# How to solve $\int\frac{dx}{\sqrt{4-x^2}}$ with trigonometric substitution?

The integral

$$\int\frac{dx}{\sqrt{4-x^2}}$$

I've found the variable

$$x=2\sin\theta$$

$$x^2=4\sin^2\theta$$

$$dx=2\cos\theta\,d\theta$$

Which gave me by substitution

$$\int\frac{2\cos\theta}{4-\sqrt{4\sin^2\theta}}\,d\theta$$ $$\int\frac{\cos\theta}{2-\sin\theta}\,d\theta$$ $$\frac{1}{2}\int \cos\theta \,d\theta-\int\frac{\cos\theta}{\sin\theta}\,d\theta$$ $$\frac{1}{2}\int \cos\theta \,d\theta-\int\cot\theta \,d\theta$$ $$= \frac{\sin\theta}{2}-\ln|\sin\theta| + C$$

Now if I look at the expected answer, it should be

$$\arcsin\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)+C$$

What am I missing ?

• @BrianM.Scott Sorry, it was a typo, edited. – student Mar 10 '15 at 0:12
• It’s better, but that first step is still off: where are you getting the first $4$ in the denominator? You should have $$\sqrt{4-4\sin^2\theta}=\sqrt{4\cos^2\theta}=2\cos\theta\;.$$ – Brian M. Scott Mar 10 '15 at 0:14
• $4-4\sin^2\theta=4(1-\sin^2\theta)=4\cos^2\theta$, from the identity $\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1$. That’s actually why you use the trig substitution. – Brian M. Scott Mar 10 '15 at 0:21
• Recall that $x=2\sin\theta$, and solve for $\theta$ in terms of $x$. – Brian M. Scott Mar 10 '15 at 0:25
• @egreg We already know there is easier solution, however as we are starting to learn trigonometric substitution, they ask us to prove simple case. – student Mar 10 '15 at 0:32

Substitution of $x=2\sin\theta$ implies that $\sqrt{4-x^2}=\sqrt{4-4\sin^2\theta}=2\cos\theta$. Then,

$$\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{4-x^2}}=\int \frac{\cos\theta d\theta}{\cos\theta}=\theta+C$$ where $C$ is a constant of integration. But, $\theta=\arcsin\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$. So,

$$\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{4-x^2}}=\arcsin\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)+C$$

Your substitution is correct, but you should have $\sqrt{4-4\sin^2 \theta}$ in the denominator. You cannot break the square root as you have done. Moreover, $\frac{\cos\theta}{2-\sin\theta}$ is not the same as $\frac{1}{2}\cos\theta - \frac{\cos\theta}{\sin\theta}$. Try doing this with numbers; it won't work there, and it doesn't work here either.

• Thanks for the answer, but Brian M. Scott already pointed this in the comments. – student Mar 10 '15 at 0:25

Your big mistake is that you apparently thought that $\sqrt{4-4\sin^2\theta}$ is the same as $4-\sqrt{4\sin^2\theta}$. Nothing is correct after that.

Do you need to use trigonometric substitution? Because you can solve it easier using regular substitution. First: $$\int{\frac{dx}{\sqrt{4(1-\frac{x^2}{4})}}}=\frac{1}{2}\int{\frac{dx}{\sqrt{1-(\frac{x}{2})^2}}}$$ We use substitution $\frac{x}{2}=t ; \frac{dx}{2}=dt$.
Now we have: $$\int{\frac{dt}{\sqrt{1-t^2}}}=arcsint=arcsin\frac{x}{2}+c$$