LESSON 9 INTEGRATION BY TRIGONOMETRIC SUBSTITUTION

If the integrand of an integral contains an expression of the form ( a 2  x 2 ) n / 2 ,

where a is a positive real number and n is an odd integer, then the domain of the
integrand is either the closed interval [  a , a ] or is a subset of this interval. Then
 
try the trigonometric substitution: Let x  a sin  , where     . Then
2 2
dx  a cos  d . Note that the range of the function x  a sin  is the closed
interval [  a , a ] . Also, we have that a  x = a 2  ( a sin  ) 2 = 2 2

a  a sin  = a 2 ( 1  sin 2  ) = a cos  . Thus, ( a 2  x 2 ) n / 2 =

2 2 2 2 2

( a 2 cos 2  ) n / 2 = ( a cos  ) = 2 2 n

( a cos  ) = n
. Since a  0 , then a  a . Since cos   0
n n
a cos 
 
whenever     , then cos   cos  . Thus, (a 2  x 2 ) n/2 = a n cos n  .
2 2

x
If x  a sin  , then sin   . Using right triangle trigonometry, we have that
a

a
x

a2  x2

a2  x2 a x a2  x2
cos   , sec   , tan   , cot  
a a 2
 x 2
a 2
 x 2
x

If the integrand of an integral contains an expression of the form ( a 2  x 2 ) n / 2 ,

where a is a positive real number and n is an integer, then the domain of the
integrand is the set of all real numbers. Then try the trigonometric substitution:
 
Let x  a tan  , where     . Then dx  a sec 2  d . Note that the range
2 2
of the function x  a tan  is the set of all real numbers. Also, we have that
a  x2
= a 2  ( a tan  ) 2 = a  a tan  = a 2 ( 1  tan 2  ) = a sec  .
2 2 2 2 2 2

Thus, ( a 2  x 2 ) n / 2 = ( a 2 sec 2  ) n / 2 = ( a sec  ) = ( a sec  ) = 2 2 n n

. Since a  0 , then a  a . Since sec   1  0 whenever

n n
a sec 
 
    , then sec   sec  . Thus, (a 2  x 2 ) n/2 = a n sec n  .
2 2

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 x
If x  a tan  , then tan   . Using right triangle trigonometry, we have that
a

a2  x2 x


a

a a2  x2 x a2  x2
cos   , sec   , sin   , csc  
a 2
 x 2
a a 2
 x 2
x

If the integrand of an integral contains an expression of the form ( x 2  a 2 ) n / 2 ,

where a is a positive real number and n is an odd integer, then the domain of the
integrand is the set (   ,  a ]  [ a ,  ) or is a subset of this set. Then try the
 3
trigonometric substitution: Let x  a sec  , where 0    or     .
2 2
Then dx  a sec  tan  d . Note that the range of the function x  a sec  is the
set (   ,  a ]  [ a ,  ) . Also, we have that x  a = ( a sec  ) 2  a 2 = 2 2

a sec   a
2 2
= a 2 ( sec 2   1 ) = a tan  . Thus, ( x 2  a 2 ) n / 2 =
2 2 2

( a 2 tan 2  ) n / 2 = ( a tan  ) = ( a tan  ) = a tan  . Since a  0 ,

2 2 n n n n

 3
then a  a . Since tan   0 whenever 0    or     , then
2 2
tan   tan  . Thus, ( x 2  a 2 ) n/2 = a n tan n  .

x
If x  a sec  , then sec   . Using right triangle trigonometry, we have that
a

x
x2  a2

x2  a2 x x2  a2 a
sin   , csc   , tan   , cot  
x x 2
 a 2
a x 2
 a2

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Examples Evaluate the following integrals.

dx
1.  x 2
 9

Note that we do not have the x in the integral to do the simple substitution to
let u  x  9 . We will use the technique of Trigonometric Substitution.
2

 
Let x  3 tan  , where     . Then dx  3 sec 2  d .
2 2

Also, x 2  9  9 tan 2   9 = 9 ( tan 2   1 ) = 9 sec 2  .

Thus, x2  9  9 sec 2   3 sec   3 sec  since sec   1  0 when

 
    . Thus, we have that
2 2

dx 3 sec 2  d
 x2  9
=  3 sec 
=  sec  d = ln sec   tan   c1

x
Since x  3 tan  , then tan   . Using right triangle trigonometry, we
3
x2  9
have that sec   .
3

x2  9 x

dx
Thus,  x 2
 9
=  sec  d = ln sec   tan   c1 =

x2  9 x x  x2  9
ln
3

3
 c1 = ln
3
 c1 =

ln x  x2  9  ln 3  c1 = ln x  x2  9  c , where

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 c  c 1  ln 3

Answer: ln x  x2  9  c

3 2x3
2.   2
25  x 2
dx

2x3
Since the function f (x)  is continuous on its domain of
25  x 2
definition, which is the open interval (  5 , 5 ) , then it is continuous on the
closed interval [  2 , 3 ] . Thus, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus can
be applied.

2x3
We will first evaluate the indefinite integral  25  x 2
dx using the
technique of Trigonometric Substitution. Then we will apply the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus with one of these antiderivatives.

 
Let x  5 sin  , where     . Then dx  5 cos  d .
2 2

Also, 25  x 2  25  25 sin 2  = 25 ( 1  sin 2  ) = 25 cos 2  .

Thus, 25  x 2  25 cos 2   5 cos  5 cos since cos   0 when

 
    . Thus, we have that
2 2

2x3 2 ( 125 sin 3  ) ( 5 cos  d )

 25  x 2
dx =  5 cos 
= 250  sin
3
 d =

250  sin
2
 sin  d = 250  (1  cos 2  ) sin  d

Let u  cos  . Then du   sin  d

250  (1  cos 2  ) sin  d =  250  (1  cos 2  ) (  1 ) sin  d =

 u3   u3 
 250  (1  u 2
) du =  250  u    c = 250   u   c =
 3   3 

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250 250
u ( u 2  3)  c = cos  ( cos 2   3 )  c
3 3
x
Since x  5 sin  , then sin   5 . Using right triangle trigonometry, we
25  x 2
have that cos  .
5

5
x

25  x 2

2x3 250
Thus,  25  x 2
dx = 250  sin
3
 d = 3
cos  ( cos 2   3 )  c =

250 25  x 2  25  x 2 75  50 25  x 2   x 2  50 
3

5

25
   c
25 
= 3

1

25
  c =
  

2 25  x 2   x 2  50  2
3

1  1
  c = 
3
( x 2  50 ) 25  x 2  c
 

2x3
Now, that we have all the antiderivatives of the integrand f ( x)  ,
25  x 2
we can apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate the definite
3 2x3
integral   2
25  x 2
dx .

3 2x3 2 
3

  2
25  x 2
dx = 
3
( x 2  50 ) 25  x 2 
  2
=

2 2 4

3
( 59 16  54 21 ) = 
3
( 236  54 21 ) = 
3
( 118  27 21 )

4
( 27 21  118 )
3

4
Answer: 3
( 27 21  118 )

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 0
3.   7
49  t 2 dt

Note that we do not have the t in the integral to do the simple substitution to
let u  49  t . 2

Since the function f ( t )  49  t is continuous on its domain of 2

definition, which is the closed interval [  7 , 7 ] , then it is continuous on the

closed interval [  7 , 0 ] . Thus, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus can
be applied.

However, the value of this definite integral can be obtained using the area of
the region bounded by the graph of the integrand y  49  t and the 2

horizontal t-axis on the closed interval [  7 , 0 ] . Since the graph of the

function y  49  t is the top-half of the circle given by the equation
2

t  y  49 . The center of the circle is the origin and the radius is 7. Thus,
2 2

the region bounded by the graph of y  49  t and the t-axis on the 2

interval [  7 , 0 ] is the upper left quarter of the circle. Since the area of the
circle is given by  r and r  7 , then the area of the circle is 49  . Thus,
2

49  0 49 
the area of the quarter circle is 4
. Thus,   7
49  t 2 dt = 4
.

To apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, we will first evaluate the

indefinite integral  49  t dt using the technique of Trigonometric
2

Substitution in order to obtain all the antiderivatives of the integrand

f (t )  49  t . 2

 
Let t  7 sin  , where     . Then dt  7 cos  d .
2 2

Also, 49  t 2  49  49 sin 2  = 49 ( 1  sin 2  ) = 49 cos 2  .

Thus, 49  t 2  49 cos2   7 cos  7 cos since cos   0 when

 
    . Thus, we have that
2 2

 49  t 2 dt =  ( 7 cos  ) ( 7 cos  d ) = 49  cos

2
 d =

  sin 2  
49     c
 2 4 

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 t t
Since t  7 sin  , then sin   and   sin  1 . Using right triangle
7 7
49  t 2
trigonometry, we have that cos   .
7

7
t

49  t 2

By the double angle formula for sine, we have that sin 2   2 sin  cos  .

 t  49  t 2  2t 49  t 2
Thus, sin 2   2   
= .
 7 

7 
 49

  sin 2  
Thus,  49  t 2 dt = 49  cos
2
 d = 49     c =
 2 4 

 1 t 1  2 t 49  t 2  
49  sin  1    c =
 2 7 4  49 
  

 1 t 1  t 49  t 2  
49  sin  1    c =
 2 7 2  49 
  

49 
 sin  1 t  t 49  t 2 
  c
2  7 49 
 

Now, that we have all the antiderivatives of the integrand f ( t )  49  t , 2

we can apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate the definite

0
integral  49  t
 7
dt . 2

0
49  49  t 2 
 sin  1 t  t
0
 49  t = 
=
2
dt
 7 2  7 49 
   7

49 49
[ sin  1 0  0  ( sin  1 (  1 )  0 ) ] = [ sin  1 0  sin  1 (  1 ) ] =
2 2
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 49     49    49 
 0    =   =
2   2  2  2  4

49 
Answer: 4

8 6x3
4.  5
x 2  16
dx

6x3
Since the function f (x)  is continuous on its domain of
x 2  16
definition, which is the set (   ,  4 )  ( 4 ,  ) , then it is continuous on
the closed interval [ 5 , 8 ] . Thus, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus can
be applied.

6x3
We will first evaluate the indefinite integral  x 2  16
dx using the
technique of Trigonometric Substitution. Then we will apply the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus with one of these antiderivatives.

 3
Let x  4 sec  , where 0    or     . Then
2 2
dx  4 sec  tan  d .

Also, x 2  16  16 sec 2   16 = 16 ( sec 2   1 ) = 16 tan 2  .

Thus, x 2  16  16 tan 2   4 tan   4 tan  since tan   0 when

 3
0    or     . Thus, we have that
2 2

6x3 6 ( 64 sec 3  ) ( 4 sec  tan  d )

 x 2  16
dx =  4 tan 
= 384  sec
4
 d =

384  sec
2
 sec 2  d = 384  (1  tan 2  ) sec 2  d

Let u  tan  . Then du  sec 2  d

 u3 
384  ( 1  tan  ) sec  d
2 2
= 384  ( 1  u ) du
2
= 384  u    c =
 3 

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384
u ( u 2  3)  c = 128 tan  ( tan 2   3 )  c
3

x
Since x  4 sec  , then sec   . Using right triangle trigonometry, we
4
x 2  16
have that tan   .
4

x
x 2  16

6x3
Thus,  x 2  16
dx = 384  sec
4
 d = 128 tan  ( tan 2   3 )  c =

x 2  16  x 2  16 48  x 2  16  x 2  32 
128 
4

16

16
  c = 32 
1

16
  c =
   

x 2  16  x 2  32 
2
1

1
  c = 2 ( x 2  32 ) x 2  16  c
 

6x3
Now, that we have all the antiderivatives of the integrand f ( x)  ,
x 2  16
we can apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate the definite
8 6x3
integral  5
x 2  16
dx .

6x3
 =
8
 =
8
dx 2 ( x 2  32 ) x 2  16
5 2
 16
5
x

2 ( 96 48  57 9 ) = 2 ( 96 16  3  171 ) = 2 ( 384 3  171 ) =

768 3  342

Answer: 768 3  342

Copyrighted by James D. Anderson, The University of Toledo

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5.  y 5 (9  7 y 2
) 3 / 2 dy

We want to rewrite the integral before we use the technique of Trigonometric

Substitution.
3/ 2
  9 
 y 5 (9  7 y 2
) 3 / 2 dy =  y5 7 
7
 y2  dy =
  

3/ 2 3/ 2
 9   9 
 y 5 7 3/ 2   y2  dy = 7 3/ 2  y5  y2  dy
 7   7 

y 
3
tan    dy 
3
sec 2  d
Let , where     . Then .
7 2 2 7

9 9 9 9 9
Also,  y2   tan 2  = ( 1  tan 2  ) = sec 2  .
7 7 7 7 7

3/ 2 3/ 2
 9   9  27 27
Thus, since
3
  y2    sec 2    sec   sec 3 
 7   7  7 3/ 2 7 3/ 2
 
sec   1  0 when     . Thus, we have that
2 2

3/ 2
 9 
 y 5 (9  7 y =   y2  =
2
) 3 / 2 dy 7 3/ 2 5
y  dy
 7 

35  33  3
7 3/ 2  7 5/ 2
tan 5   3 / 2 sec 3 
 7
 1 / 2 sec 2  d
 7
=

7 3/ 2 3 9 39
 tan 5  sec 5  d =  tan  sec 5  d =
5

7 9/2 73

39
=  tan  sec 4  sec  tan  d =
4

73

39
 ( tan  ) 2 sec 4  sec  tan  d =
2

73

39
 ( sec   1 ) 2 sec 4  sec  tan  d
2

73

Let u  sec  . Then du  sec  tan  d

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39 39
 ( sec 2   1 ) 2 sec 4  sec  tan  d =  (u  1 ) 2 u 4 du =
2

73 73

39 39
 ( u 4  2 u 2  1 ) u 4 du =  (u  2 u 6  u 4 ) du =
8

73 73

39  u9 2u 7 u5 
     c =
73  9 7 5 

39  1 2 1 
3 
sec 9   sec 7   sec 5    c
7  9 7 5 

3 7 y
Since y  tan  , then tan   . Using right triangle trigonometry,
7 3
9  7y2
we have that sec   .
3

9  7y2 7 y

3
3/ 2
 9 
Thus,  y 5 (9  7 y 2
) 3 / 2 dy = 7 3/ 2  y5  y2  dy =
 7 

39 39  1 2 1 
73  tan 5  sec 5  d = 3 
7  9
sec 9  
7
sec 7  
5
sec 5    c

=

39  1 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 9/2 2 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 7/2 1 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 5/ 2 
        c =
73 9 39 7 37 5 35 

39 1  1 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 9/2 2 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 7/2 1 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 5/2 

         c =
7 3 3 5  9 34 7 32 5 1 

34  1 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 9/2 2 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 7/2 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 5/2 

       c =
73  9 81 7 9 5 

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 81  ( 9  7 y 2 ) 9/2 2( 9  7 y 2 ) 7/2 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 5/ 2 
     c
343  729 63 5 

81  ( 9  7 y 2 ) 9/2 2 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 7/2 ( 9  7 y 2 ) 5/ 2 
Answer:      c
343  729 63 5 

6.  5x 4x 2
 11 dx

This integral can be evaluated by simple substitution which is FASTER than

trigonometric substitution.

Let u  4 x  11 2

Then du  8 x dx

5
  11 dx =  4 x 2  11 dx =  8x 4 x 2  11 dx =
2
5x 4x 5 x
8

5 5 5 2 3/ 2 5
 = u =  u  c = ( 4 x 2  11 ) 3 / 2  c
1/ 2
u du du
8 8 8 3 12

If you missed the simple substitution and proceeded with the technique of
Trigonometric Substitution, then your work would have been the following
(and the following, and the following.)

 11  11
 5x 4x 2
 11 dx =  5x 4 x 2   dx
4 
= 10  x x2  dx
 4

11  3
Let x  sec  , where 0    or     . Then
2 2 2
11
dx 
2
sec  tan  d .

11 11 11 11 11
Also, x2   sec 2   = ( sec 2   1 ) = tan 2  .
4 4 4 4 4

11 11 11 11
Thus, x2   tan 2   tan   tan  since tan   0
4 4 2 2
 3
when 0    or     . Thus, we have that
2 2

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 11
  11 dx =  x2  =
2
5x 4x 10 x dx
4

11  11  11
10  sec   tan   sec  tan  d =
2  2  2
 

55 11
4  tan 2  sec 2  d

Let u  tan  . Then du  sec 2  d

55 11 55 11 55 11 u3
4  tan 2  sec 2  d = 4 u
2
du =   c =
4 3

55 11
tan 3   c
12

11 2x
Since x  sec  , then sec   . Using right triangle trigonometry,
2 11
4 x 2  11
we have that tan  
11
.

2x
4 x 2  11

11

11
Thus,  5 x  11 dx =  x2  =
2
4x 10 x dx
4

55 11 55 11
4  tan 2  sec 2  d = 12
tan 3   c =

55 11 ( 4 x 2  11 ) 3 / 2 5
12

11 11
 c = 12
( 4 x 2  11 ) 3 / 2  c

5
Answer: 12
( 4 x 2  11 ) 3 / 2  c
Copyrighted by James D. Anderson, The University of Toledo
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7.  (6  t
3 2
t ) 5 / 2 dt

 
Let t  6 sin  , where     . Then dt  6 cos  d .
2 2

Also, 6  t 2  6  6 sin 2  = 6 ( 1  sin 2  ) = 6 cos 2  .

Thus, ( 6  t 2 ) 5 / 2  ( 6 cos 2  ) 5 / 2  6 5 / 2 cos

5
 6 5 / 2 cos 5  since cos   0
 
when     . Thus, we have that
2 2

 t 3
(6  t 2
) 5 / 2 dt = 6 3/ 2
sin 3  ( 6 5 / 2 cos 5  ) 6 1 / 2 cos  d =

6 9/2  sin 3  cos 6  d = 6 9/2  sin 2  cos 6  sin  d =

6 9/2  ( 1  cos 2  ) cos 6  sin  d

Let u  cos  . Then du   sin  d

6 9/2  ( 1  cos 2  ) cos 6  sin  d =

 6 9/2  ( 1  cos 2  ) cos 6  (  1 ) sin  d =  6 9/2  ( 1  u 2 ) u 6 du =

 6 9/2  ( u 6  u 8 ) du = 6 9/2  ( u 8  u 6 ) du =

 u9 u7   1 1 
6 9 / 2     c = 6 9 / 2  cos 9   cos 7    c
 9 7   9 7 

t
Since t  6 sin  , then sin   . Using right triangle trigonometry, we
6
6  t2
have that cos 
6
.

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 6  t 2

Thus,  t 3
(6  t 2
) 5 / 2 dt = 6 9/2  sin 3  cos 6  d =

 1 1 
6 9 / 2  cos 9   cos 7    c =
 9 7 

 1 ( 6  t 2 ) 9/2 1 ( 6  t 2 ) 7/2 
6 9/2
      c =
9 6 9/2 7 6 7/2 

1 6
( 6  t 2 ) 9/2  ( 6  t 2 ) 7/2  c
9 7

1 6
Answer: 9
( 6  t 2 ) 9/2 
7
( 6  t 2 ) 7/2  c

dy
8.  ( 9 y 2  25 ) 3 / 2

Note that we do not have the y in the integral to do the simple substitution to
let u  9 y  25 . We will use the technique of Trigonometric Substitution.
2

First, we will need to rewrite the integral.

dy dy
dy  

3/ 2 3/ 2

 25 ) 3 / 2 =   2 25   =  25  =
(9 y 2 9  y  9  9 3/ 2  y 2 
 9 

  

1 dy
27   2 25 
3/ 2

 y  
 9 

5  3
Let y  sec  , where 0    or     . Then
3 2 2
5
dy  sec  tan  d .
3

25 25 25 25 25
Also, y2   sec 2   = ( sec 2   1 ) = tan 2  .
9 9 9 9 9

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 3/ 2 3/ 2
 2 25   25  25 3 / 2 125
Thus, since
3
 y     tan 2    tan   tan 3 
 9   9  9 3/ 2 27
 3
tan   0 when 0    or     . Thus, we have that
2 2

1 dy
dy 

3/ 2

(9 y 2  25 ) 3 / 2 = 27  2
 y 
25 

=
 9 

5
sec  tan  d 1 5 1 sec 
1

3
=
 
27 3 125  tan 2 
d
=
27 125
tan 3  27
27

1 5 27 1 1 1 1 cos 2 
 
27 3 125  sec  cot 2  d =  
1 3 25  
cos  sin 2 
d =

1 cos 
75  sin 2 
d

Let u  sin  . Then du  cos  d

1 cos  1 du 1 1 u 1
75  sin 2 
d = 75  u2
= 75  u  2 du = 
75  1
 c =

1 1 1 1 1
   c =    c =  csc   c
75 u 75 sin  75

5 3y
Since y  sec  , then sec   . Using right triangle trigonometry, we
3 5
3y
have that csc   .
9 y 2  25

3y
9y 2
 25

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 dy 1 cos  1
Thus,  (9 y 2
 25 ) 3 / 2 = 75  sin 2 
d = 
75
csc   c =

1 3y y
   c =   c
75 9y 2
 25 25 9 y 2  25

y
Answer:   c
25 9 y 2  25

( x 2  4) 2
9.  3x
dx

( x 2  4) 2 1 x 4  8 x 2  16
 3x
dx = 3  x
dx =

1  3 16  1  x4 
3   x  8x 

 dx
x 
= 3

 4
 4 x 2  16 ln x   c

=

1 4 2 16
x4  x  ln x  c
12 3 3

If you evaluate the integral using the technique of Trigonometric Substitution,

then your work would have been the following.

 
Let x  2 tan  , where     . Then dx  2 sec 2  d .
2 2

Also, x 2  4  4 tan 2   4 = 4 ( tan 2   1 ) = 4 sec 2  .

Thus, ( x 2  4 ) 2  ( 4 sec 2  ) 2  16 sec 4  . Thus, we have that

( x 2  4) 2 16 sec 4  ( 2 sec 2  d ) 16
 3x
dx =  3 ( 2 tan  )
= 3  ( tan  )
1
sec 6  d =

16 16
 ( tan  ) sec 4  sec 2  d  ( tan  ) ( sec 2  ) 2 sec 2  d
1 1

3
= 3

16
 ( tan  ) ( 1  tan 2  ) 2 sec 2  d
1

Let u  tan  . Then du  sec 2  d

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 16 16
 ( tan  ) ( 1  tan 2  ) 2 sec 2  d u
1 1

3
= 3
( 1  u 2 ) 2 du =

16 16
u  (u
1
( 1  2 u 2  u 4 ) du = 3
 2 u  u  1 ) du =
3 3

16  u4 
  u 2  ln u   c =
3  4 

16  1 
 tan   tan   ln tan    c
4 2

3  4 

x
Since x  2 tan  , then tan   .
2

( x 2  4) 2 16
Thus,  3x
dx = 3  ( tan  )
1
sec 6  d =

16  1 
 tan   tan   ln tan    c 1 =
4 2

3  4 

16  1 x4 x2 x 
    ln   c 1 =
3  4 16 4 2 

16  x4 x2 
   ln x  ln 2   c 1 =
3  64 4 

1 4 2 16 16
12
x4 
3
x 
3
ln x 
3
ln 2  c 1 =

1 4 4 2 16 16
x  x  ln x  c , where c  c1  ln 2
12 3 3 3

1 4 2 16
Answer: 12
x4 
3
x 
3
ln x  c

Example If a is a positive real number, b is any real number, m is a rational

number, and n is an odd integer, then determine the trigonometric integral for the
integral  b x ( a  x ) dx if you do the trigonometric substitution to let
m 2 2 n/2

 
x  a sin  , where     .
2 2

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Since x  a sin  , then dx  a cos  d .

a2  x2 = a 2  ( a sin  ) 2 = a 2  a 2 sin 2  = a 2 ( 1  sin 2  ) = a 2 cos 2  .

Thus, (a 2  x 2 ) n/2 = ( a 2 cos 2  ) n / 2 = ( a 2 cos 2  ) n = ( a cos  ) n =

a
n
cos 
n
. Since a  0, then a  a . Since cos   0 whenever
 
    , then cos   cos  . Thus, (a 2  x 2 ) n/2 = a n cos n  .
2 2

Thus,  b x m
(a 2
 x 2 ) n / 2 dx = b  a m sin m  ( a n cos n  ) a cos  d =
 sin m  cos n  d .
 n  1  1
am b

Answer:  b x m (a 2
 x 2 ) n / 2 dx = am  n  1
b  sin m  cos n  1
 d

3 2x3
For example, in our Example 2 above, we had the integral   2
25  x 2
dx .

2x3
For this integral, a  5 , b  2 , m  3, and n   1. Thus,  25  x 2
dx =
53 2  sin 3  d = 250  sin 3  d .

Example If a is a positive real number, b is any real number, m is a rational

number, and n is an integer, then determine the trigonometric integral for the
integral  b x ( a  x ) dx if you do the trigonometric substitution to let
m 2 2 n/2

 
x  a tan  , where     .
2 2

Since x  a tan  , then dx  a sec 2  d .

a2  x2 = a 2  ( a tan  ) 2 = a 2  a 2 tan 2  = a 2 ( 1  tan 2  ) = a 2 sec 2  .

Thus, (a 2  x 2 ) n/2 = ( a 2 sec 2  ) n / 2 = ( a 2 sec 2  ) n = ( a sec  ) n =

a
n
sec 
n
. Since a  0, then a  a . Since sec   1  0 whenever
 
    , then sec   sec  . Thus, (a 2  x 2 ) n/2 = a n sec n  .
2 2

Thus,  b x m
(a 2
 x 2 ) n / 2 dx = b  a m tan m  ( a n sec n  ) a sec 2  d =
  sec  d .
m  n 1 m n  2
a b tan

Answer:  b x m
(a 2
 x 2 ) n / 2 dx = a m  n 1
b  tan m  sec n  2
 d

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 dx
For example, in our Example 1 above, we had the integral  x 2
 9
. For this
dx
integral, a  3 , b  1, m  0 , and n   1. Thus,  x 2
 9
=
3 0 (1)  tan 0  sec  d =  sec  d .

Example If a is a positive real number, b is any real number, m is a rational

number, and n is an odd integer, then determine the trigonometric integral for the
integral  b x ( x  a ) dx if you do the trigonometric substitution to let
m 2 2 n/2

 3
x  a sin  , where 0    or     .
2 2

Since x  a sec  , then dx  a sec  tan  d .

x2  a2 = ( a sec  ) 2  a 2 = a 2 sec 2   a 2 = a 2 ( sec 2   1 ) = a 2 tan 2  .

Thus, ( x 2  a 2 ) n/2 = ( a 2 tan 2  ) n / 2 = ( a 2 tan 2  ) n = ( a tan  ) n =


a
n
tan 
n
. Since a  0, then a  a . Since tan   0 whenever 0   
2
3
or     , then tan   tan  . Thus, ( x 2  a 2 ) n/2 = a n tan n  .
2

Thus,  b x m ( x 2  a 2 ) n / 2 dx = b  a m
sec m  ( a n
tan n  ) a sec  tan  d =
  sec m  1  d .
m  n 1 1
a b tan n

Answer:  b x m ( x 2  a 2 ) n / 2 dx = a m  n 1
b  tan n 1
 sec m  1  d

dy
For example, in our Example 8 above, we had the integral  (9 y 2
 25 ) 3 / 2 =
dy dy dy
 3/ 2  3/ 2  3/ 2
  2 25   =  25  =  25  . For the
9  y  9  9 3/ 2  y 2 
 9 
 27  y 2 
 9 

  
dy
integral
  25 
3/ 2
, a 
5 1
, b  27 , m  0, and n   3. Thus,
27  y 2   3
 9 
dy
  5
 2
1 9 1
 cot  sec  d
3/ 2

27  y 2 
25 

=  3  27  ( tan  )  2 sec  d = 
25 27
2
=
 
 9 
1 cos 2  1 1 cos 
75  
sin  cos 
2
d = 
75 sin 2 
d

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