How do you integrate x31x2 using trigonometric substitution?

1 Answer
Mar 13, 2018

x31x2dx=1x2(x2+23)+C

Explanation:

Substitute x=sint, dx=costdt. As the integrand is defined only for x(1,1) then t will vary accordingly in (π2,π2) and we must keep in mind that in this interval cost is positive.

So:

x31x2dx=sin3t1sin2tcostdt

x31x2dx=sin3tcostcostdt

x31x2dx=sin3tdt

Now:

sin3tdt=sin2tsintdt

sin3tdt=(1cos2t)d(cost)

and using the linearity of the integral:

sin3tdt=cos2td(cost)d(cost)

sin3tdt=cos3t3cost+C

to undo the substitution note that:

cost=1sin2t=1x2

So:

x31x2dx=13(1x2)321x2+C

x31x2dx=1x2(13x231)+C

x31x2dx=1x2(x2+23)+C

It is however probably more straightforward not to use a trigonometric substitution, in fact:

x31x2dx=x22xdx21x2

and we can integrate by parts:

x31x2dx=x2d(1x2)

x31x2dx=x2(1x2)+2x1x2dx

and finally:

x31x2dx=x2(1x2)1x2d(1x2)

x31x2dx=x2(1x2)23(1x2)32+C

x31x2dx=1x2(x223+23x2)+C

x31x2dx=1x2(x2+23)+C