Materials for week 7

1. Differentiations of Inverse Hyperbolic Functions

1.1. Domain and range of inverse hyperbolic functions

Function Domain Range

(
sinh−1 x = ln x + x 2 + 1 ) (−∞, ∞) (−∞, ∞)

cosh−1 x = ln (x + x2 − 1) [1, ∞) [0, ∞)

1 ⎛1 + x ⎞⎟ (-1, 1) (−∞, ∞)
tanh−1 x = ln ⎜⎜ ⎟
2 ⎝1 − x ⎠
1 ⎛ x + 1⎞⎟ (−∞, −1) ∪ (1, ∞) (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞)
coth−1 x = ln ⎜⎜ ⎟
2 ⎝ x − 1⎠
⎛ x + 1 − x 2 ⎞⎟ (0, 1] [0, ∞)
sech x = ln ⎜⎜⎜
−1
⎟⎟
⎝⎜ x ⎠⎟
⎛1 x 2 + 1 ⎞⎟⎟ (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞) (−∞, 0) ∪ (0, ∞)
−1
csch x = ln ⎜⎜ +⎜
⎟
⎜⎝ x x ⎠⎟

1.2. Identities
⎛1⎞
coth−1 x = tanh−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝x ⎠
⎛1⎞
csch−1 x = sinh−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝x ⎠
⎛1⎞
sech−1 x = cosh−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝x ⎠

1.3. Graphs

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Materials for week 7

1.4 Theorem
y = sinh−1 x if and only if x = sinh y
y = cosh−1 x if and only if x = cosh y
y = tanh−1 x if and only if x = tanh y
y = coth−1 x if and only if x = coth y
y = sech−1 x if and only if x = sech y
y = csch−1 x if and only if x = csch y

1.5 The Derivatives

Function Derivative
y = sinh−1 x dy 1
=
dx 1 + x2

Discussion: How does one get this?

y = sinh−1 x ⇔ x = sinh y . Differentiating this implicitly we
obtain
dy
1 = cosh y
dx
dy 1
∴ =
dx cosh y
From the identity cosh2 y − sinh2 y = 1 we have
cosh y = ± 1 + sinh2 y
Thus going back to the definition sinh y = x , we have
dy 1
cosh y = ± 1 + x 2 , ⇒ =±
dx 1 + x2
From the graph, the slope of the graph is always positive, thus
dy 1
=
dx 1 + x2

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Materials for week 7

Following similar discussion we can find the derivatives of the

other functions.
Function Derivative
y = sinh−1 x dy 1
=
dx 1 + x2
y = cosh−1 x dy 1
= , x >1
dx 2
x −1
y = tanh−1 x dy 1
= , x <1
dx 1− x2
y = coth−1 x dy 1
= , x >1
dx 1− x2
y = sech−1 x dy −1
= , 0<x <1
dx x 1−x 2

y = csch−1 x dy −1
= , x ≠0
dx x 1+x 2

dy
Example 1 for the following functions.
Find
dx
(a) y = sinh−1(3x + 2) (b) y = cosh−1(sec x ) (c) y = x tanh−1 x

Solution (a)
du
Given y = sinh−1(3x + 2) . Let u = 3x + 2 ⇒ = 3 . Thus we
dx
dy 1 du
have y = sinh−1 u ⇒ = , u = 3x + 2 and = 3.
du u2 + 1 dx
Apply the chain rule and we have
dy dy du
=
dx du dx
1 3
= (3) =
u2 + 1 u2 + 1

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Materials for week 7

Substitute back into x:

dy 3
=
dx 2
(3x + 2) + 1

Solution (b)
du
With y = cosh−1(sec x ) , let u = sec x ⇒ = sec x tan x . Now
dx
dy 1
we have y = cosh−1(u ) ⇒ = . Apply the chain rule:
du 2
u −1
dy dy du
=
dx du dx
⎛ 1 ⎞⎟
= ⎜⎜ 2 ⎟(sec x tan x )
⎜⎝ u − 1 ⎠⎟⎟
⎛ 1 ⎞⎟
= ⎜⎜ ⎟(sec x tan x )
⎜⎝ sec2 x − 1 ⎠⎟⎟

= sec x

Solution (c)
To find the derivative of y = x tanh−1 x , we use the product
du
rule, i.e let y = uv. Let u = x ⇒ = 1 and v = tanh−1 x
dx
dv 1
⇒ = . Thus
dx 1− x2
d (uv ) dv du
=u +v
dx dx dx
⎛ 1 ⎞⎟
= x ⎜⎜ 2⎟
+ (tanh−1 x )(1)
⎝1 − x ⎠
x
= 2
+ tanh−1 x
1−x

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 Materials for week 7

2. Integrations Involving Inverse Hyperbolic

Functions
Table 1
Derivative Antiderivative
d ⎡⎣ sinh−1 x ⎤⎦ 1 dx
= ∫ 1+x 2
= sinh−1 x + C
dx 1 + x2
d ⎡⎣ cosh−1 x ⎤⎦ 1 dx
= , x >1 ∫ 2
x −1
= cosh−1 x + C , x >1
dx 2
x −1
d ⎡⎣ tanh−1 x ⎤⎦ 1 dx
∫ 1 − x 2 = tanh x + C ,
−1
= , x <1 x <1
dx 1− x2
d ⎡⎣ coth−1 x ⎤⎦ 1 dx
∫ 1 − x 2 = coth x + C ,
−1
= , x >1 x >1
dx 1− x2
d ⎡⎣ sech−1 x ⎤⎦ −1 dx
∫
−1
= , 0 <x <1 2
= − sech x +C, 0 <x <1
dx x 1− x2 x 1−x
d ⎡⎣ csch−1 x ⎤⎦ −1 dx
= , x ≠0 ∫ x 1+x 2
= − csch−1 x + C , x ≠0
dx x 1+x 2

Example 2 Evaluate the following integrals.

dx 2dx
(a) ∫ (b) ∫ 2x 2 − 16 , x > 4
9 + x2

Solution (a)
1
The integrand given to us is which is not exactly the
9 + x2
same as any of the integrands in Table 1. Rewrite like so:
1 1
=
9 + x2
3 1+
x 2
3 ()
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Materials for week 7

Now the expression in the radicand is similar to the integrand

x du 1
in the first formula. To proceed, let u = ⇒ = . DO the
3 dx 3
appropriate substitution:
dx 1 dx 1 3du
∫ 9 + x2 3 ∫
= =
3 ∫ 1 + u2
1+
x 2
3 ()
du
=∫ 2
(7.1)
1+u
Now compare (7.1) to the list in Table 1 and we see that it is
similar to the first formula, which yields
dx du
∫ 9 + x 2 ∫ 1 + u 2 = sinh u + C
−1
=

Substitute back in the variable x, thus we have

dx −1 x
∫ 9 + x2 = sinh
3
+C

Solution (b)
2
Again, the integrand, which is 2
is not exactly similar
2x − 16
to any of the integrands in Table 1, therefore we rewrite it as
the following:
2 2 1 1
= = =
2x 2 − 16 2x 2 x2 ⎛ x ⎞
2
4 −1 2 −1 2 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ − 1
16 8 ⎝ 8⎠

x du 1
Let u = ⇒ = , hence dx = 8du and
8 dx 8

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 Materials for week 7

2dx dx 8du
∫ 2x 2 − 16
= ∫
⎛ x ⎞⎟
2
=
2 u2 − 1
∫
2 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − 1
⎝ 8⎠
du
= 2∫ 2
(7.2)
u −1
After comparing (7.2) with the list in Table 1 we obtain
du
2∫ = 2 cosh −1
u +C
u2 − 1
Resubstitute u in terms of x we have
2dx −1 ⎛ x ⎞
∫ 2x 2 − 16 = 2 cosh ⎜ ⎟⎟ + C
⎜⎝ 8 ⎠⎟

Comment: Notice in the approach to solve the two examples,

the integrand is rewritten in such a way that the constant part
of the radicand (in the denominator) is always a ‘1’. An
alternative to the approach is to use the following generalized
formula.
Table 2
dx −1 ⎛ x ⎞ dx 1 −1 ⎛ x ⎞
∫ a2 + x 2 = sinh ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C , a>0 ∫ = coth ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C , x >a
⎝a ⎠ 2
a −x 2
a ⎝a ⎠
dx −1 ⎛ x ⎞ dx 1 ⎛x ⎞
∫ x 2 − a2 = cosh ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C ,
⎝a ⎠
x >a ∫x 2
a −x
= − sech−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C ,
a
2 ⎝a ⎠
0 <x <a

dx 1 −1 ⎛ x ⎞ dx −1 ⎛ x ⎞
∫ a2 − x 2 a
= tanh ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C , x <a ∫ = − csch ⎜⎝⎜a ⎟⎠⎟ + C , 0 <x <a
⎝a ⎠ 2
x a +x 2

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Materials for week 7

Example 3 Redo Example 2 by using the formula in Table 2.

Solution (a)
dx dx
∫ 9+x 2
3 +x
= ∫ 2 2
,

Let a = 3, and after comparing this the list in Table 2, we

obtain
dx −1 ⎛ x ⎞
∫ 9 + x2 = sinh ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C
⎝3⎠
which is the same as the solution in Example 2.

Solution (b)
2dx dx
∫ = 2∫
2x 2 − 16 ( 2x ) − 42
2

Let u = 2x and a = 4 , thus

dx dx −1 ⎛ u ⎞
2∫ = 2∫ = 2 cosh ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C
⎝a ⎠
( 2x ) − 4
2 2 2
2 u −a

Re-substitute u = 2x and a = 4 we have

⎛u ⎞ ⎛ 2x ⎞⎟
2 cosh−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C = 2 cosh−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟ +C
⎝a ⎠ ⎜⎝ 4 ⎠⎟⎟
⎛ x ⎞
= 2 cosh−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟⎟ + C
⎝ 8⎠
which is exactly the same as in Example 2.

Example 4 Usage on ‘not so obvious integrand’

ex
Evaluate ∫ 16 − e 2x
dx

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Materials for week 7

Solution Even though the integrand does not look like

any of the formula in Table 2, we can still use the method by
appropriately substituting the terms in the integrand.
Let u = e x ⇒ du = e xdx . Hence the integrand becomes
ex du du
∫ 16 − e 2x dx = ∫ 16 − u 2 = ∫ 42 − u 2
Now the integrand is similar to one of the listed formula: let
a = 4 then
ex du 1 −1 ⎛ u ⎞
∫ 16 − e dx = ∫ 4 −u 4 = tanh ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C
2 x 2 2 ⎝4⎠
Re-substitute u = e x back into the solution, we obtain
ex −1 ⎛e ⎞
x
1
∫ 16 − e 2x dx 4 tanh ⎜⎜⎝ 4 ⎠⎟⎟⎟ + C

Example 5 Completing the square

dx
Evaluate ∫ 2
2x − 4x + 5
.

Solution
Again the integrand does not look like anything in the list
of formula. Try completing the square the term in the
radicand:
⎛ 5⎞
2x 2 − 4x + 5 = 2 ⎜⎜x 2 − 2x + ⎟⎟
⎝ 2⎠
⎡ 3⎤ ⎡ ⎛ 3 ⎞⎟ ⎤⎥
2
2 ⎢
= 2 ⎢(x − 1) + ⎥ = 2 ⎢(x − 1) + ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎥
2

⎢⎣ 2 ⎥⎦ ⎜⎝ 2 ⎠⎟
⎢⎣ ⎥⎦
Now the integrand becomes
dx dx
∫ 2
2x − 4x + 5
= ∫ ⎡ ⎛ 3 ⎞⎟ ⎤⎥
2
⎢ 2 ⎜
2 ⎢(x − 1) + ⎜ ⎟⎟ ⎥
⎜⎝ 2 ⎠⎟
⎢⎣ ⎥⎦

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Materials for week 7

3
Let u = x − 1 and a = , thus the integral becomes
2
dx 1 du
∫ ⎡
= ∫
3 ⎞⎟ ⎥⎤ 2 ⎡u 2 + (a )2 ⎤
2
⎢ ⎛ ⎣ ⎦
2 ⎢(x − 1) + ⎜⎜
2
⎟⎟ ⎥
⎢⎣ ⎝⎜ 2 ⎠⎟ ⎥
⎦
1 ⎛u ⎞
= sinh−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + C
2 ⎝a ⎠
1 ⎛ 2 ⎞
= sinh−1 ⎜⎜ u ⎟⎟⎟ + C
2 ⎜⎝ 3 ⎠⎟
1 ⎛ 2 ⎞
= sinh−1 ⎜⎜ (x − 1)⎟⎟⎟ + C
2 ⎜⎝ 3 ⎠⎟

Notice that in all the examples above none of the integrand has
inverse hyperbolic functions in it. All of them just have
expressions that when integrated produce inverse hyperbolic
functions. What do we do when the integrand has inverse
hyperbolic functions?

Example 6 Integrand with inverse hyperbolic function

Evaluate ∫ tanh 3x dx .
−1

Solution We have to use the by parts method. Since we

cannot integrate tanh−1 3x , we use the following substitutions:
Let
u = tanh−1 3x
dv = dx
3dx and
du = v =x
1 − (3x )2

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Materials for week 7

xdx
Thus ∫ tanh−1 3x dx = x tanh−1 3x − 3 ∫
1 − (3x )
2 . Apply the

xdx
method of u-substitution on the integration of ∫ 2 . Let
1 − (3x )
du
u = 9x 2 ⇒ du = 18xdx or = xdx . Thus we have
18
xdx 1 du
∫ 1 − (3x )2 = 18 ∫ 1 − u
1
= (− ln 1 − u ) + C
18
−1
= (ln 1 − u ) + C
18
−1
=
18
( ln 1 − 9x 2 ) + C

Therefore
⎛−1 ⎞
∫ tanh
−1
3x dx = x tanh−1 3x − 3 ⎜⎜ (ln 1 − 9x 2 )⎟⎟ + C
⎝ 18 ⎠
1
= x tanh−1 3x + ln 1 − 9x 2 +C
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3. Improper Integrals

Definition
The definite integral
b

∫a
f (x )dx

is called an improper integral whenever one of these

situations occurs:
• one or both of the endpoints of the closed interval [a,b ] are
infinite
• f (x ) is discontinuous at c ∈ [a,b ]

Improper integral can be divided into two types according to

the definition above.
Type I
When either one or both limits of integration is infinite
e.g:
∞ b ∞

∫ a
f (x )dx , ∫−∞
f (x )dx , ∫
−∞
f (x )dx

Type II
When f (x ) has discontinuity (infinite) at certain points in
the interval of integration, e.g.
b

∫ a
f (x )dx

with f (x ) → ∞ when x → c and a ≤ c ≤ b

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Materials for week 7

3.1 Type I
1. If f (x ) is continuous in the interval [a, ∞) , then
∞ T

∫ a
f (x )dx = lim
T →∞ ∫a
f (x )dx

The improper integral is said to converge if this limit

exists (i.e. is a finite number), and to diverge otherwise.

2. If f (x ) is continuous in the interval (−∞,b ] , then

b b

∫ −∞
f (x )dx = lim
T →−∞ ∫ T
f (x )dx

The improper integral is said to converge if this limit

exists (i.e. is a finite number), and to diverge otherwise.

3. If f (x ) is continuous in the interval (−∞, ∞) , then

∞ c ∞

∫ −∞
f (x )dx = ∫−∞
f (x )dx + ∫
c
f (x )dx

c any real number. The improper integral is said to

diverge if either one or both of the integrals on the right-
hand-side diverge.

Example 7 Evaluate the following integrals

1 dx ∞ dx
(a) ∫−∞ x 3 (b) ∫ 1 x

Solution (a)
1dx 1 dx

∫−∞ x 3 T →−∞ ∫T x 3
= lim
1
⎡ −1 ⎤ ⎡−1 −1 ⎤ 1
= lim ⎢ 2 ⎥ = lim ⎢ − 2⎥ = −
T →−∞ ⎢ 2x ⎥
⎣ ⎦T T →∞ ⎣⎢ 2 2T ⎦⎥ 2
Since the limit exists, the integral is convergent.

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Materials for week 7

Solution (b)
∞ dx T dx

∫ 1 x
= lim ∫
T →∞ 1 x
= lim [ln x ]1 = lim [ln T − ln1]
T
T →∞ T →∞

= lim [ln T − 0] = lim [ln T ] = ∞

T →∞ T →∞

Since the limit does not exist, the integral is divergent.

Example 8 Evaluate the following integral.

dx∞

∫−∞ 1 + x 2

Solution
dx∞ c dx ∞ dx
∫−∞ 1 + x 2 = ∫−∞ 1 + x 2 ∫c 1 + x 2
+

Solve the integrals separately. Let c = 0.

dx0 0 dx
∫−∞ 1 + x 2 T →−∞ ∫T 1 + x 2
= lim
0
= lim (tan−1 x )T
T →−∞
π
= lim (tan−1 0 − tan−1 T ) =
T →−∞ 2

∞ dx T dx
∫ 0 1 + x 2 T →∞ ∫0 1 + x 2
= lim
T
= lim (tan−1 x )0
T →∞
π
= lim (tan−1 T − tan−1 0) =
T →∞ 2

∞ dx 0dx ∞ dx π π
∴ ∫−∞ 1 + x 2 = ∫−∞ 1 + x ∫0 1 + x 2 + 2 = π
2
+ 2
=

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Materials for week 7

3.2 Type II
1. If f (x ) is continuous in the interval [a,b) , and has infinite
discontinuity at x = b then
b T

∫ a
f (x )dx = lim− ∫ f (x )dx
T →b a

The improper integral is said to converge if this limit

exists (i.e. is a finite number), and to diverge otherwise.

2. If f (x ) is continuous in the interval (a,b ], and has infinite

discontinuity at x = a then
b b

∫ a
f (x )dx = lim+ ∫ f (x )dx
T →a T

The improper integral is said to converge if this limit

exists (i.e. is a finite number), and to diverge otherwise.

3. If f (x ) is continuous in the interval [a,b ] , then

b c b

∫ a
f (x )dx = ∫ a
f (x )dx + ∫ f (x )dx
c

where c is any real number such that a ≤ c ≤ b . The

improper integral is said to diverge if either one or both of
the integrals on the right-hand-side diverge.

Example 9 Evaluate the integrals that converge.

1 dx 2 dx 2 2xdx
(a) ∫−1 1 + x (b) ∫ (x − 2)
2 (c) ∫ 2
1 0
(x 2 − 1) 3

Solution (a)
The integrand is undefined at the lower limit of the integral.
Therefore

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Materials for week 7

dx
1 1 dx 1
∫−1 1 + x T →−1+ ∫T 1 + x T →−1+
= lim = lim [ ln 1 + x ]
T

= lim+ [ln 2 − ln 1 + T ] = ∞
T →−1

The integral is divergent.

Solution (b)
The integrand is undefined at the upper limit of integration,
therefore
2 dx T dx
∫ 1 (x − 2)
2 = lim
T →2− ∫
1 (x − 2)
2

T
⎛ 1 ⎞⎟ ⎛ 1 1 ⎞⎟
= lim− ⎜⎜− ⎟⎟ = lim− ⎜⎜− + ⎟ = −∞
T →2 ⎜
⎝ (x − 2)⎠⎟1 ⎜ (T − 2) (1 − 2)⎠⎟⎟
T →2 ⎝

The integral is divergent.

Solution (c)
The integrand is undefined at x = 1, 0 ≤ 1 ≤ 2 , therefore
2 2xdx 1 2xdx 2 2xdx
∫ 2 = ∫ 2 +∫ 2
0
(x 2 − 1) 3 0
(x 2 − 1) 3 1
(x 2 − 1) 3

T 2xdx 2 2xdx
= lim− ∫ 2 + lim+ ∫ 2
T →1 0
(x 2 − 1) 3 T →1 T
(x 2 − 1) 3
T 2
⎡ 1 ⎤ ⎡ 1 ⎤
= lim− ⎢3 (x 2 − 1) 3 ⎥ + lim+ ⎢ 3 (x 2 − 1) 3 ⎥
T →1 ⎣ ⎦ 0 T →1 ⎣ ⎦T
⎡ ⎡ 1 1 ⎤⎤ ⎡ ⎡ 1 1 ⎤⎤
= lim− ⎢3 ⎢(T 2 − 1) 3 − (02 − 1) 3 ⎥ ⎥ + lim− ⎢ 3 ⎢(22 − 1) 3 − (T 2 − 1) 3 ⎥ ⎥
T →1 ⎣⎢ ⎣ ⎦ ⎦⎥ T →1 ⎣⎢ ⎣ ⎦ ⎦⎥
= 3+3 = 6

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