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Exercise 7.8 · Q21

Q.Evaluate the definite integral: ∫13dx1+x2\int_{1}^{\sqrt{3}} \frac{dx}{1+x^2} equals (A) π3\frac{\pi}{3} (B) 2π3\frac{2\pi}{3} (C) π6\frac{\pi}{6} (D) π12\frac{\pi}{12}

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The integral ∫13dx1+x2\int_{1}^{\sqrt{3}} \frac{dx}{1+x^2} is a standard arctangent form. Its value is π12\frac{\pi}{12}, which corresponds to option (D).

The key here is recognising that 11+x2\frac{1}{1+x^2} is the derivative of arctan⁡x\arctan x. This is one of the most fundamental inverse trigonometric integrals — it appears constantly in calculus. The definite integral from aa to bb of dx1+x2\frac{dx}{1+x^2} simply gives the difference of the arctangent values at the limits.

Let’s walk through it.

  1. Recall the antiderivative. We know that

∫dx1+x2=arctan⁡x+C\int \frac{dx}{1+x^2} = \arctan x + C

This is a direct consequence of the fact that ddx(arctan⁡x)=11+x2\frac{d}{dx}(\arctan x) = \frac{1}{1+x^2}.

  1. Apply the limits of integration. Using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus:

∫13dx1+x2=arctan⁡(3)−arctan⁡(1)\int_{1}^{\sqrt{3}} \frac{dx}{1+x^2} = \arctan(\sqrt{3}) - \arctan(1)

  1. Evaluate each arctangent.

    • arctan⁡(1)\arctan(1) is the angle whose tangent is 11. That angle is π4\frac{\pi}{4} (since tan⁡π4=1\tan \frac{\pi}{4} = 1).
    • arctan⁡(3)\arctan(\sqrt{3}) is the angle whose tangent is 3\sqrt{3}. That angle is π3\frac{\pi}{3} (since tan⁡π3=3\tan \frac{\pi}{3} = \sqrt{3}).

    So we have:

arctan⁡(3)−arctan⁡(1)=π3−π4\arctan(\sqrt{3}) - \arctan(1) = \frac{\pi}{3} - \frac{\pi}{4}

  1. Subtract the fractions. …

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