Q.Evaluate the definite integral:
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →The integral is solved by splitting the numerator into a part proportional to the derivative of the denominator () and a constant, then using a -substitution and an arctangent formula. The final value is .
Why this approach works
When you see a rational function where the denominator is a quadratic like , your first instinct should be: can I make the numerator look like the derivative of the denominator? The derivative of is . Our numerator is — not a perfect match, but we can split it into (which is ) plus the constant . That split lets us handle the part with a simple -substitution, and the part becomes a standard arctangent integral.
This is the core trick for integrals of the form : separate into a logarithmic piece (from the derivative of the denominator) and an arctangent piece (from the constant term).
Step-by-step solution
1. Split the numerator
Write as . Why ? Because is exactly the derivative of . So:
2. Separate into two integrals
The first integral is now set up for a -substitution. The second is a constant-over-quadratic form.
3. Solve the first integral: -substitution
Let . Then . When , ; when , .
So the first term becomes .
Always check the limits when substituting — it’s the most common place to slip. Here the substitution is clean because exactly matches .
4. Solve the second integral: arctangent form
We need . Factor the out of the denominator:
Recall the standard formula: …
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