# Homework Help: Difficult Integration - Apostol Section 6.25 #40

1. Sep 4, 2011

### process91

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
$\int\frac{\sqrt{2-x-x^2}}{x^2}dx$

Hint: multiply the numerator and denominator by $\sqrt{2-x-x^2}$

2. Relevant equations
This is in the Integration using Partial Fractions section, but the last few have not been using Partial Fractions.

3. The attempt at a solution
Well, initially I thought that I would just complete the square on the top and then use a substitution such as $x+\frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{2}\sin u$, but that became pretty complex. Then I took the author's suggestion and multiplied the numerator and denominator by $\sqrt{2-x-x^2}$. I split the resulting integral into three, two of which were easy and the first which is still very difficult:

$\int \frac{2}{x^2 \sqrt{2-x-x^2}} dx$

The substitution I mentioned earlier still looks most promising, but leads to this:

$\frac{9}{4} \int \frac{\cos^2 u}{(\frac{3}{2}\sin u + \frac{1}{2})^2} du$

This looks like it needs something like $z=\tan \frac{u}{2}$, but that also becomes extremely tortuous. It leads to a degree 6 polynomial on the bottom, and a degree 4 polynomial on the top which can then be solved with partial fractions, but the resulting equations are quite cumbersome.

Any other suggestions/hints?

2. Sep 4, 2011

### ehild

Try integration by parts:

$9\int \frac{\cos^2 u}{(3\sin u + 1)^2} du=\int (\frac{3\cos u}{(3\sin u+1)^2}) (3 \cos u) du$

ehild

3. Sep 4, 2011

### process91

That does look much better, thanks!