QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY

DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE

in
Math 109 (Advanced Calculus)

Prepared by

NELSON D. GURAY, MOM

Associate Professor IV
 QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Module 8 Integration by Substitution

Lesson 2 Integration by Trigonometric Substitution
Competencies The student is expected to be able to:
1. identify and solve problems stated in integration by trigonometric
substitution form.
Discussion 8.2. Trigonometric Substitution

The problems in this module will be solved using trigonometric substitution. It is a

method for finding the antiderivatives of functions which contain square roots of quadratic
𝑛
expressions or rational powers of the form (where 𝑛 is an integer) of quadratic
2
3
expressions. Examples of such expressions are √9 − 𝑥 2 and (𝑥 2 + 4)2. The method of
trigonometric substitution may be called upon when other more common and easier-to-
use methods of integration have failed. Trigonometric substitution assumes that you are
familiar with standard trigonometric identities, the use of differential notation, integration
using 𝑢-substitution, and the integration of trigonometric functions.

The goal of trigonometric substitution will be to replace square roots of quadratic

𝑛
expressions or rational powers of the form (where 𝑛 is an integer) of quadratic
2
expressions, which may be impossible to integrate using other methods of integration, with
integer powers of trigonometric functions, which are more easily integrated.

Many integrals can be evaluated by substituting a trigonometric function of 𝑥. The

following substitutions are specially promising:

(1) When the integrand contains (𝑎2 − 𝑢2 )𝑛 , let 𝑢 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃

(2) When the integrand contains (𝑎2 + 𝑢2 )𝑛 , let 𝑢 = 𝑎 tan 𝜃
(3) When the integrand contains (𝑢2 − 𝑎2 )𝑛 , let 𝑢 = 𝑎 sec 𝜃

The trigonometric substitution can be remembered by thinking of the Pythagorean

Theorem and taking 𝑎 and 𝑢 as two sides and 𝜃 as an angle of a right triangle. As shown
in the following figures.

𝑎 √𝑎2 + 𝑢2 𝑢
𝑢 𝑢 √𝑢2 − 𝑎2

√𝑎2 − 𝑢2 𝑎 𝑎

𝑢 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃 𝑢 = 𝑎 tan 𝜃 𝑢 = 𝑎 sec 𝜃

√9−4𝑥 2
Illustration 1. Evaluate ∫ 𝑑𝑥`
𝑥

Solution: Since the integrand contains square root of quadratic expression,

integration by trigonometric substitution will be used. The substitution
will be 𝑢 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃 because the radicand is of the form 𝑎2 − 𝑢2 , where
𝑎2 is constant. So, by correspondence, we have

𝑎2 = 9 𝑢2 = 4𝑥 2
𝑎=3 𝑢 = 2𝑥
These values will replace the variables in 𝑢 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃. Thus,
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Let 𝑢 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃, replace 𝑢 by 2𝑥 and 𝑎 by 3

2𝑥 = 3 sin 𝜃 4𝑥 2 = 9 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
3 3
𝑥 = sin 𝜃 𝑑𝑥 = cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2 2

√9−4𝑥 2 √9−9𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 3
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 3 ( cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃) By substitution
𝑥 sin 𝜃 2
2

√9(1−𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃)
= ∫ (cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃) Simplify the integrand
sin 𝜃

√9 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃
= ∫ (cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃)
sin 𝜃
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= 3∫ Use the relation
sin 𝜃
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 = 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
1−𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
= 3∫ 𝑑𝜃 Simplify the integrand using
sin 𝜃
trigo. identities
= 3 ∫ csc 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 − 3 ∫ sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 Distributive property

= 3 ln(csc 𝜃 − cot 𝜃) − 3 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶 Define each trig. function

2𝑥
From 2𝑥 = 3 sin 𝜃; sin 𝜃 =
3

3 √9−4𝑥 2 √9−4𝑥 2
csc 𝜃 = ; cot 𝜃 = ; cos 𝜃 =
2𝑥 2𝑥 3
2𝑥 3

𝜃
√9 − 4𝑥 2

Replace the trigonometric. functions with their corresponding values

3 √9−4𝑥 2 √9−4𝑥 2
3 ln(csc 𝜃 − cot 𝜃) − 3 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶 = 3 ln ( − )−3( )+ 𝐶
2𝑥 2𝑥 3
3
3−√9−4𝑥 2
= ln ( 2𝑥
) − √9 − 4𝑥 2 + 𝐶 ∎

𝑑𝑥
Illustration 2. Evaluate ∫
𝑥 4 √4𝑥 2 −1

Solution: The radical in the integrand takes the form of √𝑢2 − 𝑎2 , so the proper
substitution is letting 𝑢 = 𝑎 sec 𝜃. Then, by correspondence

𝑢2 = 4𝑥 2 𝑎2 = 1
𝑢 = 2𝑥 𝑎=1
1 4 1
Let 𝑢 = 𝑎 sec 𝜃 For 𝑥 4 : 𝑥 4 = ( sec 𝜃) = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝜃
2 16

2𝑥 = sec 𝜃 For 4𝑥 2 : 4𝑥 2 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃

1 1
𝑥 = sec 𝜃 ⇒ 𝑑𝑥 = sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2 2
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DIFFUN CAMPUS
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COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

1
𝑑𝑥 sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
2
∫ 𝑥4 √4𝑥2 −1 = ∫ 1 By substitution
𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝜃√𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃−1
6

tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= 8∫ Simplify the radicand
𝑠𝑒𝑐 3 𝜃√𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃
𝑑𝜃 1
= 8 ∫ sec3 𝜃 Apply reciprocal identity sec 𝜃 =
cos 𝜃

= 8 ∫ cos 3 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 Apply trig transformation technique

= 8 ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 Use the relation 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 = 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃

= 8 ∫(1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃) cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 Distributive property

= 8 ∫ cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 − 8 ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 Simplify

8
= 8 sin 𝜃 − 3 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 + 𝐶 Define sin 𝜃

From 2𝑥 = sec 𝜃
2𝑥
√4𝑥 2 −1
sin 𝜃 = √4𝑥 2 − 1
2𝑥
𝜃
1

3
8 3 √4𝑥2 −1 8 √4𝑥2 −1 √4𝑥 2 −1
8 sin 𝜃 − 3 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 + 𝐶 = 8 ( 2𝑥
)−
3
(
2𝑥
) +𝐶 Replace sin 𝜃 by
2𝑥

3
4√4𝑥 2−1 (√4𝑥 2 −1)
=
𝑥
− 3𝑥 3
+𝐶 or
√4𝑥 2 −1
(1 + 3𝑥 − 4𝑥 2 ) + 𝐶 ∎
3𝑥 2

√𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Illustration 3. ∫ (𝑥+1)3
Solution: In this case the integrand takes the form (𝑎2 + 𝑢2 )𝑛 , so we will use
𝑢 = 𝑎 tan 𝑢 for our substitution.

𝑢2 = 𝑥 𝑎2 = 1
𝑢 = √𝑥 𝑎=1

Let 𝑢 = 𝑎 tan 𝜃 𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃

√𝑥 = tan 𝜃 ⇒ 𝑑𝑥 = 2 tan 𝜃 sec 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

√𝑥 𝑑𝑥 tan 𝜃 (2 tan 𝜃 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃)

∫ (𝑥+1)3 = ∫ (𝑡𝑎𝑛2𝜃+1)3
By substitution

𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= 2∫ (𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃)3
Simplify the integrand

𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
= 2∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝜃
Express the trigo. functions in terms of sin 𝜃 and
cos 𝜃
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DIFFUN CAMPUS
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COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝜃
= 2∫ 1 𝑑𝜃
𝑐𝑜𝑠4 𝜃

= 2 ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜃𝑑𝜃 By trigonometric transformation

1−cos 2𝜃 1+cos 2𝜃
= 2∫( )( ) 𝑑𝜃 Multiply the integrand
2 2
1
= 2
∫(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2𝜃 )𝑑𝜃
1 1
= 2
∫ 𝑑𝜃 − 2 ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2𝜃 𝑑𝜃 using trigo. transformation on the 2nd
integral
1 1 1+cos 4𝜃
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃 − 2 ∫ ( ) 𝑑𝜃
2 2
1 1 1
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃 − 4 ∫ 𝑑𝜃 − 4 ∫ cos 4𝜃 𝑑𝜃 Simplify
2
1 1 1
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃 − ∙ ∫ cos 4𝜃 (4𝑑𝜃)
4 4 4
1 1
= 𝜃− sin 4𝜃 + 𝐶 Redefine 𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝜃 as
4 16
𝑠𝑖𝑛 4𝜃 = 2 sin 2𝜃 cos 2𝜃
1 1
= 𝜃 − 16 (2 sin 2𝜃 cos 2𝜃 ) + 𝐶 but sin 2𝜃 = 2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃;
4
cos 2𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2 𝜃
1 1
= 𝜃 − 8 [(2 sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃 )(𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 )] + 𝐶
4
1 1
= 𝜃 − 4 [sin 𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝜃 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 cos 𝜃 ] + 𝐶
4

Replace 𝜃 in terms of 𝑥
From √𝑥 = tan 𝜃 ; 𝜃 = arctan √𝑥
√𝑥 1
√𝑥 + 1 sin 𝜃 = ; cos 𝜃 =
√𝑥+1 √𝑥+1
√𝑥
𝜃
1

3 3
1 1 √𝑥 1 √𝑥 1
= arctan √𝑥 − [ ∙( ) −( ) ∙( )] + 𝐶
4 4 √𝑥+1 √𝑥+1 √𝑥+1 √𝑥+1

1 1 √𝑥 𝑥 √𝑥
= arctan √𝑥 − [(𝑥+1)2 − (𝑥+1)2 ] + 𝐶 Simplify
4 4

(1−𝑥)
= 14 arctan √𝑥 − 4(𝑥+1)√𝑥2 + 𝐶 ∎

Enrichment Try This!

Activity
Integrate the following:
𝑑𝑥
1. ∫
√9+𝑥 2

√9−4𝑥 2
2. ∫ 𝑑𝑥
𝑥
𝑑𝑥
3. ∫
𝑥 4 √4𝑥 2 −1
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DIFFUN CAMPUS
Diffun, 3401 Quirino

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

𝑑𝑥
4. ∫ 2 2 3⁄2
(𝑎 +𝑥 )

Answers Key: Try this!

25 𝑥 1
1. 𝐴𝑟𝑐 sin ( ) − 𝑥√25 − 𝑥 2 + 𝐶
2 5 2
3
3−√9−4𝑥 2
2. ln ( ) + √9 − 4𝑥 2 + 𝐶
2𝑥

√4𝑥 2 −1 (8𝑥 2 +1)

3. +𝐶
3𝑥 3

𝑥√𝑎2 +𝑥 2
4. +𝐶
𝑎2 (𝑎2+𝑥 2 )

References Comandante, Felipe L. (2009). Calculus: Concepts and Applications Made

Easy. National Book Store. Manila.
Edwards Jr.,C.H. and Penney, D.E.(1994). Calculus with Analytic
Geometry, 4th Edition, Prentice-Hall
Peterson, T. Calculus with Analytic Geometry. Harper International
Edition. Ken, Inc.
Leithold, L. (2002). The Calculus 7. Pearson Education Asia Pte. Ltd.