How can you evaluate the integral of \sqrt{R^2 - x^2} using substitution?

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Homework Statement


How can you integrate the following?

[tex]\int \sqrt {R^2 - x^2} dx[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



Integration by parts does not seem to be a solution here.

Integration by substitution works to some extend:

Let [itex]x = R sin(u)[/itex].

We get
[tex]\int \sqrt {R^2 - x^2} dx = \int Rcos(u) (R^2 + 2R^2 sin^2(u)) Rsin(u) du[/tex]
[tex]= \int R^4 cos^2(u) sin(u) (1 + 2sin^2(u) ) du[/tex]

I cannot see how to integrate this easily.
Perhaps, there is a better way to do this.
 
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Seems like you've got the right idea. Solve this using trigonometric substitution:

1) Draw a right triangle. Label one of the vertices x, label the hypotenuse R.

Label the angle [tex]\vartheta[/tex] so [tex]sin(\vartheta)=x/R[/tex].

2) Substitution

[tex]x = Rsin(\vartheta), dx = Rcos(\vartheta)d\vartheta[/tex]

Note from your diagram:
[tex]\frac{\sqrt{R^{2} - x^{2}}}{R} = cos(\vartheta)[/tex]

So [tex]\sqrt{R^{2} - x^{2}} = Rcos(\vartheta)[/tex]

3) With that figured out your integral should be much simpler!
 
Last edited:
miqbal said:
Seems like you've got the right idea. Solve this using trigonometric substitution:

1) Draw a right triangle. Label one of the vertices x, label the hypotenuse R.

Label the angle [tex]\vartheta[/tex] so [tex]sin(\vartheta)=x/R[/tex].

2) Substitution

[tex]x = Rsin(\vartheta), dx = Rcos(\vartheta)d\vartheta[/tex]

Note from your diagram:
[tex]\frac{\sqrt{R^{2} - x^{2}}}{R} = cos(\vartheta)[/tex]

So [tex]\sqrt{R^{2} - x^{2}} = Rcos(\vartheta)[/tex]

3) With that figured out your integral should be much simpler!

You are right.
I get

[tex]\frac{1}{2} R^2 \int sin(2\vartheta) = R^2 cos(2\vartheta)[/tex]
 
You evaluated

[tex]\int x \, dx[/tex]

Whereas your original integral was

[tex]\int \sqrt {R^2 - x^2} dx[/tex]
 
You need to evaluate

[tex]\int R^{2}cos^{2}(\vartheta) \, d\vartheta[/tex]

Make sure you after you solve the integral you substitute back for the solution in terms of x.
 
miqbal said:
You need to evaluate

[tex]\int R^{2}cos^{2}(\vartheta) \, d\vartheta[/tex]

Make sure you after you solve the integral you substitute back for the solution in terms of x.

I get this

[tex]\frac{\sin^{-1} \left( \frac{x}{R} \right) + \frac{\sin \left( {2<br /> \sin^{-1} \left( \frac{x}{R} \right)} \right)}{2}}{2}[/tex]

It should be correct, since SageMath gives the same result.