Recursive Integral Simplification

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nihilist Comedian
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integral
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the simplification of a recursive integral involving sine and cosine functions, specifically the integral of the form \(\int{\sin^{n}(x)\cos^{m}(x)dx}\). Participants are exploring the differences between their own expressions and those found in a mathematics textbook.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to simplify a recursive integral but finds discrepancies between their result and the textbook answer. They express concern about the necessity of simplification for exam purposes. Another participant introduces an identity related to the integral, suggesting a potential pathway for simplification.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their thoughts on the simplification process. Some guidance has been offered through the introduction of an identity, but there is no explicit consensus on the best approach to take or the correctness of the simplifications discussed.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes that their expression is usable for specific values of \(n\) and \(m\), but they are uncertain about the requirements for presenting the answer in a simplified form during exams. There is also a mention of a missing detail in the initial post regarding the variables involved.

Nihilist Comedian
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
[tex]\int{\sin^{n}(x)\cos^{m}(x)dx}[/tex]
[tex]=\frac{\sin^{n+1}(x)\cos^{m-1}(x)}{n+1}+\frac{m-1}{n+1}\int{\sin^{n+2}(x)\cos^{m-2}(x)dx}[/tex]

That was quite easy, but it's the simplification process following this that throws me. My answer is perfectly correct, but it is simplified in the answers (in my maths book) to the following form.

[tex]\frac{\sin^{n+1}(x)\cos^{m-1}(x)}{n+m}+\frac{m-1}{n+m}\int{\sin^{n}(x)\cos^{m-2}(x)dx}[/tex]

The form that I had it in can be used to calculate integrals for specific values of n an m, though in an exam, I believe that I'd have to express it in simpler form to get full marks.

Thanks for the help.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Sorry, forgot to put in the "n" and "m" in the original function.

Any help now?
 
You have the following identity:
[tex]\int\sin^{n+2}x\cos^{m-2}xdx=\int\sin^{n}x(1-\cos^{2}x)\cos^{m-2}xdx[/tex]
 
Thanks. It's really quite simple. I can't believe I missed that!
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
28
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
3K