# Trig. Sub. integral

1. Feb 22, 2010

### 3.141592654

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

I have to find the definite integral with limits of integration of 1 to $$\sqrt{3}$$ for:

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

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

I used trig. sub., so I have:

$$x=tan \theta$$

$$dx=(sec \theta)^2$$

So:

$$=\int\frac{\sqrt{1+(tan \theta)^2}}{(tan\theta)^2}(sec \theta)^2 d\theta$$

$$=\int\frac{\sqrt{(sec \theta)^2}}{(tan\theta)^2}(sec \theta)^2 d\theta$$

$$=\int\frac{(sec \theta)^3d\theta}{(tan\theta)^2}$$

I can play around with U-sub or Trig. identities but I'm missing something.

2. Feb 22, 2010

### n!kofeyn

Well you can simplify the integrand to
$$csc^2 \theta \sec\theta = (1+\cot^2\theta)\sec\theta$$
From here, you should be able to break it down into known anti-derivatives.

3. Feb 22, 2010

### vela

Staff Emeritus
You may want to look as using the hyperbolic trig functions instead of the regular trig functions.

Or continue from where you are and try writing the integrand in terms of sine and cosine.

4. Feb 22, 2010

### n!kofeyn

Well the above hint I gave gives very simple integrands to find the anti-derivatives of, so I don't think there's any reason to switch to hyperbolic trigonometric functions.

5. Feb 22, 2010

### vela

Staff Emeritus
There's more than one way to solve the problem, and it doesn't hurt to see how the various methods work out.