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Worked solution

Integrate the semicircle radical in two ways

Using x=sin⁡θx=\sin\theta, find ∫1−x2 dx\int\sqrt{1-x^2}\,dx. Compare the source extension using x=cos⁡θx=\cos\theta.

CJC · Lecture · Self-Practice 9

Use the sine substitution

Take −π/2<θ<π/2-\pi/2<\theta<\pi/2, so dx=cos⁡θ dθdx=\cos\theta\,d\theta and 1−sin⁡2θ=cos⁡θ\sqrt{1-\sin^2\theta}=\cos\theta. Then the integral is ∫cos⁡2θ dθ=12∫(1+cos⁡2θ) dθ=12θ+14sin⁡2θ+C=12θ+12sin⁡θcos⁡θ+C\int\cos^2\theta\,d\theta=\frac12\int(1+\cos2\theta)\,d\theta=\frac12\theta+\frac14\sin2\theta+C=\frac12\theta+\frac12\sin\theta\cos\theta+C. Thus Fs(x)=12x1−x2+12sin⁡−1x+CF_s(x)=\frac12x\sqrt{1-x^2}+\frac12\sin^{-1}x+C on −1<x<1-1<x<1.

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Compare the cosine substitution

The source also gives Fc(x)=12x1−x2−12cos⁡−1x+CF_c(x)=\frac12x\sqrt{1-x^2}-\frac12\cos^{-1}x+C. Take x=cos⁡θx=\cos\theta, 0<θ<π0<\theta<\pi, so dx=−sin⁡θ dθdx=-\sin\theta\,d\theta and the integral becomes −∫sin⁡2θ dθ=−θ/2+sin⁡2θ/4+C-\int\sin^2\theta\,d\theta=-\theta/2+\sin2\theta/4+C. Using sin⁡−1x+cos⁡−1x=π/2\sin^{-1}x+\cos^{-1}x=\pi/2, the displayed nonconstant forms differ by Fc−Fs=−π/4F_c-F_s=-\pi/4. This is absorbed by the arbitrary constant.

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Common mistakes

Choose an angle interval that fixes the square-root sign. The sine and cosine results differ by a constant, so they need not look identical.

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