Trig substitution help (easy one )

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the use of trigonometric substitution to evaluate the integral \(\int_{0}^{5} \frac{dt}{(25 + x^2)^2}\). Participants are exploring the steps involved in the substitution process and the resulting expressions.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of trigonometric identities and substitutions, such as \(t = 5\tan{\theta}\), and the transformation of the integral into a more manageable form. There are questions regarding the correctness of the steps taken and the discrepancies between manual calculations and calculator results.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the trigonometric identities that can be used, while others are clarifying the setup of the integral. There is an acknowledgment of errors in initial posts, and the conversation is focused on correcting these misunderstandings.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the amount of direct assistance they can provide. There is a noted confusion regarding the integral's setup and the application of trigonometric identities.

RadiationX
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Use trig substitution to find [tex]\int_{0}^{5} \frac{dt}{25 + x^2}dt[/tex]

I can solve it to here [tex]\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\frac{25sec^2\theta}{(25 + tan^2\theta)^2}[/tex]

and from this point i can factor the denominator into [tex]{625(1+ \tan^2\theta)}^2[/tex]

which becomes [tex]625\sec^4\theta[/tex]

now i have the integral [tex]\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\frac{25sec^2\theta}{625\sec^4\theta}[/tex]

this now reduces to [tex]\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\frac{cos^2\theta}{25}[/tex]

and at this point i can use a power reducing formula to get rid of the [tex]\cos^2\theta[/tex]

assuming that the last integral is correct and that i use the power reducing formula to reduce [tex]\cos^2\theta[/tex] correctly, what am i doing wrong?
i have a TI-89 graphing calculator, and when i integrat this problem on it i get a different answer than when i do it by hand. where is my mistake?




this post is incorrect look further down for the correction.
i'm really sorry about this.
 
Last edited:
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You can use the double angle formula for cos 2x to get rid of cos^2 x. cos 2x = 2cos^2 x - 1.
 
As the integral stands now, you could use another formula to find the answer, but in order to put the integral into a form where you can use a trig substution you have to play around with it:

[tex]25 + t^2 = (\sqrt{25 + t^2})^2[/tex]

So the integral becomes:

[tex]\int_{0}^{5}\frac{dt}{(\sqrt{25 + t^2})^2}[/tex]

Make the substutions:
[tex]t = 5 \tan{\theta}[/tex]
[tex]dt = 5 \sec^2{\theta} d\theta[/tex]

and work it from there. :)
 
Last edited:
This is actually a standard integral. Anyways, you seem to have made a few errors. Here we want

[tex]\int_0^5 \frac{dt}{25 + t^2}[/tex]

let [itex]t = 5\tan{\theta} \Longrightarrow dt = 5 \sec^2{\theta}[/itex] and note that [itex]t=5 \Longrightarrow 5 = 5\tan{\theta} \Longrightarrow \theta = \pi / 4[/itex]. Thus we just have

[tex]\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{5\sec^2 \theta}{25 + (5 \tan \theta)^2} \ d\theta[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{5}\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{\sec^2 \theta}{1 + \tan^2 \theta} \ d\theta[/tex]

now, review your trig identities and see if you can find an easy way to do this :smile:

The standard integral is

[tex]\int \frac{dx}{a^2+x^2} = \frac{1}{a}\arctan\left(\frac{x}{a}\right) \ + \ C,[/tex]

by the way.
 
Last edited:
RadiationX said:
Use trig substitution to find [tex]\int_{0}^{5} \frac{dt}{25 + x^2}dt[/tex]

I can solve it to here [tex]\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\frac{25sec^2\theta}{(25 + tan^2\theta)^2}[/tex]

and from this point i can factor the denominator into [tex]{625(1+ \tan^2\theta)}^2[/tex]

which becomes [tex]625\sec^4\theta[/tex]

now i have the integral [tex]\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\frac{25sec^2\theta}{625\sec^4\theta}[/tex]

this now reduces to [tex]\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\frac{cos^2\theta}{25}[/tex]

and at this point i can use a power reducing formula to get rid of the [tex]\cos^2\theta[/tex]

assuming that the last integral is correct and that i use the power reducing formula to reduce [tex]\cos^2\theta[/tex] correctly, what am i doing wrong?
i have a TI-89 graphing calculator, and when i integrat this problem on it i get a different answer than when i do it by hand. where is my mistake?






I made a huge mistake in my original post! the first integral is

[tex]\int_{0}^{5} \frac{dt}{(25 + x^2)^2}dt[/tex]

and what follows is what i get. I'm really sorry about posting this problem incorrectly.
 
i'm putting this back to the top because i screwed it up the first time.
 
No problem :smile:

Anyways, in that case your work is almost right. We want

[tex]\int_0^5 \frac{dx}{(25+x^2)^2}[/tex]

substitute [itex]x = 5\tan \theta \Longrightarrow dx = 5\sec^2 \theta \ d\theta[/itex] and so [itex]x=5 \Longrightarrow \theta = \pi / 4[/itex]. Thus our integral is the same as

[tex]\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{5\sec^2 \theta}{(25 + 25\tan^2 \theta)^2} \ d\theta[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{125}\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{\sec^2 \theta}{\sec^4 \theta} \ d\theta[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{125}\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \cos^2 \theta \ d\theta[/tex]
 
Data said:
No problem :smile:

Anyways, in that case your work is almost right. We want

[tex]\int_0^5 \frac{dx}{(25+x^2)^2}[/tex]

substitute [itex]x = 5\tan \theta \Longrightarrow dx = 5\sec^2 \theta \ d\theta[/itex] and so [itex]x=5 \Longrightarrow \theta = \pi / 4[/itex]. Thus our integral is the same as

[tex]\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{5\sec^2 \theta}{(25 + 25\tan^2 \theta)^2} \ d\theta[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{125}\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{\sec^2 \theta}{\sec^4 \theta} \ d\theta[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{125}\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \cos^2 \theta \ d\theta[/tex]

i worked this down to exactly the same thing that you did but when i use my
TI-89 graphing calculator to integrate this i get a different answer than what i get by hand.
 
[tex]\frac{1}{125}\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \cos^2 \theta d\theta[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{125} \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \frac{1}{2} \left(1 + \cos (2\theta)) \ d\theta[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{250}\left[\theta + \frac{\sin (2\theta)}{2} \right]_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}}[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{1}{250}\left(\frac{\pi}{4} + \frac{1}{2}\right).[/tex]
 
  • #10
now i see my mistake. thankyou Data
 

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