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Recognize a2+x21. The antiderivative is aarctan(ax) for a>0.
Worked example 1
Evaluate ∫024+x21dx.
F(x)=2arctan(2x)
F(2)−F(0)=8π≈0.39
Answer:8π≈0.39
Worked example 2
Evaluate ∫01.59−x21dx.
F(x)=arcsin(3x)
F(1.5)−F(0)=6π≈0.52
Answer:6π≈0.52
Idea 2 of 3
Arcsine integration forms
Recognize a2−x21. The antiderivative is arcsin(ax) within its real domain.
Worked example 1
Evaluate ∫014−x21dx.
x=2sinθ; dx=2cosθdθ
4−x2=2cosθ; x=1⟹θ=6π
∫06π1dθ=6π≈0.52
Answer:6π≈0.52
Worked example 2
Evaluate ∫01.59−x21dx.
x=3sinθ; dx=3cosθdθ
9−x2=3cosθ; x=1.5⟹θ=6π
∫06π1dθ=6π≈0.52
Answer:6π≈0.52
Idea 3 of 3
Choose a substitution
Scale the variable to match a standard inverse-trig form and adjust the differential consistently.
Worked example 1
Choose a trigonometric substitution for 4−x2.
x=2sinθ; dx=2cosθdθ
4−x2=2cosθ on a suitable θ interval
Answer:x=2sinθ
Worked example 2
Choose a trigonometric substitution for 9+x2.
x=3tanθ; dx=3sec2θdθ
9+x2=3secθ on a suitable θ interval
Answer:x=3tanθ
Resource alignment: Larson & Edwards, Calculus of a Single Variable, Tenth Edition, §5.7,p. 375. Explanations, diagrams and numerical practice variants are original MathLab content aligned to this section.