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NCERT Exemplar · Q32

Q.Evaluate: ∫01x dx1+x2\int_{0}^{1} \dfrac{x\,dx}{\sqrt{1+x^2}}

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The integral simplifies via the substitution u=1+x2u = 1 + x^2, turning the integrand into 12u\frac{1}{2\sqrt{u}}. The value is 2−1\boxed{\sqrt{2} - 1}.

Why U‑substitution works here

When you see a function and its derivative lurking in an integral, substitution is the natural move. In x1+x2\frac{x}{\sqrt{1+x^2}}, the numerator xx is (up to a constant) the derivative of 1+x21+x^2. That’s the classic signal: let uu be the “inside” of the square root, and the x dxx\,dx will become a clean 12 du\frac{1}{2}\,du.

The square root in the denominator suggests the antiderivative will involve something like u\sqrt{u}, and indeed it will.

Step‑by‑step

  1. Choose the substitution.

    Let u=1+x2u = 1 + x^2. Then du=2x dxdu = 2x\,dx, so x dx=12 dux\,dx = \frac{1}{2}\,du.

  2. Change the limits.

    When x=0x = 0, u=1+02=1u = 1 + 0^2 = 1.

    When x=1x = 1, u=1+12=2u = 1 + 1^2 = 2.

  3. Rewrite the integral.

    The original integral becomes

∫x=01x dx1+x2=∫u=1212 duu=12∫12u−1/2 du.\int_{x=0}^{1} \frac{x\,dx}{\sqrt{1+x^2}} = \int_{u=1}^{2} \frac{\frac{1}{2}\,du}{\sqrt{u}} = \frac{1}{2} \int_{1}^{2} u^{-1/2}\,du.

  1. Integrate.

12∫12u−1/2 du=12[u1/21/2]12=12⋅2[u]12=[u]12.\frac{1}{2} \int_{1}^{2} u^{-1/2}\,du = \frac{1}{2} \left[ \frac{u^{1/2}}{1/2} \right]_{1}^{2} = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 2 \left[ \sqrt{u} \right]_{1}^{2} = \left[ \sqrt{u} \right]_{1}^{2}.

  1. Evaluate. 2−1=2−1.\sqrt{2} - \sqrt{1} = \sqrt{2} - 1. …

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