# Evaluating line integral over an ellipse

How can I evaluate $$\int\limits_C(1+x^2y)\ ds$$ where $$C$$ is the first quarter of the ellipse $$\frac{x^2}9+\frac{y^2}4=1$$

I tried parameterizing the curve but I couldn't get rid of the square root $$\sqrt{9\sin^2t +4\cos^2t}$$ The last integral I have reached is $$\int_0^{\pi/2}(1+18\cos^2t\sin t)\sqrt{9\sin^2t +4\cos^2t} \ dt$$

• Well, what tools do you have available? Can you parametrize the ellipse? Can you think of a way to use Green's theorem or a similar tool? What have you tried, and where are you stuck? Please keep in mind that this is not a do-my-homework service. – user296602 Feb 22 at 1:59
• @T.Bongers see edit please – anonymous Feb 22 at 2:19
• What is $ds$ ? ... – JJacquelin Feb 22 at 8:24
• @JJacquelin $ds$ is the length element over the path . By parameterization it can be written as $ds=\sqrt{x^{'}(t)+y^{'}(t)}\ dt$ – anonymous Feb 22 at 14:07
• @user376343 this is not multiple integral to use the jacobian besides I parameterized the curve but I couldn't perform the integral. If you can perform the integral , It will be excellent. – anonymous Feb 22 at 14:09

You might want to try substituting $$u = \sin t$$, so that $$u^2 = \sin^2 t$$, and $$1-u^2 = \cos^2 t$$. Of course, you have $$du= \cos t dt$$, but you can write this as $$du = \sqrt{1 - u^2} dt$$ i.e. $$dt = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-u^2}} du$$ and then you'll end up with an expression involving polynomials and square roots of a polynomial. But the polynomial will be a function of $$u^2$$ rather than $$u$$, which gives some small hope for further progress. I suspect an arctan will enter in somewhere. But who knows?
Either $$\int\limits_C(1+x^2y)\ ds = \int_0^{\pi/2}(1+18\cos^2(t)\sin(t))\sqrt{9\sin^2(t) +4\cos^2(t)} \ dt$$ or $$\int\limits_C(1+x^2y^2)\ ds = \int_0^{\pi/2}(1+36\cos^2(t)\sin(t)^2)\sqrt{9\sin^2(t) +4\cos^2(t)} \ dt$$ Please clarify which one you intend to solve.
Or equivalently, by elimination of $$x$$ with $$x^2=9-\frac94 y^2$$ : $$\int\limits_C(1+x^2y^2)\ ds = \frac18 \int_0^2(4+36y^2-9y^4)\sqrt{\frac{5y^2+16}{4-y^2}}dy$$ A closed form involves the Complete Elliptic Integral : http://mathworld.wolfram.com/EllipticIntegral.html