Page 30 - Calculus for the Clueless, Calc II
P. 30
We now have integrals involving square roots. Our goal is to get rid of the radicals. The first area here is trig
substitutions.
Type 1
(a - x ) . We use x = a sin u (dx = a cos u du).
2
2 1/2
and the square root is gone. Here are the other two cases.
Type 2
(a + x ) ; we use x = a tan u (dx = a sec u du)
2
2
2 1/2
Type 3
2 1/2
2
(x - a ) ; we use x = a sec u (dx = a tan u sec u du)
I have demonstrated each of the three types. However, it is essential that you know by sight what the answer is
without substituting. Otherwise, the problems will take forever. If I wake you up in the middle of the night and
ask you, "What do you get if you have (7 - x ) ?" You should instantly say, "Square root of 7 cosine u—now
2 1/2
let me go back to sleep!!!!"
Example 12—
We didn't start with u; we started with x. We must draw a triangle with x = 4 sin u. sin u = x/4. Note the missing
side will be what the square root is.
Example 13—