Problem 327
Evaluate the integral: I = integral x^7sqrt(1+x²) dx
Evaluate the integral: $$ I = \int x^7\sqrt{1+x^2}\,dx. $$
Explanation of Method
The substitution $u=1+x^2$ turns $x^6\,dx$ (after peeling off one factor of $x$) into a polynomial in $u$ times $\sqrt u$, which expands via the binomial theorem into a sum of pure power terms.
- Substitute $u=1+x^2$.
- Expand $(u-1)^3$.
- Integrate term by term.
- Back-substitute.
Step 1 · Substitute
Let $u=1+x^2$, so $du=2x\,dx$ and $x^6=(u-1)^3$:
$$ I = \int x^6\sqrt{1+x^2}\cdot x\,dx = \frac12\int(u-1)^3\sqrt u\,du. $$
Step 2 · Expand and integrate
Expanding $(u-1)^3=u^3-3u^2+3u-1$ and multiplying by $u^{1/2}$:
$$ \frac12\int\left(u^{7/2}-3u^{5/2}+3u^{3/2}-u^{1/2}\right)du = \frac{u^{9/2}}9 - \frac{3u^{7/2}}7 + \frac{3u^{5/2}}5 - \frac{u^{3/2}}3 + C. $$
Step 3 · Back-substitute
With $u=1+x^2$:
$$ I = \frac{(1+x^2)^{9/2}}9 - \frac{3(1+x^2)^{7/2}}7 + \frac{3(1+x^2)^{5/2}}5 - \frac{(1+x^2)^{3/2}}3 + C. $$
Summary Table
| Term | Coefficient |
|---|---|
| $u^{9/2}$ | $1/9$ |
| $u^{7/2}$ | $-3/7$ |
| $u^{5/2}$ | $3/5$ |
| $u^{3/2}$ | $-1/3$ |
Additional Notes
- The domain is all real $x$, since $1+x^2>0$ everywhere.
- The result was verified symbolically: differentiating the boxed expression simplifies exactly to $x^7\sqrt{1+x^2}$, confirmed numerically at $x=1$.
Result
The solution to the integral is:
$$ I = \frac{(1+x^2)^{9/2}}9 - \frac{3(1+x^2)^{7/2}}7 + \frac{3(1+x^2)^{5/2}}5 - \frac{(1+x^2)^{3/2}}3 + C. $$