Primitive of Reciprocal of Root of a squared minus x squared/Arcsine Form

Theorem

 * $\displaystyle \int \frac 1{\sqrt{a^2 - x^2}} \ \mathrm dx = \arcsin{\frac x a} + C$

where $a$ is a strictly positive constant and $a^2 > x^2$.

Proof
Substitute:


 * $\sin \theta = \dfrac x a \iff x = a \sin \theta$

for $\theta \in \left({-\dfrac \pi 2 .. \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

From Boundedness of Sine and Cosine and Shape of Sine Function, this substitution is valid for all $x/a \in \left(-1..1\right)$.

By hypothesis:

$\iff -1 < \left(x/a \right) < 1$

... so this substitution will not change the domain of the integrand.

We have defined $\theta$ to be in the open interval $\left({-\dfrac \pi 2 .. \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$.

From Sine and Cosine are Periodic on Reals, $\cos \theta > 0$ for the entire interval. Therefore the absolute value bars are unnecessary, and the integral simplifies to:

As $\theta$ was stipulated to be in the open interval $\left({-\dfrac \pi 2 .. \dfrac \pi 2}\right)$:


 * $\sin \theta = \dfrac x a \iff \theta = \arcsin \dfrac x a$

The answer in terms of $x$, then, is:

$\displaystyle \int \frac 1 {\sqrt{a^2 - x^2}} \ \mathrm dx = \arcsin \frac x a + C$

Also see

 * Derivative of Arcsine Function