What is the integral of $\sqrt{x^2-1}$? What is the integral of $\sqrt{x^2-1}$?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the integral of the function $\sqrt{x^2-1}$. Participants explore various substitution methods, including trigonometric and hyperbolic substitutions, while discussing the complexities involved in each approach. The conversation includes both theoretical considerations and practical integration techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using the substitution $x = \sec(\theta)$, noting the resulting integral remains complex.
  • Others propose the substitution $x = \cosh(t)$, arguing it may simplify the integral, although this is contested.
  • One participant questions the ease of the hyperbolic substitution, expressing skepticism about its advantages.
  • Another participant provides a detailed integration process using hyperbolic identities, leading to a specific form of the integral.
  • Some participants discuss the need for back-substitution to express the result in terms of $x$ after integrating with respect to $t$.
  • There are mentions of alternative answers and methods, with participants expressing uncertainty about the correctness of their results.
  • One participant highlights the importance of hyperbolic identities, indicating a lack of familiarity with them.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the best substitution method and the ease of integration. There is no consensus on a single approach, and multiple competing views remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the complexity of the integrals resulting from different substitutions, and there are unresolved mathematical steps in the integration process. The discussion reflects varying levels of familiarity with hyperbolic functions and identities.

karush
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Evaluate
$$\displaystyle \int\sqrt{{x}^{2}-1} \ dx$$
First the indenitly of $\tan^2 \left({x}\right)=\sec^2 \left({x}\right)-1$ fits the expression in the radical

But not sure how to set up the substitution
 
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karush said:
Evaluate
$$\displaystyle \int\sqrt{{x}^{2}-1} \ dx$$
First the indenitly of $\tan^2 \left({x}\right)=\sec^2 \left({x}\right)-1$ fits the expression in the radical

But not sure how to set up the substitution

If you were going to substitute $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = \sec{(\theta)} \end{align*}$ then you need to have $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathrm{d}x = \sec{(\theta)}\tan{(\theta)}\,\mathrm{d}\theta \end{align*}$, making another difficult (though not impossible) integral.

The substitution $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = \cosh{(t)} \implies \mathrm{d}x = \sinh{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t \end{align*}$ will be easier...
 
Why would this be any easier?
$$\displaystyle \int\sqrt{cosh^2 {(t) }-1 }\ \ sinh(t)\ dt $$
 
$$\int\sqrt{\cosh^2t-1}\sinh t\,dt=\int\sinh^2t\,dt$$

Now use

$$\sinh(t)=\dfrac{e^t-e^{-t}}{2}$$

Expand its square and integrate term by term. Of course, there may be other methods. :)
 
$$
\displaystyle
\int\frac{e^{2t}}{4} \ dt
+
\int\frac{1}{4 e^{2t}} \ dt
-
\int\frac{1}{2} \ dt
=
\frac{e^{2t}}{8}
+
\frac{-e^{-2 t}}{8}
+
\frac{t}{2}
+
C
$$
I HOPE 😍 TI gave alternative answer??
$$
\displaystyle
\frac{x\sqrt{{x}^{2}-1}}{2}
-
\frac{\ln\left({\sqrt{{x}^{2}-1}+x}\right)}{2}
+
C
$$
 
Last edited:
You would have to back-substitute for $t$ to get the anti-derivative as a function of $x$...:D
 
So if
$$
\displaystyle
x=cosh(t)
$$
Then $t=?? $
TI says $t=-1$ 😫
 
karush said:
$$
\displaystyle
\int\frac{e^{2t}}{4} \ dt
+
\int\frac{1}{4 e^{2t}} \ dt
-
\int\frac{1}{2} \ dt
=
\frac{e^{2t}}{8}
+
\frac{-e^{-2 t}}{8}
+
\frac{t}{2}
+
C
$$
I HOPE 😍 TI gave alternative answer??
$$
\displaystyle
\frac{x\sqrt{{x}^{2}-1}}{2}
-
\frac{\ln\left({\sqrt{{x}^{2}-1}+x}\right)}{2}
+
C
$$

I'm assuming you've made a typo.

Since the original integral is indefinite we must back-substitute.

What you've got is

$$\dfrac14\dfrac{e^{2t}-e^{-2t}}{2}-\dfrac{t}{2}$$

If $x=\cosh(t)$ then $t=\cosh^{-1}(x)$

Now, given $\sinh(2t)=2\sinh(t)\cosh(t)$ and $\sinh(\cosh^{-1}(t))=\sqrt{t^2-1}$ can you complete the problem?

(We'll get to what your calculator says soon. Don't worry about that).
 
Last edited:
Not sure why did you introduce $sinh(2t)$
 
  • #10
greg1313 said:
$$\int\sqrt{\cosh^2t-1}\sinh t\,dt=\int\sinh^2t\,dt$$

Now use

$$\sinh(t)=\dfrac{e^t-e^{-t}}{2}$$

Expand its square and integrate term by term. Of course, there may be other methods. :)

In my opinion, since the original substitution was given in terms of a hyperbolic function (i.e. not in its exponential form) it would be easier to work with the hyperbolic forms...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{ \sinh^2{(t)}\,\mathrm{d}t} &= \frac{1}{2} \int{ \left[ \cosh{(2\,t)} - 1 \right] \,\mathrm{d}t } \\ &= \frac{1}{2}\,\left[ \frac{1}{2}\sinh{(2\,t)} - t \right] + C \\ &= \frac{1}{2}\,\left[ \cosh{(t)}\sinh{(t)} - t \right] +C \\ &= \frac{1}{2}\,\left[ \cosh{(t)}\,\sqrt{ \cosh^2{(t)} - 1 } - t \right] + C \\ &= \frac{1}{2}\,\left[ x\,\sqrt{x^2 - 1} - \textrm{arcosh}\,(x) \right] + C \end{align*}$
 
  • #11
ok. I see your point
I have never worked with hyperbolic identities

one thing I really like about MHB
 
  • #12
$$\dfrac14\dfrac{e^{2t}-e^{-2t}}{2}-\dfrac{t}{2}$$

$$\dfrac14\sinh(2t)-\dfrac{t}{2}=\dfrac12\left(\sinh(t)\cosh(t)-t\right)$$

$$\dfrac12\left(\sinh\left(\cosh^{-1}\right)\cosh\left(\cosh^{-1}(x)\right)-\cosh^{-1}(x)\right)$$

$$\dfrac12\left(x\sqrt{x^2-1}-\cosh^{-1}(x)\right)$$

-----

$$\cosh(x)=y=\dfrac{e^x+e^{-x}}{2}$$

$$2y=e^x+e^{-x}$$

$$2ye^x=e^{2x}+1$$

$$e^{2x}-2ye^x+1=0$$

Quadratic formula:

$$e^x=\dfrac{2y+\sqrt{4y^2-4}}{2}=y+\sqrt{y^2-1}$$

$$x=\ln\left(\sqrt{y^2-1}+y\right)$$

(Substituting cosh(x) for y in the line above gives reason for choosing the positive root).

$$\Rightarrow \cosh^{-1}x=\ln\left(\sqrt{x^2-1}+x\right)$$

-----

$$\int\sqrt{x^2-1}\,\mathrm dx=\dfrac12\left(x\sqrt{x^2-1}-\ln\left(\sqrt{x^2-1}+x\right)\right)+C$$
 
Last edited:

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