“JUST THE MATHS”

UNIT NUMBER

12.3

INTEGRATION 3
(The method of completing the square)

by

A.J.Hobson

12.3.1 Introduction and examples

12.3.2 Exercises
12.3.3 Answers to exercises
UNIT 12.3 - INTEGRATION 3
THE METHOD OF COMPLETING THE SQUARE

12.3.1 INTRODUCTION AND EXAMPLES

A substitution such as u = αx + β may also be used with integrals of the form

Z
1 Z
1
2
dx and √ 2 dx,
px + qx + r px + qx + r
where, in the first of these, we assume that the quadratic will not factorise into simple linear
factors; otherwise the method of partial fractions would be used to integrate it (see Unit
12.6).

Note:
The two types of integral here are often written, for convenience, as

Z
dx Z
dx
2
and √ 2 .
px + qx + r px + qx + r

In order to deal with such functions, we shall need to quote standard results which may
be deduced from previous ones developed in the differentiation of inverse trigonometric and
hyperbolic functions.

They are as follows:

1.
Z
1 1 −1 x
dx = tan + C.
a2 + x 2 a a
2.
Z
1 x
√ dx = sin−1 + C.
a2 −x 2 a
3.
Z
1 −1 x
√
√ dx = sinh + C or ln(x + x2 + a2 ) + C.
a2 + x 2 a
4.
Z
1 −1 x
√
√ dx = cosh + C or ln(x + x2 − a2 ) + C.
x 2 − a2 a

1
 5.
Z
1 1 x
dx = tanh−1 + C;
a2 −x 2 a a
or
1 a+x
 
ln + C when |x| < a,
2a a−x
and
1 x+a
 
ln + C when |x| > a.
2a x−a

EXAMPLES

1. Determine the indefinite integral

Z
dx
z= √ .
x2 + 2x − 3
Solution
Completing the square in the quadratic expression gives
x2 + 2x − 3 ≡ (x + 1)2 − 4 ≡ (x + 1)2 − 22 .

Hence, Z
dx
z= q .
(x + 1)2 − 22
du dx
Putting u = x + 1 gives dx
= 1; and so du
= 1.
Thus, Z
du
z= √ ,
u2 − 22
giving h √ i
z = ln u + u2 − 22 + C.
Returning to the variable, x, we have
h √ i
z = ln x + 1 + x2 + 2x − 3 + C.

2. Evaluate the definite integral

Z 7 dx
z= .
3 x2 − 6x + 25

2
 Solution
Completing the square in the quadratic expression gives

x2 − 6x + 25 ≡ (x − 3)2 + 16.

Hence, Z 7 dx
z= .
3 (x − 3)2 + 16
du dx
Putting u = x − 3, we obtain dx
= 1; and so du
= 1.
Thus, Z 4 du
z= ,
0 u2 + 16
giving
4
1 u π

z = tan−1 = .
4 4 0 16
Alternatively, without changing the original limits of integration,
7
1 x−3

z = tan−1 .
4 4 3

Note:
In cases like the two examples discussed above, when dudx
dx
= 1 and therefore du = 1, it seems
pointless to go through the laborious process of actually making the substitution in detail.
All we need to do is to treat the linear expression within the completed square as if it were
a single x, then write the result straight down !

12.3.2 EXERCISES

1. Use a table of standard integrals to write down the indefinite integrals of the following
functions:
(a)
1
√ ;
4 − x2
(b)
1
;
9 + x2

3
 (c)
1
√ .
x2 − 7
2. By completing the square, evaluate the following definite integrals:
(a)
√
Z 3−1 dx
;
−1 x2 + 2x + 2
(b)
Z 1 dx
√ .
0 3 − 2x − x2

12.3.3 ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1. (a)
x
sin−1 + C;
2
(b)
1 x
tan−1 + C;
3 3
(c)
√
ln(x + x2 − 7) + C.

2. (a)
h i√3−1 π
−1
tan (x + 1) = ;
−1 3
(b)
1
x+1 π π π

sin−1 = − = .
2 0 2 6 3