[Math] Surface area of rotating curve about $x$-axis: $y=(x+1)^{1/2}$

calculusclosed-formdefinite integralsintegration

I'm working on finding the surface area of a revolution of a line about the x-axis. I'm looking for some assistance in determining the best way to solve problems like this.

$y^2 = x+1, \quad 0 \le x \le 3$

I understand the calculus principal behind this method however; I keep getting hung up on what to do with the portion under the radical.
So using the surface area formula I'll end up with this:

$$\int_0^3 2\pi (x+1)^{1/2}\sqrt((1+((1/2)(x+1)^{-1/2})^2))$$

For this section:

$\sqrt((1+((1/2)(x+1)^{-1/2})^2))$

Do I multiply it out to be
$\sqrt(1 + ((1/4)(x+1)^{-1})$ and go from there? or is there some other way I can do this? I can't see any way to get to u-substitution or solve the radical… Any pointers would be appreciated!
Thanks!

Best Answer

You may write $$ \begin{align} \int_0^3(x+1)^{1/2}\sqrt{1+\frac14(x+1)^{-1}}\:dx&=\int_0^3(x+1)^{1/2}\sqrt{1+\frac1{4(x+1)}}\:dx \\\\&=\int_0^3(x+1)^{1/2}\sqrt{\frac{4(x+1)+1}{4(x+1)}}\:dx \\\\&=\int_0^3(x+1)^{1/2}\frac{\sqrt{4(x+1)+1}}{\sqrt{4(x+1)}}\:dx \\\\&=\int_0^3\color{red}{(x+1)^{1/2}}\frac{\sqrt{4x+4+1}}{\sqrt{4}\color{red}{\sqrt{x+1}}}\:dx \\\\&=\frac12\int_0^3\sqrt{4x+5}\:dx \end{align} $$ then you are led to evaluate $$ \begin{align} \int_0^3\sqrt{4x+5}\:dx&=\int_0^3(4x+5)^{1/2}\:dx \\\\&=\left[\frac{1}{4(1/2+1)} (4x+5)^{1+1/2}\right]_0^3 \\\\&=\left[\frac{1}{6} (4 x+5)^{3/2}\right]_0^3 \\\\&=\frac{17\sqrt{17}}6-\frac{5\sqrt{5}}6. \end{align} $$