Trigonometric Substitution Problem w/ Sin Substitution

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The integral ∫(√(64 - x^2)) / x dx is approached using the substitution x = 8sinΘ, leading to the expression 8∫(cos^2Θ / sinΘ) dΘ. The discussion highlights the need to apply trigonometric identities, such as cos^2Θ = 1 - sin^2Θ, to simplify the integral further. The user initially struggled with the substitution and mistakenly considered a u substitution instead of focusing on simplifying with trig identities. Ultimately, the solution was found by correctly applying these identities, demonstrating the importance of careful simplification in trigonometric integrals.
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Homework Statement



∫(√(64 - x^2)) / x dx

I must solve this using a sin substitution.

Homework Equations



x = 8sinΘ
dx = 8cosΘ dΘ
Θ = arcsin(x/8)
Pythagorean Identities

The Attempt at a Solution



(After substitution)
= ∫8cosΘ * (√(64 - 64sin^2Θ)) / 8sinΘ dΘ
= ∫(cosΘ * (√(64(1 - sin^2Θ))) / sinΘ dΘ
= ∫(cosΘ * (√(64cos^2Θ)) / sinΘ dΘ
= ∫8cos^2Θ / sinΘ dΘ

At this point, I didn't see any easy substitutions, like the rest of the problem set. So I thought there was a good chance I made an error. I checked to see if the answer to this integral was the same as the answer to the original integral, and saw that it wasn't. So somewhere up to this point, I made a mistake. After looking over my work, I don't see what I did wrong. Maybe it's just the integral calculator I'm using, I'm not sure.

Either way, I don't really know how to proceed with this problem. Sorry if the formatting is hard to read. I don't know the bbcode for posting these symbols properly and am in a rush at the moment.
 
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∫(√(64 - x^2)) / x dx

This reads: $$\int \frac{\sqrt{64-x^2}}{x}\; dx$$
... is that correct?

If so, then sub ##x=8\sin\theta## does get you ##dx = 8\cos\theta\; d\theta##
To give: $$8\int \frac{\cos^2\theta}{\sin\theta}\; d\theta$$ ... which is as far as you've got.

You need to use trig identities to turn this into integrals you know how to do ... how about ##\cos^2\theta = 1-\sin^2\theta## ?
The integrand is also ##\cos\theta / \tan\theta## and other forms you may have some luck figuring out.
Basically you need to find a big table of trig identities and integrals.
 
That is correct. And thank you, I was able to work out the solution. I don't know why, but I kept insisting to myself that this simplified integral needed a u substitution when in reality all I had to do was simplify it further with some trig identities. Sometimes when I do problems in a rush I make mistakes like this.
 
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Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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