# Integrate Sqrt[ e^x + 1 ]

1. Jul 14, 2009

### maxsthekat

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Integrate Sqrt[ ex+1]

2. The attempt at a solution
I first multiplied the equation by e^x / e^x, then tried substitution, with
u = e^x + 1
du = e^x dx

This gave me: Integral 1/(u-1) * (u)^1/2 du

However, I'm stumped at this part. Substitution here doesn't seem like it would work.

Any thoughts?

thanks!

-Max

2. Jul 14, 2009

### angryfaceofdr

What if you let $u=\sqrt{e^x+1}$??

3. Jul 14, 2009

### maxsthekat

Then... du = $$(1/2)*(e^x+1)^{-1/2} * e^x dx$$

I don't see how that helps.

4. Jul 14, 2009

### Staff: Mentor

I think your best shot might be a trig substitution. I haven't tried it, but that's what I would start with since the ordinary substitutions don't seem to lead anywhere and integration by parts also seems to be a dead end.

Trig substitutions are useful if you have a square root of the sum or difference of squares. In your case, ex = (ex/2)2.

Try tan u = ex/2 and see if that takes you anywhere.

5. Jul 14, 2009

### zcd

If you let $$u=\sqrt{e^{x}+1}$$, then $$e^{x}\,dx=2u\,du$$ and $$\,dx=\frac{2u}{u^{2}-1}\,du$$. This will leave you with $$\int\frac{2u^{2}}{u^{2}-1}\,du$$.

6. Jul 14, 2009

### SmashtheVan

i worked it out, checked with the help of Maple, and will help you out here to get what i got.

let $$u= e^{x}$$
then, $$x= ln\left|u\right|$$
and $$dx= \frac{du}{u}$$

this should leave you with $$\frac{\sqrt{u+1}}{u}du$$

and now consult your integration tables

7. Jul 15, 2009

### n!kofeyn

This substitution bothered me at first, because of the natural logarithm which gave rise to the absolute value sign. This could potentially limit what domain you're integrating over, but this doesn't matter since ex is always greater than zero, so you don't even need the absolute value around u. I think it's best to leave it out, because you ignored it anyways when you took the derivative.

8. Jul 15, 2009

### maxsthekat

Can this be done without having to resort to an integration table? I was told by the professor that we shouldn't need them for this problem.

Thanks, everyone, for all of your help :)

9. Jul 15, 2009

### Cyosis

All solvable integrals can be done without consulting an integration table. What have you tried so far? You have been given a few good suggestions, what have you done with them so far? I would suggest you continue where post #5 left off. If you get stuck show us how far you got and we'll help you from there.

10. Jul 15, 2009

### n!kofeyn

If you make this substitution, you can do it without integration tables.
\begin{align*} u &= \sqrt{e^x+1} \implies e^x = u^2-1 \\ du &= \frac{e^x}{2\sqrt{e^x+1}} \,dx \\ &= \frac{u^2-1}{2u} \,dx \\ \frac{2u}{u^2-1} \,du &= dx . \end{align*}

Then
$$\int \sqrt{e^x+1} \,dx = \int \frac{2u^2}{u^2-1} \,du = \int \frac{2u^2}{(u-1)(u+1)}du$$

Now expand this function by partial fractions and you will be able to integrate. I never like resorting to integration tables.

EDIT: I had missed post #5. It is the same substitution.

11. Jul 15, 2009

### snipez90

I'm pretty sure the OP could have belt it out using the substitution in the original post. Note that if we let u = e^x + 1, then
$$\int \sqrt{e^x+1} \,dx = \int \frac{\sqrt{u}}{u-1} \,du = \int \frac{\sqrt{u}}{(\sqrt{u}-1)(\sqrt{u}+1)}du = \int \frac{du}{u-1} + \int \frac{du}{\sqrt{u}+1}$$
*EDIT* Even though this is rather ugly.

12. Jul 15, 2009

### Staff: Mentor

Before attempting to integrate that last expression, you should do long division, which gives you 2 + 2/(u^2 - 1). Then you can use partial fractions on the latter expression.

13. Jul 15, 2009

### n!kofeyn

Thanks for catching that.