Q.Evaluate: ∫16−9x2dx
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Integration By Completing Square
Integration by Completing the Square
You can integrate x2+11 or x2−a21 on sight. But a quadratic denominator such as x2+4x+5 fits neither standard form directly. The fix is to rewrite the quadratic as a perfect square plus (or minus) a constant, turning it into a form you already know.
The move
For x2+bx+c, add and subtract (2b)2:
x2+bx+c=(x+2b)2+(c−4b2).
After substituting u=x+2b the integral collapses to ∫u2+k2du or ∫u2−k2du.
Case A — leads to inverse tangent
∫x2+4x+5dx.
Complete the square: x2+4x+5=(x+2)2+1. With u=x+2,
∫u2+1du=tan−1u+C=tan−1(x+2)+C.
∫u2+a2du=a1tan−1au+C is the workhorse when the constant left over is positive.
Case B — leads to a logarithm
∫x2−6x+5dx.
Here x2−6x+5=(x−3)2−4. With u=x−3 the denominator u2−4 factors, so use partial fractions:
∫u2−4du=41logu+2u−2+C=41logx−1x−5+C. …
Concept: Integration by completing the square (here, the square is already complete — this is a standard ∫a2−x2dx form after factoring).
Step 1: Rewrite the denominator to match the form a2−u2.
16−9x2=9(916−x2)=9((34)2−x2)
Step 2: Substitute u=x, so dx=du, and factor out the constant from the square root.
∫16−9x2dx=∫9(916−x2)dx=31∫(34)2−x2dx …
This integral is solved by rewriting the denominator in the form a2−u2 using completing the square (here it's already a perfect square), then applying the standard formula ∫a2−u2du=sin−1au+C. The final answer is 31sin−1(43x)+C.
The key to integrals like ∫16−9x2dx is recognising the pattern a2−u2. When you see a quadratic under a square root, your first instinct should be: can I write it as a2−(something)2? If yes, the integral becomes an inverse sine.
Here, 16−9x2 is already a difference of squares: 16=42 and 9x2=(3x)2. So we have 42−(3x)2. That’s exactly the form a2−u2 with a=4 and u=3x.
But there’s a catch: the dx is in terms of x, while the formula expects du. So we need a substitution.
- Set up the substitution. Let u=3x. Then du=3dx, so dx=3du. The integral becomes:
∫16−9x2dx=∫16−u23du=31∫16−u2du.
- Apply the standard formula. The formula ∫a2−u2du=sin−1au+C is a direct consequence of the derivative dudsin−1au=a2−u21. Here a=4, so:
31∫16−u2du=31sin−14u+C.
- Substitute back. Since u=3x, we get: 31sin−1(43x)+C. …
Method: Reducing to the standard form ∫a2−u2dx=sin−1au
Use this whenever a denominator is (constant)−(coefficient)x2. Factor out the coefficient so it matches the arcsine standard form.
Steps
Step 1: Factor the coefficient of x2 from under the root.
16−9x2=9(916−x2)=3(34)2−x2.
Step 2: Identify a.
Here a=34, so the integral becomes 31∫a2−x2dx.
Step 3: Apply the standard result. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not factoring out the 9.
Why it's wrong: applying arcsine to 16−9x2 without extracting the coefficient gives a wrong a and a missing 31. Correct approach: write 16−9x2=9(916−x2) first.
Mistake 2: Wrong value of a.
Why it's wrong: after factoring, a2=916 so a=34; using a=4 or a=43 gives the wrong argument. Correct approach: take a=16/9=34, so the argument is 43x. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 35 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.∫9cos2x−24sinxcosx+16sin2x1dx= (A) 4(3cosx−4sinx)cosx+c (B) 4(3cosx−4sinx)sinx+c (C) 3cosx−4sinxcosx+c (D) 3cosx−4sinxsinx+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recognising the denominator as the perfect square (3cosx−4sinx)2 and substituting u=3−4tanx reduces the integral to a simple power rule, giving 4(3cosx−4sinx)cosx+c.
Concept and Intuition
When a trigonometric denominator has the form a2cos2x−2absinxcosx+b2sin2x, check whether it is a perfect square (acosx−bsinx)2 first — this instantly turns a messy-looking integral into ∫sec2(⋅)/(linear in tanx)2dx, solvable by substitution.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Observe 9cos2x−24sinxcosx+16sin2x=(3cosx−4sinx)2 (matches a2−2ab+b2 with a=3cosx, b=4sinx).
- So the integral is ∫(3cosx−4sinx)2dx.
- Divide numerator and denominator by cos2x: =∫(3−4tanx)2sec2xdx.
- Let u=3−4tanx, so du=−4sec2xdx, i.e. sec2xdx=−41du. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-AN1 markMCQQ.∫7−6x−x2dx= (A) Sinh−1(4x+3)+c (B) log4x+3+c (C) Sin−1(4x+3)+c (D) 21Sin−1(4x+3)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Completing the square under the root reveals the standard form ∫a2−u2dx=sin−1(u/a). Answer: sin−1(4x+3)+c.
Concept and Intuition
A quadratic under a square root, when completed to the square, reveals which standard integral form applies: a2−(x−h)2 gives an arcsine, while (x−h)2+a2 or (x−h)2−a2 give hyperbolic-inverse/log forms.
Step-by-Step Solution
- 7−6x−x2=−(x2+6x−7)=−[(x+3)2−9−7]=−(x+3)2+16=16−(x+3)2.
- So the integral is ∫42−(x+3)2dx.
- Using ∫a2−u2du=sin−1(au)+c with u=x+3, a=4: …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-AN1 markMCQQ.∫(2ax+x2)3/2dx= (A) a21(2ax+x2x+a)+C (B) a21(2ax+x2x−a)+C (C) a2−1(2ax+x2x−a)+C (D) a2−1(2ax+x2x+a)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Completing the square converts the integral into the standard form ∫du/(u2−a2)3/2, which has a known closed form; back-substituting gives option (D).
Concept and Intuition
Many integrals of the form ∫dx/(quadratic)3/2 become standard once the quadratic is completed to a perfect-square-minus-constant form; the resulting substitution u=x+a reduces it to a memorized/derivable antiderivative.
Step-by-Step Solution
- 2ax+x2=x2+2ax+a2−a2=(x+a)2−a2. Let u=x+a, du=dx.
- The integral becomes ∫(u2−a2)3/2du.
- Standard result (verifiable by differentiation): ∫(u2−a2)3/2du=a2u2−a2−u+C. Check: dud[a2u2−a2−u]=(u2−a2)3/21 ✓. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-FN1 markMCQQ.∫x32x4−2x2+1x2−1dx= (A) 2x212x4+2x2+1+C (B) 2x212x4−2x2+1+C (C) 2x214x4−2x2+1+C (D) 2x214x4+2x2+1+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Verify by differentiation: F(x)=2x212x4−2x2+1 differentiates back to the given integrand, so this is the antiderivative.
Concept and Intuition
When an integrand looks like it could come from differentiating a quotient of the form x2quartic, the fastest rigorous route (especially under exam time pressure) is to differentiate the most plausible option and check it reproduces the integrand exactly, rather than deriving the substitution from scratch.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=2x4−2x2+1 and F=2x2u.
- u′=2u8x3−4x=u4x3−2x.
- Quotient rule: F′=4x4u′⋅2x2−u⋅4x=4x4u(4x3−2x)⋅2x2−4xu.
- Multiply numerator and denominator by u: F′=4x4u2x2(4x3−2x)−4xu2=4x4u8x5−4x3−4x(2x4−2x2+1).
- Expand the numerator: 8x5−4x3−8x5+8x3−4x=4x3−4x. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.∫x32x4−2x2+1x2−1dx (A) 2x21+2x2+2x4+c (B) 2x2(1+2x2+2x4)1/2+c (C) 2x21−2x2+2x4+c (D) 2x2(1−2x2+2x4)1/2+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Verifying the antiderivative by differentiating each candidate is faster and safer than guessing a substitution; the derivative of option (D) reproduces the integrand exactly. Answer: option (D).
Concept and Intuition
When an integral has an awkward-looking algebraic form under a square root, and the options are all algebraic expressions (not transcendental), the fastest rigorous check is to differentiate the candidate answers and see which one reproduces the integrand — this avoids errors in choosing a substitution.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let N(x)=1−2x2+2x4 (note this equals 2x4−2x2+1, the expression under the root in the integrand).
- Try f(x)=2x2N1/2=21N1/2x−2.
- Differentiate: f′(x)=4N1/2x2N′−x3N1/2, where N′=−4x+8x3=4x(2x2−1).
- First term becomes xN1/2(2x2−1). Combine both terms over the common denominator x3N1/2:
f′(x)=x3N1/2(2x2−1)x2−N.
- Numerator: (2x2−1)x2−N=(2x4−x2)−(1−2x2+2x4)=x2−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.∫(1+x)x−x2dx= (A) −21−x1+x+c (B) −1+x1−x+c (C) −21+x1−x+c (D) 21−x1+x+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Two successive substitutions (t=x, then w=(1−t)/(1+t)) collapse the integral to ∫−2dw; the answer is −21+x1−x+c.
Concept and Intuition
The presence of x inside (1+x) and inside x−x2=x1−x both suggest first substituting t=x. What remains — a rational-times-square-root expression in t symmetric under t→−t in a (1±t) sense — is the classic cue for the substitution w2=1+t1−t, which rationalizes everything at once.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Note x−x2=x(1−x), so x−x2=x1−x, and the integral is
∫(1+x)x1−xdx.
- Let t=x, so x=t2, dx=2tdt:
∫(1+t)t1−t22tdt=∫(1+t)(1−t)(1+t)2dt=∫(1+t)3/2(1−t)1/22dt.
- Let w=1+t1−t, so t=1+w21−w2 and dt=(1+w2)2−4wdw. One finds
1+t=1+w22,1−t=1+w22w2,
so
(1+t)3/2(1−t)1/2=(1+w2)24w.
- Substituting, …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.∫x2+x+1dx (A) 4(2x+1)x2+x+1+83Sinh−1(32x+1)+c (B) 4x+1x2+x+1+83Sinh−1(32x+1)+c (C) 4x+1x2+x+1−83Sinh−1(32x+1)+c (D) 4(2x+1)x2+x+1−83Sinh−1(32x+1)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Completing the square turns x2+x+1 into the standard u2+a2 form, whose known integral gives option (A).
Concept and Intuition
The standard result ∫u2+a2du=2uu2+a2+2a2Sinh−1(au)+c applies to any quadratic under a square root once it's written as a perfect square plus a constant.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Complete the square: x2+x+1=(x+21)2+43. Let u=x+21, a2=43 (so a=23).
- Apply the formula: ∫u2+a2du=2uu2+a2+2a2Sinh−1(au)+c.
- 2u=2x+21=42x+1, and u2+a2=x2+x+1.
- 2a2=23/4=83, and au=3/2x+21=32x+1. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.If ∫1−sin4xdx=Atanx+Btan−1(2tanx)+C, then A2−B2= (A) 21 (B) 43 (C) 41 (D) 81
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factoring 1−sin4x and substituting t=tanx reduces the integral to a standard rational form, giving A=21, B=221, and A2−B2=81.
Concept and Intuition
1−sin4x is a difference of squares: (1−sin2x)(1+sin2x)=cos2x(1+sin2x). Pulling out one factor of cos2x to pair with dx suggests the substitution t=tanx, turning the whole integral into a rational function of t that splits into a linear term plus an arctan term.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Factor: 1−sin4x=(1−sin2x)(1+sin2x)=cos2x(1+sin2x).
- So the integrand is cos2x(1+sin2x)1=1+sin2xsec2x.
- Substitute t=tanx, dt=sec2xdx, and sin2x=1+t2t2, so 1+sin2x=1+t21+2t2.
- The integral becomes ∫1+2t21+t2dt.
- Simplify: 1+2t21+t2=21⋅1+2t2(1+2t2)+1=21+2(1+2t2)1.
- Integrate: ∫[21+2(1+2t2)1]dt=2t+21⋅21tan−1(2t)+C=2t+221tan−1(2t)+C. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-08-AN1 markMCQQ.∫(x+12x−36+x−12x−36)dx= (A) 23x+C, ∀x (B) 34(x−3)3/2+C, ∀x (C) ⎩⎨⎧34(x−3)3/2+C,23x+C,x>63≤x≤6 (D) ⎩⎨⎧34(x−3)3/2+C,23x+C,3≤x≤6x>6
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting t=x−3 turns both nested radicals into perfect squares (t±3)2; the integrand collapses to a constant 23 on [3,6] and to 2x−3 for x>6, giving the piecewise antiderivative in (C).
Concept and Intuition
Nested radicals of the form x±linear in x often simplify to perfect squares under a substitution that removes the inner square root. Here the key is recognizing 12x−36 is a perfect multiple of (x−3).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let t=x−3≥0 (valid for x≥3), so x=t2+3 and 12x−36=12t2⇒12x−36=23t.
- x+12x−36=t2+3+23t=(t+3)2⇒x+12x−36=t+3 (always non-negative).
- x−12x−36=t2+3−23t=(t−3)2⇒x−12x−36=∣t−3∣.
- Sum =(t+3)+∣t−3∣. If t≥3 (i.e. x−3≥3⇒x≥6): sum =2t=2x−3. If 0≤t<3 (i.e. 3≤x<6): sum =(t+3)+(3−t)=23. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.∫1+x+x22dx= (A) 34tan−1(32x−1)+c (B) 34tan−1(32x+1)+c (C) 32tan−1(32x−1)+c (D) 32tan−1(32x+1)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Complete the square in the denominator and apply the standard ∫x2+a2dx=a1tan−1(x/a) form. Answer: option (B).
Concept and Intuition
Any irreducible quadratic ax2+bx+c in a denominator under a simple rational integrand can be handled by completing the square to reduce it to the standard u2+a2 form, whose antiderivative is a scaled arctangent.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Complete the square: 1+x+x2=(x+21)2+43=(x+21)2+(23)2.
- So the integral is 2∫(x+21)2+(23)2dx.
- Using ∫u2+a2du=a1tan−1(u/a) with u=x+21, a=23:
2⋅3/21tan−1(3/2x+1/2)=34tan−1(32x+1)+c.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQQ.∫2x+4x−2dx= (A) x−2−21Tan−1(2x−2)+c (B) x−2−2Tan−1(2x−2)+c (C) x−2+2Tan−1(2x−2)+c (D) x−2+21Tan−1(2x−2)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
A rationalizing substitution x−2=t2 converts the integral into a simple ∫(1−t2+44)dt, giving x−2−2Tan−1(2x−2)+c.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever an integral has a single square root of a linear expression (here x−2), the substitution x−2=t2 (so t=x−2) removes the square root entirely and typically converts the integral into a rational function of t, which is then handled by the standard ∫t2+a2dt arctan formula.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Simplify the denominator first: 2x+4=2(x+2), so the integral is 21∫x+2x−2dx.
- Substitute x−2=t2⇒x=t2+2, dx=2tdt, and x+2=t2+4.
- The integral becomes
21∫t2+4t⋅2tdt=∫t2+4t2dt.
- Split the rational function: t2+4t2=1−t2+44.
- Integrate termwise: ∫(1−t2+44)dt=t−4⋅21Tan−1(2t)+c=t−2Tan−1(2t)+c.
- Substitute back t=x−2: …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-AN1 markMCQQ.∫x3x4+x−4+2dx= (A) log∣x∣−4x41+C (B) log∣x∣+4x41+C (C) log∣x∣−x44+C (D) log∣x∣+x44+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The expression under the square root is a perfect square, simplifying the integral to a sum of two elementary power terms.
Concept and Intuition
Recognize x4+x−4+2 as (x2+x−2)2 using the identity a2+b2+2ab=(a+b)2 with a=x2,b=x−2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- (x2+x−2)2=x4+2+x−4 — matches the expression under the square root exactly.
- x4+x−4+2=∣x2+x−2∣=x2+x21 (always positive for real x=0).
- Divide by x3: x3x2+1/x2=x1+x51. …
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