Evaluate $\int \frac{1}{x \sqrt{16x^2-9}}dx$

calculusindefinite-integralsintegration

I need help with this exercise.

Evaluate $\int \frac{1}{x \sqrt{16x^2-9}}dx$

This is why I've tried but it seems wrong.

$$\int \frac{1}{x \sqrt{16x^2-9}}dx$$

$$=\int \frac{1}{x \sqrt{(4x)^2-3^2}}dx$$

$$=\int \frac{4 \cdot 1}{4 \cdot x \sqrt{(4x)^2-3^2}}dx$$

$$=4\int \frac{1}{4x \sqrt{(4x)^2-3^2}}dx$$

$$=4\left(\frac{1}{3} \sec^{-1} \frac{|4x|}{3}\right) + C$$

I've checked in multiple math solvers that gives me the answer but not the process and answer is the same but without the 4 that is in the beginning. Is there a way that I can do it without trigonometric substitution? I know that this can be done with trigonometric substitution (I've already tried it and got the answer right) but this exercise appears in a section of a book of derivatives and integrals of Inverse Trigonometric Functions which is before the chapter where all the techniques of integrations appears. So this is supposed to be done without using that knowledge. So I'm wondering how I can get the answer using a simpler way.

Thanks for your help.

Best Answer

In the last step, you're forgetting to use the chain rule: $$\int \frac{1}{4x \sqrt{(4x)^2-3^2}}dx=\frac14\int \frac{4}{4x \sqrt{(4x)^2-3^2}}dx=\frac{1}{4}\frac 13 \sec^{-1}\frac{|4x|}{3}+c$$ Hence: $$4\int \frac{1}{4x \sqrt{(4x)^2-3^2}}dx= \frac 13 \sec^{-1}\frac{|4x|}{3}+c$$