What is the missing term in this trig integration problem?

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    Integration Trig
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a trigonometric integration problem, specifically focusing on the discrepancy between a participant's derived solution and the answer provided in a textbook. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and exploration of integration techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents their work on the integral of cotangent cubed and questions the appearance of csc^2(2x) in the textbook's answer.
  • Another participant agrees with the first participant's derived answer, suggesting it is correct as \(\frac{1}{4}(2 \ln |csc (2x) | - cot^2 (2x)) + C\) and not the textbook's version.
  • A third participant proposes alternative forms of the answer, indicating that the textbook's presentation seems unusual and might be a typo.
  • A fourth participant comments on the variability in textbook problem solutions, suggesting that they may be composed in non-intuitive ways by graduate students.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the correctness of the textbook's answer, with some supporting the participant's derived solution and others suggesting it may be a typographical error. No consensus is reached on the validity of the textbook's answer.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the potential for confusion in textbook solutions and the variability in problem-solving approaches, but do not resolve the specific mathematical discrepancies.

mrbill
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Hey guys, I got a little problem for you involving trig integration. I have listed my work below. My question is...well...the back of the book has a csc^2 (2x) in the absolute value at the end of the problem..and i can't even begin to fathom where they got it from. Here is the work..ill point out the disagreement from the answer key below

[tex]\int cot^3 (2x)dx[/tex]
[tex]\int cot^2 (2x) cot (2x)dx[/tex]
[tex]\int (csc^2 (2x) -1)cot (2x)dx[/tex]
[tex]\int (csc^2 (2x) cot (2x) - cot (2x))dx[/tex]
[tex]\int csc^2 (2x) cot (2x)dx - \int cot (2x)dx[/tex]


[tex]u=cot (2x)[/tex]
[tex]du= -2csc^2 (2x)dx[/tex]
[tex]\frac{-1}{2}du=csc^2 (2x)dx[/tex]
[tex]\frac{-1}{2} \int udu[/tex]
[tex]= \frac{1}{2}u^2[/tex]
[tex]= \frac{-1}{4}cot^2 (2x)[/tex]

[tex]u=2x[/tex]
[tex]du=2dx[/tex]
[tex]\frac{1}{2}du = dx[/tex]
[tex]= \frac {1}{2} \ln | \sin (2x) |[/tex]


rewrite and move the negative to an exponent using properties of natural log..its stupid but that's how the textbook has the answer

[tex]\frac{-1}{4} cot^2 (2x) + \frac{1}{2} \ln (sin (2x))^-1[/tex]

switch them around so the negative isn't sticking out in front
rewrote inverse sin as csc and factored out 1/4
[tex]\frac{1}{4}(2 \ln |csc (2x) | - cot^2 (2x))[/tex]

Heres the problem: the book writes it as:

[tex]\frac{1}{4}(2 \ln |csc^2 (2x) | - cot^2 (2x))[/tex]

notice the csc^2 up there...cant figure it out!


mrbill
 
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I think you're correct.

The answer is [tex]\frac{1}{4}(2 \ln |csc (2x) | - cot^2 (2x)) + C[/tex] but not [tex]\frac{1}{4}(2 \ln |csc^2 (2x) | - cot^2 (2x))+ C[/tex]
 
Last edited:
It seems odd that your book would put it in that form anyway, when they could have done this:

[tex]\frac{1}{4}(ln|csc^2(2x)| - cot^2(2x)) + C[/tex]

or even this:

[tex]\frac{1}{4}(ln|csc^2(2x)| - csc^2(2x)) + C[/tex]


Probably just a typo in the book.
 
remeber, Text book problems

they are solved by grad students, so you get a bunch of weird ways problems are composed all bunched togehter.

my Calc professor use to have to sit an think why the example is solved the way it is because it made no sense at first some times since a much simpler solution was more conspiquous.
 

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