Integrate ∫ 1/√(16 - x^2) dx Step by Step

Step by step

The question

Question: find the integral of 1 over √(16 − x²).

∫ 1√16 − x² dx =

1 Choose the substitution

We have the root of 16 minus x².

Use x = 4 sin θ, because 1 − sin² θ is cos² θ: the minus goes away.

√a² − x²: x = a sin θ

a² + x²: x = a tan θ

So x = 4 sin θ.

θ is an angle.

x = 4 sin θ

Its derivative: dx = 4 cos θ dθ.

dx = 4 cos θ dθ

Careful!

dx does not just become dθ.

dx is 4 cos θ dθ.

Careful: not dx = dθ ✗

2 Simplify the root

Put x = 4 sin θ in: x² is 16 sin² θ.

√16 − x² = √16 − 16sin² θ

Take out 16: its root is 4.

= 4√1 − sin² θ

1 − sin² θ is cos² θ, and its root is cos θ.

= 4 cos θ

1 − sin² θ = cos² θ

3 Write it with θ

dx on top, the root at the bottom.

They are the same: they cancel!

= ∫ 4 cos θ4 cos θ dθ

= ∫ 1 dθ

4 Integrate

The integral of 1 is θ.

= θ + C

5 Back to x

From x = 4 sin θ: sin θ is x/4.

sin θ = x4

So θ is the angle whose sin is x/4: sin to the minus 1.

θ = sin⁻¹(x/4)

So the answer is sin⁻¹(x/4) + C.

= sin⁻¹(x4) + C

6 Check

Let's check: the slope of our answer F near x = 1, with a calculator: about 0.2582.

F(1.001) − F(0.999)0.002 ≈ 0.2582

The question at x = 1 gives 0.2582.

The same.

Right!

the question at x = 1: 1√16 − x² ≈ 0.2582

Let's look back.

First: choose the substitution.

Then: simplify the root.

Then: write it with θ.

Then: integrate.

Then: back to x.

Last: check.

Answer