Integrate sqrt(1 + x^2) / x: Trig Substitution

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the function sqrt(1 + x^2) / x. Participants explore various methods for solving this integral, including trigonometric substitution and algebraic manipulation. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and technical explanations related to integration techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks how to integrate sqrt(1 + x^2) / x and mentions reducing it to sec^3(u)/tan(u).
  • Another participant suggests an alternative approach without trigonometric substitution, proposing a substitution u^2 = 1 + x^2 and deriving an expression involving logarithms.
  • A third participant reiterates the initial approach using trigonometric substitution, expressing the integral in terms of sec(u) and tan(u) and discussing the manipulation of the integrand.
  • A fourth participant presents a different solution by breaking the integral into two parts and using a substitution x = 1/t to simplify the first integral.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing methods for solving the integral, and there is no consensus on a single approach. Each method has its own merits and challenges, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best technique.

Contextual Notes

Some methods involve complex substitutions and manipulations that may depend on specific assumptions about the variables involved. The discussion includes various mathematical steps that are not fully resolved or agreed upon.

annie122
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how do u integrate sqrt(1 + x^2) / x??
i reduced this to sec^3(u)/tan(u) but how do i go from here??
 
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Re: trig substitution

You can do it without trig substitution.

$$ \int \frac{\sqrt{1+x^{2}}}{x} \ dx $$

Let $u^{2} = 1+x^{2}$.

Then

$$\int \frac{\sqrt{1+x^{2}}}{x} \ dx = \int \frac{u^{2}}{x^{2}} \ du = \int \frac{u^{2}}{u^{2}-1} \ du$$

$$ = \int \Big( 1 + \frac{1}{u^{2}-1} \Big) \ du = \int \Big( 1 + \frac{1}{2(u-1)} - \frac{1}{2(u+1)} \Big) \ du$$

$$ = u + \frac{\ln(u-1)}{2} - \frac{\ln(u+1)}{2} + C$$

$$ = \sqrt{1+x^{2}} + \frac{1}{2} \ln (\sqrt{1+x^{2}}-1) - \frac{1}{2} \ln(\sqrt{1+x^{2}}+1) + C $$
 
Yuuki said:
how do u integrate sqrt(1 + x^2) / x??
i reduced this to sec^3(u)/tan(u) but how do i go from here??
I would be inclined to do this like Random Variable but since you got this far, sec(u)= 1/cos(u) and tan(u)= sin(u)/cos(u) so that \frac{sec^3(u)}{tan(u)}= \frac{1}{cos^3(u)}\frac{cos(u)}{sin(u)}= \frac{1}{sin(u)cos^2(u)}which has sine to an odd power. We can multiply both numerator and denominator by sin(x) to get \frac{sin(x)}{sin^2(x)cos^2(x)}= \frac{sin(x)}{(1- cos^2(x))cos^2(x)}

Let v= cos(x) so that dv= -sin(x)dx and the integrand becomes \frac{-dv}{(1- v^2)v^2} which can be integrated using "partial fractions".
 
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Hello, Yuuki

I found an approach.
I'm sure someone will have a better way.

\int \frac{\sqrt{1 + x^2}}{x}\,dx

\text{Let }\,x \,=\,\tan\theta \quad\Rightarrow\quad dx \,=\,\sec^2\!\theta\,d\theta

\text{I reduced this to: }\:\int \frac{\sec^3\!\theta}{\tan\theta}\,d\theta . Good!
\text{Multiply by }\frac{\tan\theta}{\tan\theta}:\;\int\frac{\sec^3 \!\theta\tan\theta}{\tan^2\!\theta}\,d\theta

. . =\;\int\frac{\sec^3\!\theta\tan \theta\,d\theta}{\sec^2\!\theta-1} \;=\;\int\frac{\sec^2\!\theta}{\sec^2\!\theta-1}( \sec\theta\tan\theta\,d\theta)\text{Let }u \,=\,\sec\theta \quad\Rightarrow\quad du \,=\,\sec\theta \tan\theta\,d\theta

\text{We have: }\:\int \frac{u^2}{u^2-1}\,du \;=\;\int\left(1 + \frac{1}{u^2-1}\right)du

. . . . . . =\;u + \frac{1}{2}\ln\left|\frac{u-1}{u+1}\right|+C

Now back-substitute . . .
 
Another solution:

\int {\frac{{\sqrt {1 + {x^2}} }}{x}\,dx} = \int {\frac{{1 + {x^2}}}{{x\sqrt {1 + {x^2}} }}\,dx} = \int {\frac{{dx}}{{x\sqrt {1 + {x^2}} }}} + \int {\frac{x}{{\sqrt {1 + {x^2}} }}\,dx} ,

second integral is easy, but if we want to avoid partial fractions for the first one, put $x=\dfrac1t$ and the integral becomes
- \int {\frac{{dt}}{{\sqrt {1 + {t^2}} }}} = - \ln \left| {t + \sqrt {1 + {t^2}} } \right| + {k_1}.

Finally,

\int {\frac{{\sqrt {1 + {x^2}} }}{x}\,dx} = - \ln \left| {\frac{1}{x} + \sqrt {1 + \frac{1}{{{x^2}}}} } \right| + \sqrt {1 + {x^2}} + k.
 

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