# How do I solve a confusing trig substitution?

Hi I am trying to solve an integral problem that involves trig substitution. First I tried completing the square, which gave me $$1/\sqrt{(x+3)^2+2^2}$$. I know I am supposed to use $$x = \arctan(\theta)$$. Does that mean it should be:

$$x + 3 = \arctan(\theta)$$

$$x = \arctan(\theta) - 3$$

and then Integrate from there? I am not sure if this is a good way of thinking about this problem. I would appreciate any help!

• Are you trying to compute: $$\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+6x+13}}\,dx$$? – b00n heT May 30 at 22:14

So you are trying to find $$I=\int\frac{dx}{\sqrt{x^2+6x+13}}=\int\frac{dx}{\sqrt{(x+3)^2+2^2}}$$ And your goal is to find the right substitution $$x+3=a\cdot\tan\theta$$ such that $$(x+3)^2+2^2=(a\tan\theta)^2+2^2=2^2(\tan^2\theta+1)=2^2\sec^2\theta.$$ It does not take much to show that $$a=2$$. Can you take it from here?

Do $$x=2\tan(\theta)-3$$ and $$\mathrm dx=2\sec^2(\theta)\,\mathrm d\theta$$. You will get$$\int\frac{2\sec^2(\theta)}{\sqrt{4\tan^2(\theta)+4}}=\int\sec(\theta)\,\mathrm d\theta.$$Now, you can use the formula for the primitive of the secant.

$$\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+6x+13}}\thinspace dx=\int\frac{1}{\sqrt{(x+3)^2+2^2}}\thinspace dx$$

So $$x+3=2\tan\theta$$, and $$dx=2\sec^2\theta\thinspace d\theta$$ $$\begin{eqnarray} \int\frac{1}{\sqrt{(x+3)^2+2^2}}\thinspace dx&=&=\frac{1}{2}\int\frac{2}{\sqrt{(x+3)^2+2^2}}\thinspace dx\\\ &=&\frac{1}{2}\int\cos(\theta)\sec^2(\theta)\thinspace d\theta\\\ &=&\frac{1}{2}\int\sec\theta\thinspace d\theta \end{eqnarray}$$

After completing the integration, substitute

$$\theta=\arctan\left(\frac{x+3}{2}\right)$$.

Note that $$x^2+6x+13 = (x+3)^2+4$$

Your correct substitution is$$(x+3)=2\tan(\theta)$$

$$dx=2\sec^2(\theta)d\theta$$

$$(x+3)^2+4=4\tan ^2(\theta)+4 =4(1+\tan^2 (\theta)= 4\sec^2(\theta)$$

$$\sqrt {x^2+6x+13}=2\sec (\theta)$$

Will take care of the radical and the integral is manageable from here on.