解:被积函数√(x^2-a^2)/x=√[1-(a/x)^2]
设 a/x=sinθ, 则 x=a/sinθ, 那么
∫√(x^2-a^2)/xdx
=∫√[1-(a/x)^2]dx
=∫√[1-(sinθ)^2]·d(a/sinθ)
=∫cosθ·[-acosθ/(sinθ)^2]·dθ
=a·∫-(cotθ)^2·dθ
=a·∫[1-(csc)^2]dθ
=a(θ+cotθ) + C (注意:用到了“d(cotθ)=-(cscθ)^2·dθ”这一结论)
因 a/x=sinθ,cosθ=√[1-(a/x)^2],θ=arcsin(a/x), 故
cotθ=cosθ/sinθ=[√(x^2-a^2)]/a,
所以 ∫√(x^2-a^2)/xdx=a·arcsin(a/x) + √(x^2-a^2) + C.