MHB How can we recognize standard integrals here

Dethrone
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Also, how would you do $\int \sqrt{x^2-4}$?

$$d(x^2-4)^{3/2}=3x\sqrt{x^2-4} \,dx$$
$$\int \frac{\sqrt{x^2-4}}{3x}d(x^2-4)^{3/2}$$

Not sure how partial integration will be useful here. What standard integrals do you see?
 
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Their steps are way too convoluted. I'm used to doing trig substitution, but ILS just granted me power...I feel it..(Cool)

I got it!

For $x\ge 2$:
$$\int\sqrt{x^2-4} \,dx=\int \frac{x^2-4}{\sqrt{x^2-4}}dx=\int \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x^2-4}}-\frac{4}{\sqrt{x^2-4}}dx=\int x \,d(\sqrt{x^2-4)}-4 \arcosh(x/2)$$

For $x\le 2$:
$$=\int x \,d(\sqrt{x^2-4)}+4 \arcosh(-x/2)$$ $$
 
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Rido12 said:
Also, how would you do $\int \sqrt{x^2-4}$?

$$d(x^2-4)^{3/2}=3x\sqrt{x^2-4} \,dx$$
$$\int \frac{\sqrt{x^2-4}}{3x}d(x^2-4)^{3/2}$$

Not sure how partial integration will be useful here. What standard integrals do you see?

Indeed. That partial integration isn't going in the right direction. (Doh)
Rido12 said:
Their steps are way too convoluted. I'm used to doing trig substitution, but ILS just granted me power...I feel it..(Cool)

Impressive Luke. I recognize the power in you. (Bigsmile)
$$=\int x \,d(\sqrt{x^2-4)}+4 \arcosh(x/2)$$

Yes... but what is $$\int x \,d(\sqrt{x^2-4})$$? (Wondering)
 
We use integration by parts, or "partial differentiation" (Cool)
$$\displaystyle \int x \,d(\sqrt{x^2-4})$$
$$=\frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x^2-4}}-\int \sqrt{x^2-4}$$

Shoot, we are back to the original problem. I'm lagging, but I'll explain what I would do if I wasn't lagging. I would add $\int \sqrt{x^2-4}$ to both sides, and if we call the original integral "$I$", then the resulting integral would be "$2I$", so we can divide everything by two and arrive at our answer :D
Would you suggest a different method? (Wondering) Let us assume that I have added "$+C" to everything okay (Tmi)?
 
Rido12 said:
We use integration by parts, or "partial differentiation" (Cool)
$$\displaystyle \int x \,d(\sqrt{x^2-4})$$
$$=\frac{x^2}{\sqrt{x^2-4}}-\int \sqrt{x^2-4}$$

Shoot, we are back to the original problem. I'm lagging, but I'll explain what I would do if I wasn't lagging. I would add $\int \sqrt{x^2-4}$ to both sides, and if we call the original integral "$I$", then the resulting integral would be "$2I$", so we can divide everything by two and arrive at our answer :D

Perfect! ;)
Would you suggest a different method? (Wondering)

Not really.
But alternatively we can do a $\cosh$ substitution, since we're looking at a hyperbolic pattern.
Let us assume that I have added "$+C" to everything okay (Tmi)?

But why? (Wondering)
You have an indefinite integral everywhere that effectively contains an invisible $+C$. (Wink)
 
Rido12 said:
Also, how would you do $\int \sqrt{x^2-4}$?

$$d(x^2-4)^{3/2}=3x\sqrt{x^2-4} \,dx$$
$$\int \frac{\sqrt{x^2-4}}{3x}d(x^2-4)^{3/2}$$

Not sure how partial integration will be useful here. What standard integrals do you see?

This method is not going to work. Your options are either to substitute $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = 2\cosh{(t)} \implies \mathrm{d}x = 2\sinh{(t)} \, \mathrm{d}t \end{align*}$ or to substitute $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = 2\sec{(t)} \implies \mathrm{d}x = 2\sec{(t)}\tan{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t \end{align*}$.
 
Thanks Prove It!

This question was pulled out from my other thread, in which I was not satisfied that the substitution $x=2\cosh(t)$ only yields for $x>2$, whereas the secant substitution yields for $x>2$ and $x<-2$. Turns out that I had to use the substitution $x=-2\cosh(t)$ so that it would work for $x<-2$. Not sure whether people would consider the answer defined only for $x>2$ to be "complete", or if I had to get it for the negative portion, too.
 
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