ 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + ]
54 3 18𝑥 2 3
1 6 √62 −9 1 3 √32 −9
=[ 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + ] − [ 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 ( ) + ]
54 3 18(6)2 54 3 18(3)2
1 √27 1 √9−9
=[ 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 (2) + ] − [ 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 (1) + ]
54 18(36) 54 18(9)
1 𝜋 3√3 1 √0
= [ ( )+ ] − [ (0) + ]
54 3 18(36) 54 18(9)
𝜋 √3
= +
162 6(36)
𝜋 √3
= +
162 216

8|P age