6.2 Differentiation of inverse trigonometric functions Example 6.2.2: Differentiate tan−1(2x + 1).

Let y = tan−1(2x + 1). Then

Let y = sin−1 x. By definition x = sin y with − π2 ≤ y ≤ π2 . We differentiate
with respect to x: dy 2 2 1
= 2
= 2 = 2 .
dx 1 + (2x + 1) 4x + 4x + 2 2x + 2x + 1
dy dy 1
cos y =1 so = .
dx dx cos y
p 6.3 Integration and inverse trigonometric functions
Now cos2 y = 1 − sin2 y and − π2 ≤ y ≤ π2 , hence cos y = + 1 − sin2 y. Thus
we have shown that First suppose that y = sin−1(x/a). Then
d 1
(sin−1 x) = √ . dy 1 1 1
dx 1 − x2 =p . =√ .
dx 1 − (a) a
x 2 a − x2
2

Let y = cos−1 x. Then cos−1 x = π

− sin−1 x and hence Hence
1 x
2
Z
√ dx = sin−1 + C.
d −1 a2 − x 2 a
(cos−1 x) = √ .
dx 1 − x2
Next suppose that y = tan−1(x/a). Then
Finally let y = tan−1 x. By definition x = tan y with − π2 < y < π2 . We dy 1 1 a
= x 2. = 2 .
differentiate with respect to x: dx 1 + ( a ) a a + x2
dy dy 1 Hence
sec2 y =1 so = . Z
1 1 x
dx dx sec2 y dx = tan−1 + C.
x2 +a 2 a a
Now sec2 y = 1 + tan2 y and so sec2 y = 1 + x2. Thus we have shown that
d 1 We can now integrate rational functions with quadratic denominators.
(tan−1 x) = .
dx 1 + x2 Example 6.3.1: Integrate
1
Z
√
−1 dx.
Example 6.2.1: Differentiate sin ( x). x2 + 2x + 5
1 1 − 21
Let y = sin−1 u with u = x 2 , so du
dx = 2 x . Then
The denominator does not factorise, so we complete the square.
dy 1  
=√ 1 1 1 −1 x + 1
Z Z
du 1 − u2 dx = dx = tan + C.
x2 + 2x + 5 (x + 1)2 + 4 2 2
and
dy dy du 1 1 1
= =√ √ = p . Example 6.3.2: Integrate
dx du dx 1 − x 2 x 2 x(1 − x)
x+3
Z
dx.
x2 + 2x + 5
1 2
 d 2
Note that dx (x
+ 2x + 5) = 2x + 2. Thus
Z 1
x+3 (2x + 2) + 2
Z
2
2
dx = 2
dx
x + 2x + 5 Z x + 2x + 5
1 2x + 2 1
Z
= dx + 2 dx
2 x2 + 2x + 5 (x + 1)2 + 4
 
1 x+1
= ln(x2 + 2x + 5) + tan−1 + C.
2 2

Example 6.3.3:
1 1
Z Z
dx = dx
2x2 + 2x + 1 2(x2 + x + 12 )
1 1
Z
= dx
2 (x + 2 ) + 14
1 2

1
−1 x + 2
  
1 1
= tan + C = tan−1 (2x + 1) + C.
2 12 1
2

(Compare with Ex 6.2.2.)

We can also deal with more complicated rational functions by using these
methods together with partial fractions.
Finally, we consider the integrals of inverse trigonometric functions. To
integrate sin−1 x we use integration by parts with u = sin−1 x and v = x.
x
Z Z p
−1 −1
sin x = x sin x − √ dx = x sin−1 x + 1 − x2 + C.
1 − x2
Similarly
x 1
Z Z
tan−1 x = x tan−1 x − dx = x tan−1 x − ln(x2 + 1) + C.
x2 +1 2