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

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SUMMARY

The integration of the function sqrt(1 + x^2) / x can be approached using various methods, including trigonometric substitution and algebraic manipulation. The discussion highlights two main approaches: one using the substitution x = tan(θ) leading to the integral of sec^3(θ)/tan(θ), and another using algebraic techniques to simplify the integral into more manageable parts. Both methods ultimately yield the same result, which includes logarithmic terms and the square root function. The final expression for the integral is -ln|1/x + sqrt(1 + 1/x^2}| + sqrt(1 + x^2) + C.

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  • Familiarity with trigonometric identities and substitutions.
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  • Ability to perform algebraic simplifications in integrals.
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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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