How to Integrate [1/(x^2 + 3)] dx?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the function 1/(x² + 3) with respect to x, focusing on trigonometric substitution as a method of approach.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts a trigonometric substitution with x = √3 tan(θ) and expresses the integral in terms of θ. Some participants question how to handle the resulting θ in the context of the integral.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing guidance on how to express θ back in terms of x. There is an acknowledgment of understanding from the original poster regarding the final result, though no consensus on the method has been reached.

Contextual Notes

There is a focus on ensuring the correctness of the integration process and the relationship between the variable θ and x, which may not have been fully clarified initially.

askor
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What is ##\int \frac{1}{x^2 + 3} \ dx##?

This is my attempt:

triangle.PNG

##x = \sqrt{3} \tan \theta## --> ##dx = \sqrt{3} \sec^2 \theta \ d\theta##

##x^2 + 3 = (\sqrt{3} \tan \theta)^2 + 3##
##= 3 \tan^2 \theta + 3##
##= 3 (\tan^2 \theta + 1)##
##= 3 \sec^2\theta##

##\int \frac{1}{x^2 + 3} \ dx = \int \frac{1}{3 \sec^2\theta} (\sqrt{3} \sec^2 \theta \ d\theta)##
##= \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3} \int d\theta##
##= \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3} \theta + C##

Is there any next steps?

Is this correct?

Thanks
 
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You can always check an integral for yourself by differentiating your answer to see whether you get the original integrand.
 
I know, but I am still don't understand what should I do with the theta.
 
askor said:
I know, but I am still don't understand what should I do with the theta.
You have ##x = \sqrt 3 \tan \theta##. That means that ##\theta = \tan^{-1}\big (\dfrac x {\sqrt 3} \big )##
 
Thank you very much, now I understand. So the final result is ##\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3} \tan^{-1} \left( \frac{\sqrt{3}x}{3} \right) + C##
 
askor said:
Thank you very much, now I understand. So the final result is ##\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3} \tan^{-1} \left( \frac{x}{\sqrt{3}} \right) + C##
Yes. And you can check by differentiating that.
 

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