Section 8.

3: Trigonometric Substitution

Integration by trigonometric substitution is used if the integrand involves a radical and

u-substitution fails. There are three cases to consider:
√
1. If the√integrand involves a2 − x2 , then substitute x = a sin θ so that dx = a cos θdθ
and a2 − x2 = a cos θ.
√
2. If the√integrand involves x2 − a2 , then substitute x = a sec θ so that dx = a sec θ tan θdθ
and x2 − a2 = a tan θ.
√
3. If the√integrand involves x2 + a2 , then substitute x = a tan θ so that dx = a sec2 θdθ
and x2 + a2 = a sec θ.

Z
dx
Example: Evaluate √ .
x2 25 − x2
√
Let x = 5 sin θ, dx = 5 cos θdθ, 25 − x2 = 5 cos θ. Then
Z Z
dx 5 cos θ
√ = dθ
2
x 25 − x 2 25 sin2 θ(5 cos θ)
Z
1 1
= 2 dθ
25
Z sin θ
1
= csc2 θdθ
25
1
= − cot θ + C.
25
Drawing a reference triangle, we find that
√
25 − x2
Z
dx 1
√ = − cot θ + C = − + C.
x2 25 − x2 25 25x

5 𝑥

𝜃
25 − 𝑥 2
 Z
dx
Example: Evaluate √ .
x2 x2 − 4
√
Let x = 2 sec θ, dx = 2 sec θ tan θdθ, x2 − 4 = 2 tan θ. Then
Z Z
dx 2 sec θ tan θ
√ = dθ
2 2
x x −4 4 sec2 θ(2 tan θ)
Z
1 1
= dθ
4 sec θ
Z
1
= cos θdθ
4
1
= sin θ + C.
4
Drawing a reference triangle, we find that
√
x2 − 4
Z
dx 1
√ = sin θ + C = + C.
x2 x2 − 4 4 4x

𝑥
𝑥2 − 4

𝜃
2

Z 3
dx
Example: Evaluate √ .
0 9 + x2
√
Let x = 3 tan θ, dx = 3 sec2 θdθ, 9 + x2 = 3 sec θ. Then
Z 3 Z π/4
dx 3 sec2 θ
√ = dθ
0 9 + x2 0 3 sec θ
Z π/4
= sec θdθ
0
= ln | sec θ + tan θ||π/4
0
√
= ln | 2 + 1|.
 x2
Z
Example: Evaluate dx.
(4 − x2 )3/2

Let x = 2 sin θ, dx = 2 cos θdθ, (4 − x2 )3/2 = (2 cos θ)3 = 8 cos3 θ. Then

x2 4 sin2 θ(2 cos θ)

Z Z
dx = dθ
(4 − x2 )3/2 8 cos3 θ
sin2 θ
Z
= dθ
cos2 θ
Z
= tan2 θdθ
Z
= (sec2 θ − 1)dθ
= tan θ − θ + C.

Drawing a reference triangle, we find that

x2
Z
x −1 x
 
dx = tan θ − θ + C = √ + sin + C.
(4 − x2 )3/2 4 − x2 2

4 𝑥

𝜃
4 − 𝑥2

√
Note: If the integrand involves ax2 + bx + c, then complete the square and use the appro-
priate trigonometric substitution.

Z
dx
Example: Evaluate √ .
x2 + 4x + 8

First, complete the square

x2 + 4x + 8 = (x2 + 4x) + 8 = (x2 + 4x + 4) + 4 = (x2 + 2)2 + 4.

Let u = x + 2, du = dx. Then
Z Z
dx du
√ = √ .
2
x + 4x + 8 u2 + 4
√
Let u = 2 tan θ, du = 2 sec2 θdθ, u2 + 4 = 2 sec θ. Then

2 sec2 θdθ
Z Z
du
√ =
u2 + 4 2 sec θ
Z
= sec θdθ
= ln | sec θ + tan θ| + C
√ 
 u2 + 4 + u 
= ln  +C
 
 2 
√ 
 x2 + 4x + 8 + x + 2 
= ln  +C
 
 2 
√
= ln | x2 + 4x + 8 + x + 2| + C.

Z √
Example: Evaluate 16 − x2 dx.

√
Let x = 4 sin θ, dx = 4 cos θdθ, 16 − x2 = 4 cos θ. Then
Z √ Z
2
16 − x dx = (4 cos θ)(4 cos θ)dθ
Z
= 16 cos2 θdθ
Z
= 8 (1 + cos 2θ)dθ
 
1
= 8 θ + sin 2θ + C
2
= 8θ + 8 sin θ cos θ + C √
 x   16 − x2 
−1 x
 
= 8 sin +8 +C
4 4 4
  x√16 − x2
−1 x
= 8 sin + + C.
4 2