TITLE: Integral $I=\int \frac{dx}{(x^2+1)\sqrt{x^2-4}} $
QUESTION [16 upvotes]: Frankly, i don't have a solution to this, not even incorrect one, but, this integral looks a lot like that standard type of integral $I=\int\frac{Mx+N}{(x-\alpha)^n\sqrt{ax^2+bx+c}}$ which can be solved using substitution $x-\alpha=\frac{1}{t}$ so i tried to find such subtitution that will make this integral completely the same as this standard integral so i could use substitution i mentioned, so i tried two following substitutions 
$x^2-4=t^2 \Rightarrow x^2=t^2+4 \Rightarrow x=\sqrt{t^2+4}$ then i had to determine $dx$ 
$2xdx=2tdt \Rightarrow dx=\frac{tdt}{\sqrt{t^2+4}}$  
from here i got:
$\int\frac{dt}{(t^2+5)\sqrt{(t^2+4)}}$ but i have no idea what could i do with this, so i tried different substitution
$x^2+1=t^2$ and then, by implementing the same pattern i used with the previous substitution i got this integral 
$\int\frac{dt}{t\sqrt{(t^2-1)(t^2-5)}}$  but again, i don't know what to do with this, so i could use some help.

REPLY [3 votes]: The curve $t^2=x^2-4$ is a hyperbola, which can be parametrized by a single value. Rewrite this equation as $(x+t)(x-t)=4$, and set $y=x+t$. Then $4/y=x-t$, and we have
$$
x=\frac{y+\frac{4}{y}}{2},\;\;\;\;t=\frac{y-\frac{4}{y}}{2}.
$$
Compute $dx=(1/2-2 y^{-2})dy$, and the integral becomes
$$
\int \frac{dx}{(x^2+1)\sqrt{x^2-4}}=\int \frac{\frac{1}{2}-\frac{2}{y^2}}{\left(\left(\frac{y+\frac{4}{y}}{2}\right)^2+1\right)\left(\frac{y-\frac{4}{y}}{2}\right)}dy=\int \frac{4y\, dy}{y^4+12 y^2+16}.
$$
This can be computed using partial fractions.