Finding Trig Substitution for Int. Problem: Help Needed

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The discussion revolves around finding the correct trigonometric substitution for the integral \(\int \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{4x^2+8}} dx\). The original poster struggles with the substitution and initially proposes \(x = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \tan(\theta)\), which is deemed incorrect. Another participant suggests using \(x = \sqrt{2} \tan(\theta)\), leading to a successful transformation of the integral. The original poster acknowledges the correct substitution after seeing the solution, clarifying that they prefer not to use hyperbolic functions like sinh, as they haven't covered them in their studies. The conversation highlights the importance of identifying the right substitution for solving trigonometric integrals effectively.
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i need to find the appropriate trigonometric substitution for this problem. i don't know why, but I am only having problems finding the right sub. i can do the rest pretty easily. please help me with this:

\int \frac{x^2}{sqrt(4x^2+8)}

here's what i done:

sqrt(4(x^2+2)) ----> a*tan(theta)

so I'm thinking that x should be equal to sqrt(2)/2*tan(theta), but it's incorrect. can someone help? (i know it's the wrong sub because I'm doing my homework online and it askes me for the trig sub first to check)
 
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Why 1/sqrt(2) and not just sqrt(2)?

--J
 
How about a substitutiton involving \sinh ...?After all,it's still a trigonometric function,except,that it's not circular.

Daniel.

P.S.It should give the result immediately.
 
ProBasket said:
i need to find the appropriate trigonometric substitution for this problem. i don't know why, but I am only having problems finding the right sub. i can do the rest pretty easily. please help me with this:

\int \frac{x^2}{sqrt(4x^2+8)}

here's what i done:

sqrt(4(x^2+2)) ----> a*tan(theta)

so I'm thinking that x should be equal to sqrt(2)/2*tan(theta), but it's incorrect. can someone help? (i know it's the wrong sub because I'm doing my homework online and it askes me for the trig sub first to check)

can i try?

<br /> \[<br /> \int_{}^{} {\frac{{x^2 }}{{\sqrt {4x^2 + 8} }}} dx \\ \\<br /> = \int_{}^{} {\frac{{x^2 }}{{2\sqrt {x^2 + 2} }}} dx \\ <br />
let
x = \sqrt 2 \tan \theta

\[<br /> \int_{}^{} {\frac{{2\tan ^2 \theta \sqrt 2 \sec ^2 \theta }}{{2\sqrt 2 \sec \theta }}d\theta } \\ <br /> = \int_{}^{} {\tan ^2 \theta } \sec \theta d\theta \\ <br /> = \int_{}^{} {\sec \theta d \sec \theta } \\ <br /> \]<br /> <br />
 
you know that

1 + tan^2\theta = sec^2 \theta

Use the subtitution, x = \sqrt{2} tan \theta
 
Oh I see when I finished typing the latex, somebody posted the solution.
 
ah thanks for the help. don't know why i added the 1/2.

we haven't gone over sinh yet and don't think we ever will, so it'll be better if i don't use it.
 
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