MISCELLANEOUS SUBSTITUTIONS

If an integrand is rational except for a radical of the form

n
1. ax + b , then the substitution z = n ax + b will replace it with a
rational integrand.
2. q + px + x 2 , then the substitution z − x = q + px + x 2 will
replace it with a rational integrand.
3. q + px − x 2 = (a + x ) (b − x ) , then the substitution
(a + x ) z = q + px − x 2 or (b − x ) z = q + px − x 2 will replace it
with a rational integrand.

Examples: Evaluate the following integrals.

dx
1. ∫x 1−x
Solution:
Let z = 1−x
z2 = 1 − x or x = 1 − z2
2zdz = −dx
dx = −2zdz
dx −2zdz dz 1 1+z
∫ x 1 − x ∫ 1 − z2 z
= = −2 ∫ 1 − z2 = −2 ⋅ ln +C
( ) 2 1−z

1+z 1+ 1−x 1− 1−x

= − ln + C = − ln + C = ln +C
1−z 1− 1−x 1+ 1−x
 dx
2. ∫ x 1/2 − x 1/4
Solution:
Let z = 4x
z4 = x
4z 3dz = dx
dx 4z 3dz z2 ⎛ 1 ⎞
∫ x 1/2 − x 1/4 ∫ z 2 − z ∫ z − 1
= = 4 dz = 4 ∫ ⎜⎝ z + 1 +
z − 1 ⎟⎠
dz

⎛1 ⎞
= 4 ⎜ z 2 + z + ln z − 1 ⎟ + C = 2z 2 + 4z + 4 ln z − 1 + C
⎝2 ⎠

( )
4
4 4
= 2 x + 4 x + ln x −1 +C
dx
3. ∫
x x2 + x + 2
Solution:
Let z − x = x2 + x + 2

(z − x )2 = x 2 + x + 2
z 2 − 2zx + x 2 = x 2 + x + 2
z2 − 2
x=
1 + 2z

dx =
(
2 z2 + z + 2 ) dz
(1 + 2z )2
z − x = x2 + x + 2 or z = x + x2 + x + 2
z2 − 2
z− = x2 + x + 2
1 + 2z
2 z2 + z + 2
x +x +2 =
1 + 2z
 (
2 z2 + z + 2 ) dz
dx (1 + 2z )2 dz 1 z− 2
∫ 2
= ∫ ⎛ z2 − 2⎞ ⎛ z2 + z + 2⎞ = 2∫
2
z −2
=
2
ln
z+ 2
+C
x x +x +2
⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
⎝ 1 + 2z ⎠⎝ 1 + 2z ⎠

1 x + x2 + x + 2 − 2
= ln +C
2 2
x + x +x +2 + 2
xdx
4. ∫
(5 − 4x − x )
3/2
2

Solution:
(
5 − 4x − x 2 = 5 + x 1 − x )( )
We can use any of the following substitutions:

( ) 5 + x z = 5 − 4x − x 2 ( ) or
2
5 + x z 2 = 5 − 4x − x 2

(1 − x ) z = 5 − 4x − x 2 or (1 − x )2 z 2 = 5 − 4x − x 2
Let us use (1 − x ) z = 5 − 4x − x 2 .
z2 − 5
x=
1 + z2
12z
dx = dz
( )
2
1 + z2
6z
(
5 − 4x − x 2 = 1 − x z = ) 1 + z2
Note:

( ) 2
1 − x z 2 = 5 − 4x − x 2

(1 − x )2 z 2 = (5 + x ) (1 − x )
(1 − x ) z 2 = 5 + x
z 2 − z 2x = 5 + x
⎛ z2 − 5⎞
⎜1 − ⎟ z = 5 − 4x − x 2
⎝ 1 + z2 ⎠
(1 − x ) z 2 = 5 + x
5+x
z=
1−x
z2 − 5 12z
⋅
1 + z2
(1 + z ) dz
2
2
xdx
∫ = ∫
(5 − 4x − x )
3/2
2 216z 3

(1 + z )
3
2

1 ⎛ 5⎞
= z + +C
18 ⎜⎝ z ⎟⎠
5 − 2x
= +C
2
9 5 − 4x − x
The substitution x = 2arctan z will replace any rational function of sin x
and cos x with a rational function of z , since
2z 1 − z2 2dz
sin x = cos x = and dx =
1 + z2 1 + z2 1 + z2

The first and second of these relations are obtained from the figure
below and third by differentiating x = 2arctan z . After integrating, use
z = tan 12 x to return to the original variable.
PRACTICE