[Math] Weird and difficult integral: $\sqrt{1+\frac{1}{3x}} \, dx$

calculusintegration

My question is: How can I integrate $\sqrt{1+\frac{1}{3x}} \, dx$ ? (I don't mind about negative Xs).

I'm aware that there's a theorem which you can use that integrates the function using the points where the function can't be solved or something like that(improper integrals?) but I haven't learned anything but parts and substitution yet. I know that this integral can be solved using just those and that's what I am searching for =).

Unfortunately, this is no homework (and my calculus teacher has no idea how to solve this… I asked =( ). I just saw this integral by accident. I've been struggling with it for like a week now. I just want the answer and preferably the steps. Possible starting points:


The best approach I could find is:

$$u^2=3x \implies 2u\ du = 3\ dx$$

$$\frac{2}{3}\int \sqrt{ 1+\frac{1}{u^2} } \, \, u\ du$$

$$\frac{2}{3}\int \sqrt{ u^2+1 } \, \, du$$

Now I know that I can use sinh but I have no clue how.

That was one approach that a guy told me. If you don't like it you could start with the more traditional way:

$$u=3x$$

$$ \frac{1}{3} \int\sqrt{1+\frac{1}{u}}\,du.$$
Now $$w^2=1+\dfrac{1}{u}$$
$$2w\,dw=-\frac{du}{u^2}=-(w^2-1)^2 \,du.$$
$$\frac{1}{3}\int-\frac{2w^2\,dw}{(w^2-1)^2}.$$

After that I've been told that you could integrate by parts but it's just too hard for me. I simply get nowhere. I won't type everything cause it's a waste of time. If anyone wants me to type in more work I'd be happy to if it helps in any way.

I'm in a stage where I just want to see how this super-complex (at least for me) integral is solved. I've used wolframalpha but it's nowhere near a human approach. So well… thanks a lot for any help guys! And sorry for the long post! =)!

Best Answer

This is a nice candidate for the “integral of the inverse” technique.
The idea is to use the integration by parts formula in a weird way: $$\int {y dx} = xy - \int{x dy}$$ Let $ y= \sqrt{1+ \frac{1}{3x} } $.
So $x=\frac{1}{3} \frac{1}{y^2-1} $

Plugging this into the integration by parts formula: $$ \int{\sqrt{1+\frac{1}{3x}}dx} = x\sqrt{1+\frac{1}{3x}} - \frac{1}{3}\int {\frac{dy}{y^2-1}} $$ which is much easier to integrate. Afterwards, substitute $ y= \sqrt{1+ \frac{1}{3x} } $ for any remaining y’s.

Related Question