That'll do it! I think I tried something similar but I always had x to the power of something which made is messy and gross. I should have thought to do it another way - doh!
Thanks so much for your help.
I did solve the first one - but I went back to my assignment and it said do not solve Part B. In Part C, I had to solve using the midpoint rule.
I will try using the trig subsitution and see what I can come up with up.
Homework Statement
Consider the curves: y = x^2 from 1/2 to 2 and y = \sqrt{x} from 1/4 to 4.
a. Explain why the lengths should be equal.
b. Set up integrals (with respect to x) that give the arc lengths of the curve segments. Use a substitution to show that one integral can be...