How Do You Integrate sqrt(x^2 - 9) for Hyperbola Area Calculation?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around integrating the function \(\sqrt{x^2 - 9}\) to calculate the area of a hyperbola defined by the equation \(\frac{x^2}{9} - \frac{y^2}{4} = 1\), specifically the area cut off by the line \(x=4\). Participants explore various integration techniques and substitutions related to hyperbolic functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss different substitution methods, including trigonometric and hyperbolic substitutions, and express confusion over the complexity of the integrals involved. There are attempts to use integration by parts and concerns about the feasibility of the methods suggested.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered specific substitution techniques and identities to simplify the integral, while others express uncertainty about the steps and the resulting complexity. There is no clear consensus on the best approach, but several productive lines of reasoning are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention that this is a self-teaching exercise, indicating a desire for hints rather than complete solutions. There is also a reference to the difficulty of the integral and the expectation that it should be solvable with the methods they have learned so far.

sporff
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This seems like it should be easy but I can't seem to wrap my brain around it right now. I'm integrating to find the area of a hyperbola cut off by the line x=4 (I assume just the nose of the hyperbola cut off by the line on the positive side)

hyperbola:
[tex]\frac{x^2}{9} - \frac{y^2}{4} = 1[/tex]

Since it's cut off by the line x=4 I rearrange the equation in terms of x.
[tex]y = \frac{2}{3}\sqrt{x^2-9}[/tex]

I should just need [tex]\int{\sqrt{x^2-9}} dx[/tex] (mulltiplied by 2/3 and then solve for the area, of course) then, yes? The only way I've tried is substituting in x = 3sec(u) in which leaves you with (including the 2/3 in this):

[tex]6\int\tan^2{u} sec{u} du[/tex]

Which doesn't seem any easier. Any hints? This is not homework ask I'm self-teaching in my spare time. Hints rule but I'm not turning down a full answer either as this has been bugging me for a couple of days now. :mad:
 
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sporff said:
This seems like it should be easy but I can't seem to wrap my brain around it right now. I'm integrating to find the area of a hyperbola cut off by the line x=4 (I assume just the nose of the hyperbola cut off by the line on the positive side)

hyperbola:
[tex]\frac{x^2}{9} - \frac{y^2}{4} = 1[/tex]

Since it's cut off by the line x=4 I rearrange the equation in terms of x.
[tex]y = \frac{2}{3}\sqrt{x^2-9}[/tex]

I should just need [tex]\int{\sqrt{x^2-9}} dx[/tex] (mulltiplied by 2/3 and then solve for the area, of course) then, yes? The only way I've tried is substituting in x = 3sec(u) in which leaves you with (including the 2/3 in this):

[tex]6\int\tan^2{u} sec{u} du[/tex]

Which doesn't seem any easier. Any hints? This is not homework ask I'm self-teaching in my spare time. Hints rule but I'm not turning down a full answer either as this has been bugging me for a couple of days now. :mad:
You can use the "integration by parts" formula.
 
How about writing it
[tex]3\int \sqrt{(\frac{x}{3})^{2}-1} \ dx[/tex]

and then make the obvious substitution
[tex]\frac{x}{3}=\cosh u[/tex]

Daniel.
 
Hmm I've tried integration by parts a few different ways like tan^2 * sec (which ends up being too hard or circular and cancelling out), and also rearranging it in different ways first.

And as for the cosh substitution. It requires taking the integral of sinh^2 though. I haven't been taught any way of doing that other than taking the integral of it in terms of e. When you take the integral and go to resubstitute x's back in for the u's, since u=cosh^(-1)[x/3), it seems overly complicated to do.

Ah I don't know. I'd think my book wouldn't give me integrals that can't be solved at least somewhat normally (with what I've done so far I mean). I've searched through all my notes and I haven't had to do one like this before. The closest is substituting tan's or sin's in for sqrt(a^2-x^2) type functions or partial fractions and things.

If anyone can lend a hand... :frown:
 
Use the substitution i prescribed and the (hyperbolic) trigonometric identity:

[tex]\sinh^{2}x=\frac{1-\cosh 2x}{2}[/tex]

Daniel.
 
For this integral...
[tex]\frac{2}{3} * \int{\sqrt{x^2-9}} dx[/tex]

Here is this answer that my TI-89 and Wolfram's Integrator give:

[tex]\frac{2}{3} * (\frac{1}{2}x\sqrt{x^2-9} - \frac{9}{2}ln[\sqrt{x^2-9}+x])[/tex]
 
dextercioby said:
Use the substitution i prescribed and the (hyperbolic) trigonometric identity:

[tex]\sinh^{2}x=\frac{1-\cosh 2x}{2}[/tex]

Daniel.

Ah I will try that out. Offhand, do you know if it yields the answer in my previous post?
 
Of course it does...BTW to show that it ain't really pretty...You'll end up with the [itex]arg\cosh x[/itex] which you may want (it's not compulsory) to express it in terms of the natural logarithm...

Daniel.
 
Thanks for the help. You are the man. BTW, What did you mean by

dextercioby said:
You'll end up with the [itex]arg\cosh x[/itex] which you may want (it's not compulsory) to express it in terms of the natural logarithm...

do you mean for taking the integral of
[tex]\frac{1-\cosh 2x}{2}[/tex]
and expressing it as
[tex](\frac{1}{2}x\sqrt{x^2-9} - \frac{9}{2}ln[\sqrt{x^2-9}+x])[/tex]
?

Excuse my newbness.
 
  • #10
No,your integral,initially had the variable "x".After the substitution (cosh u),the new integration variable will be "u"...Evaluate that integral,write the antiderivative and then take the transformed (by substitution) limits,in one word (actually more :-p ) apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus of Leibniz & Newton...

Daniel.
 
  • #11
Ahh I got it now. I guess I wasn't thinking straight when you were talking about expressing cosh in terms of it's natural log equivalent. I forgot about that identity.

Your help is much appreciated
 

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