Find the integral: $\displaystyle \int \frac{dx}{x^2 - 6x + 13}$
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → $\frac{1}{2} \tan^{-1} \left( \frac{x - 3}{2} \right) + C$
We have $x^2 - 6x + 13 = x^2 - 6x + 3^2 - 3^2 + 13 = (x - 3)^2 + 4$
So, $\int \frac{dx}{x^2 - 6x + 13} = \int \frac{dx}{(x - 3)^2 + 2^2}$
Let $x - 3 = t$. Then $dx = dt$
Therefore, $\int \frac{dx}{x^2 - 6x + 13} = \int \frac{dt}{t^2 + 2^2} = \frac{1}{2} \tan^{-1} \frac{t}{2} + C$
$= \frac{1}{2} \tan^{-1} \frac{x - 3}{2} + C$