Integral Trig Substitution Question

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the use of trigonometric substitution in integration, particularly whether such substitutions are necessary only when dealing with radicals. Participants explore the integration of the function (x²)/(x²-9) using different methods, including trigonometric substitution and partial fractions, while addressing mistakes and clarifying steps in the integration process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether trigonometric substitution must be used only under a radical, suggesting it can be applied more broadly.
  • One participant describes using the substitution x = 3sec(t) for the integral (x²)/(x²-9) but reports obtaining an incorrect answer, leading to the suggestion of using partial fractions instead.
  • Another participant asserts that if partial fractions are used, the integrand must be a proper rational expression, which can be achieved through polynomial long division.
  • Several participants discuss the steps involved in integrating sec³(t)/tan(t), with one participant noting a mistake in omitting a factor of 3 and the integration sign in their work.
  • There is a mention of the complexity of integrating sec³(t) and tan(t), with one participant indicating that integration by parts was necessary for their approach.
  • Another participant suggests that integration by parts is not needed and provides an alternative method that leads to the same result as using partial fractions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of integration by parts versus trigonometric substitution and partial fractions. There is no consensus on the best approach, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the optimal method for the integral in question.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the importance of correctly applying integration techniques and the potential for mistakes in the integration process, particularly with respect to factors and integration signs. There are also references to looking up integrals in tables, indicating reliance on external resources for certain calculations.

TheRedDevil18
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I just have a few questions. When using a trig substitution does it have to be under a radical ?

eg, suppose I wanted to integrate (x2)/(x2-9), I used a trig substitution of x = 3sec(t) and got the wrong answer and so apparently I had to use partial fractions
 
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TheRedDevil18 said:
I just have a few questions. When using a trig substitution does it have to be under a radical ?

eg, suppose I wanted to integrate (x2)/(x2-9), I used a trig substitution of x = 3sec(t) and got the wrong answer and so apparently I had to use partial fractions

In the following integral,

8281587fb9879173e9f84c4aa8e7d423.png


Try using the following substitution:

1e209acbb0838b8008b7b34fb7c8ebeb.png


What do we have?
 
TheRedDevil18 said:
When using a trig substitution does it have to be under a radical ?
No.

TheRedDevil18 said:
eg, suppose I wanted to integrate (x2)/(x2-9), I used a trig substitution of x = 3sec(t) and got the wrong answer and so apparently I had to use partial fractions
Then I'm pretty sure you made a mistake. If you use partial fractions, you need to rewrite the integrand as a proper rational expression, which you can do by polynomial long division. (There's another way, as well.)
You can also do this by trig substitution. Without seeing your work, I can't say why you got a wrong answer.
 
Ok, I'm going to skip some of the substituting parts to this,

3*integral sec3t/tan(t) dt
= (1+tan2t)/(tan(t)) * sec(t) dt

Integrating that, I get

ln(sin(t)) + sec(t)

Is it correct so far ?, I know the last thing I must do is sub the x values, but I just want to make sure if this part is correct
 
TheRedDevil18 said:
Ok, I'm going to skip some of the substituting parts to this,

3*integral sec3t/tan(t) dt
This part looks OK. I'll check the following work in a bit.
 
TheRedDevil18 said:
Ok, I'm going to skip some of the substituting parts to this,

3*integral sec3t/tan(t) dt
= (1+tan2t)/(tan(t)) * sec(t) dt
You lost the factor of 3, and have omitted the integration sign.
BTW, it's easy enough to do in LaTeX - # # \int f(x)dx # # (omit the spaces between the pound signs).
TheRedDevil18 said:
Integrating that, I get

ln(sin(t)) + sec(t)
Nope. The factor of 3 is still missing on both terms. One of them should be 3 sec(t), but the other is wrong.
I suspect that you did this:
$$\int \frac{dt}{sin(t)} = ln(sin(t))$$
... which is incorrect. This is a somewhat tricky integral. Rather than deriving it here, I would advise just looking it up in a table of integrals.
TheRedDevil18 said:
Is it correct so far ?, I know the last thing I must do is sub the x values, but I just want to make sure if this part is correct
 
My integration was wrong. Turns out I had to use integration by parts for that trig integral with the sec^3 and tan and it was very messy. I did the same problem using partial fractions and it was much easier to integrate

Thanks for the help, guys :)
 
You don't need integration by parts. Starting from what you had in post #4
In these integrals, sec(t) = x/3.
$$\int \frac{3sec^3(t)}{tan(t)}dt$$
$$=3\int \frac{dt}{cos^2(t) sin(t)}$$
$$= 3\int sec^2(t)csc(t)dt$$
$$=3\int \frac{sec(t)(tan^2(t) + 1)dt}{tan(t)}$$
$$=3\int sec(t)tan(t)dt + 3 \int \frac{sec(t)dt}{tan(t)}$$
The first integral is very easy, and the second integral simplifies to ##3\int csc(t)dt## which isn't too bad if you look it up in a table.

After undoing the substitution, I get the same result as I got using partial fractions, after a bit of manipulation.
 

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