What's the integral of int arctan(x) dx ?

1 Answer
Nov 12, 2015

intarctan(x)dx = xarctan(x) - 1/2ln(1+x^2) + C

Explanation:

To solve intarctan(x)dx we will use integration by parts, that is, for functions u and v,
intudv = uv - intvdu.

We also need the derivative d/dx arctan(x) = 1/(1+x^2)
and the integral int 1/xdx = ln|x| + C

For our integration by parts, we will take
u = arctan(x) and v = x so
du = 1/(1+x^2)dx and dv = dx

Then, by the formula above,

intarctan(x)dx = xarctan(x) - intx*1/(1+x^2)dx

To solve the remaining integral, we will use u-substitution, with u = 1+x^2 and du = 2xdx

intx/(1+x^2)dx = 1/2int1/(1+x^2)*2xdx = 1/2int1/udu = 1/2ln|u|+C

Substituting back gives us

intx/(1+x^2)dx = 1/2ln|1+x^2| + C

Finally, we plug this into the original equation to obtain

intarctan(x)dx = xarctan(x) - 1/2ln(1+x^2) + C

(note we do not need to use the absolute value for the natural log here as 1 + x^2 > 0" " AAx in RR)