How Do You Start Integrating tan(x)tan(2x)tan(3x)?

[BlueDevil]

I have been working on this integration problem for awhile now and am completely stuck:

Integral of tanx*tan2x*tan3x

I know I am suppose to use substituion and for that matter probably multiple substitions. But I am no sure what I should use for my first value of "u". I have changed the problem to be in terms of sin and cos, but I am still just ending up at a dead end. If some one can help me start off in the right step I would greatly appreciatte it. I DO NOT want the answer, I would like to solve it for myself, I just need help starting it off right. Thanks in advance.

 

[gnome]

How about changing the form of your integrand using trig identities before attempting to integrate?

i.e.: tan(x+y) = ?

 

[BlueDevil]

tan(x+y) = (tanx +tany)/(1-tanxtany) right?

But I don't see how that can help me. :-\

 

[sridhar_n]

...

Try using the expansion of tan (x+y) to simplify tan 2x and tan 3x and try to bring all the three terms in terms of tanx only. Now substitute tanx=sinx/cosx and simplify the expression you get to see the below answer:

I = the integral = I1+I2;
where,
I1 = int[(4sin^3xcosx)dx]/(cos^2x-Sin^x) and

I2 = int[(2Sin^3xSecx)dx]/(cos^2x-Sin^x)

Put cosxdx = d(sinx) and then put, sinx = t and then I1 reduces to

int(4x^3dx/1-2X^2), solve this integral (can u?). Repeat a similar procedure for I2 and lo behold u have the answer with u...


Sridhar

 

[gnome]

tan(2x) = tan(x + x)
tan(3x) = tan((x+x) + x)

So you end up with an expression in powers of tan(x), no tan(2x) and no tan(3x).

Then, integrate.

 

[BlueDevil]

I'm sorry but I'm just not gettin how you did that. How did you expand the integral of tan(x)*tan(2x)*tan(3x) to the integral you gave? Is there some trig identity I am not aware of?

 

[BlueDevil]

Ok, I get that alittle better now, I'll start working on it like that and see where I get, thanks guys, Ill post again if I get lost again, which I probably will.

 

[BlueDevil]

Ok I've been working on it for awhile now after changing the problem to:

integral tan(x)*tan(x+x)*tan(x+x+x)

I don't see how that is making the equation more favorable for me to solve. I still have to use substitution in the next step. I am just really confused at this point and am very desperate to get this done.

 

[sridhar_n]

...

Your question has already been answered...Just scroll up the page a li'l bit and u have the answer there. I have given the step after using tan(a+b) and then the step after substituting tanx = sinx/cosx and then the method to solve the final integral...

I think u understand that cosx dx = d(sinx) {as d(sinx)/dx = cosx}
similarly, sinxdx = -d(cosx); These substitutions will help u solve the final integral that I have given u... That is what I have explained previously...


If u still do not understand follow these procedures:

1) Use tan(a+b) to bring the entire integral in terms of tanx alone. Note you might have to use tan2x = 2tanx/sec^2x.

2)After you have got an expression in terms of tanx:

integral{[(4tan^3x)/(sec^2x(Sec^2x-2tan^2x))]+ [(2tan^3x)/(sec^2x-2tan^2x)]}

3) now, substitute, tanx = sinx/cosx, you will get:

I (the main integral) = I1 + I2
where,

I1 = integral{[(4sin^3xcosxdx)/(cos^2x-Sin^2x)]}
I2 = integral{[(2sin^3xsecx)/(cos^2x-sin^2x)]}

4) Now consider I1 and I2 separately and solve them separately in the following way:

(i)To solve I1 - cos^2x = 1 - sin^2x and cosxdx = d(sinx). Now substitute sinx = t to get :

I1 = integral{[(4t^3)dt/(1-2t^2)]}. Can u solve this? {to solve this put 1-2t^2 = y so that -4tdt = dy and then proceed}

(ii) To solve I2 - Proceed in a similar way as done for I1 to get:

I2 = integral{[(1-cos^2x)(sinxdx)/((cosx)(2cos^2x-1))]}
substitute cosx = p and sinxdx = -d(cosx) to get:

I2 = integral{[(1-p^2)dp/(p(2p^2-1))]} (u can solve this by adding and subtracting 2x^2 from the numerator to get 2 terms, u can easily solve the 2 terms to get I2)

5) Add the solved values of I1 and I2 to get the value of integral(tanxtan2xtan3x)...


Got it??



Sridhar

 

[BlueDevil]

How does tan2x = 2tanx/sec^2x? I do not see how this can be the same. They produce different y values when you use an x. Is there some kind of trig identitiy that states this? Once I understand this I will be bale to do the problem.

 

[Hurkyl]

He got the tangent identity wrong. It is

$$\tan(x+y) = \frac{\tan x + \tan y}{1 - \tan x \tan y}$$

so

$$\tan 2x = \frac{2\ tan x} {1 - \tan^2 x}$$


However, a general rule to use when confused about trig identities is to convert everything into sines and cosines. (reason: sines and cosines are, in general, much easier to manipulate) If you're doing an integral, you also want to convert everything to having the same argument, if possible. (reason: you're almost always going to have to do this anyways, so you might as well do it up front so it's easier to see the proper substitution to make) Applying this rule would have you do the conversion as follows:

$$\tan 2x = \frac{\sin 2x}{\cos 2x} = \frac{2 \sin x \cos x}{\cos^2 x - \sin^2 x}$$


If all else fails, make the substitution

$$z = \tan \frac{x}{2}$$

Though this approach will tend to be far messier. You can show, using trig identities, that when using this substitution:

$$\sin x = \frac{2z}{1+z^2}$$
$$\cos x = \frac{1-z^2}{1+z^2}$$
$$dx = \frac{dz}{1+z^2}$$

So this will convert any rational function of trig functions into an ordinary (but possibly very ugly) rational function which you can do via partial fractions.

 

[sridhar_n]

...

Oops Sorry, As hurkyl said, I made a mistake in the identity. However the steps are the same. Bring every term to their sine and cosine forms and then proceed with the problem.

Sridhar

 

[BlueDevil]

Ok, it makes more sense now. I really hate trig identities! I will most likely work on it tomorrow and I should be able to get an answer now. Thanks a lot for your help guys, I really appreciatte it!

 

[BlueDevil]

Ok a couple more things: First, how did you get those values of sinx, cosx, and dx from z=tan(x/2)? Secondly, I know the integral will be (sinx/cosx)(2sin^2(x)cos(x)/cos^3(x)-sin^2(x)*tan3x. But what does the tan3x equal in terms of sin and cos? I did some work and got confused again as to what value I should use for substituion. Sorry for being such a pain with this, but I do truly appreciatte you guys helping me out.

 

[Hurkyl]

You have a parenthesis error.

First, how did you get those values of sinx, cosx, and dx from z=tan(x/2)?

From the integral table in my CRC handbook.

They're not hard to do by hand, though. E.G.

$$\begin{equation*}<br /> \begin{split}<br /> \sin x &= \sin \left( 2 \frac{x}{2} \right) \\<br /> &= 2 \sin \left( \frac{x}{2} \right) \cos \left( \frac{x}{2} \right) \\<br /> &= 2 \frac{z}{\sqrt{1+z^2}} \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+z^2}} \\<br /> &= \frac{2z}{1+z^2}<br /> \end{split}<br /> \end{equation*}$$

(If you don't see how to go from line 2 to line 3, try drawing a triangle with angle $$x/2$$; one such triangle has an opposite side with length $$z$$, and an adjacent side with length $$1$$. Note that the square root could be either positive or negative, but since it's being multiplied by itself, it doesn't matter)

But what does the tan3x equal in terms of sin and cos?

Well, start by writing it in terms of sin and cos!

$$\tan 3x = \frac{\sin 3x}{\cos 3x} = \frac{\sin (x + 2x)}{\cos(x + 2x)} = \ldots$$

I did some work and got confused again as to what value I should use for substituion.

Can you post all of the work you did, so we can check to make sure it's right, and to show you the way to go about figuring out the next step?

 

[BlueDevil]

Ok, Ill try that. My work is wrong becasue I was using the wrong thing for tan3x. I had:

The integral of (sinx/cosx)(2sinxcosx/cos^2x-sin^2X) * the integral of (sinx/cosx)(2sinxcosx/cos^2x-sin^2X)

So then I distibuted the sinx and cosx and got:

The integral of 2sin^2xcosx/cos^3x-sin^2xcosx * The integral of 2sin^2xcosx/cos^3x-sin^2xcosx

So I then attempted to use substituion. I used a couple terms and did not get far at all. With all those trig function to the Nth powers I didn't know how to find the derivaitives. That is something we never learned.

 

[Hurkyl]

How did you get the product of two integrals?


Derivatives of powers of trig functions is easy; use the chain rule... why do you think such derivatives are necessary?

$$\frac{d}{dx}\left( (\sin x)^n \right) = n (\sin x)^{n-1} \cos x$$


Finally, you need to use parentheses better; 2sinxcosx/cos^2x-sin^2X means

$$\frac{2 \sin x \cos x}{\cos^2 x} - \sin^2 x$$

But 2 sin x cos x / (cos^2 x - sin^2 x) means

$$\frac{2 \sin x \cos x}{\cos^2 x - \sin^2 x}$$

 

[PrudensOptimus]

$$\int tan(x)tan(2x)tan(3x) dx = \int tan(x)tan(2x)tan(2x + x) dx$$
$$=\int \frac{sin(x)}{cos(x)}(\frac{2tan(x)}{1-tan^2(x)})(\frac{tan(2x) + tan(x)}{1 - tan(2x)tan(x)}) dx$$
$$=\int \frac{sin(x)}{cos(x)}(\frac{sin(2x)}{cos(2x)})(...) dx$$

u = -cosx
du = sinx dx.

$$=\int \frac{sin(x)}{-u}(\frac{2sin(x)(-u)}{u^2 - (1 + u^2)})(...) \frac{du}{sin(x)}$$
$$=\int \frac{1}{-u}(u - \frac{1}{3u})(2u) du$$
$$= -2\int u - \frac{1}{3u} du$$
$$= \frac{2ln|-cosx|}{3} - cos^2(x) + C$$

Not sure if I got it right or not...

 

[BlueDevil]

Ok I understand where your going, but you lost me on this step:
$$=\int \frac{sin(x)}{-u}(\frac{2sin(x)(-u)}{u^2 - (1 + u^2)})(...) \frac{du}{sin(x)}$$
to this step:
$$=\int \frac{1}{-u}(u - \frac{1}{3u})(2u) du$$

Plus, how did your make the cos(2x) into (u^2)-(1+u^2)?

 

[Hurkyl]

$$\begin{equation*}<br /> \begin{split}<br /> I &= \int \tan(x) \tan(2x) \tan(3x) \, dx<br /> <br /> \\ &=<br /> \int \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)} \frac{\sin(2x)}{\cos(2x)} \frac{\sin(3x)}{\cos(3x)} \, dx<br /> <br /> \\ &= \int \frac{(\sin x) (2 \sin x \cos x) (\sin x (4 \cos^2 x - 1))}<br /> {(\cos x) (2 \cos^2 x - 1) (4 \cos^3 x - 3 \cos x)} \, dx<br /> <br /> \\ &= \int<br /> \frac{2 (\sin^3 x) (\cos x) (4 \cos^2 x - 1)}<br /> {(\cos^2 x) (2 \cos^2 x - 1) (4 \cos^2 x - 3)} \, dx<br /> <br /> \\ &= 2 \int<br /> \frac{(1 - \cos^2 x) (\cos x) (4 \cos^2 x - 1)}<br /> {(\cos^2 x) (2 \cos^2 x - 1) (4 \cos^2 x - 3)} (\sin x \, dx)<br /> <br /> \\ &= 2 \int<br /> \frac{(1 - u^2) u (4 u^2 - 1)}{u^2 (2 u^2 - 1) (4 u^2 - 3)} du<br /> <br /> \\ &= \ldots<br /> <br /> \end{split}<br /> \end{equation*}$$

 

[BlueDevil]

Ok Hurkyl I'm almost in the home stretch. What I had different was were you have:

sin(3x) = (sin(x))(4cos^2(x)-1)

I thought

sin(3x) = 3sin(x) – 4sin^3(x)

 

[Hurkyl]

They're the same thing.

$$\sin^3 x = \sin x \sin^2 x = \sin x (1 - \cos^2 x)$$

and you can do the rest.

 

[PrudensOptimus]

Originally posted by BlueDevil
Ok I understand where your going, but you lost me on this step:
$$=\int \frac{sin(x)}{-u}(\frac{2sin(x)(-u)}{u^2 - (1 + u^2)})(...) \frac{du}{sin(x)}$$
to this step:
$$=\int \frac{1}{-u}(u - \frac{1}{3u})(2u) du$$

Plus, how did your make the cos(2x) into (u^2)-(1+u^2)?

I used u = -cos x i think, and canceled out all the sinx.

And Cos[2x] = (-cos^2 x) - (1 + (-cos^2(x))

 

[roxysnapple]

help

I'm lost i have to use u-substitution on this problem and I'm lost

∫sin^3xcosxdx
from π/6 to 0

 

[Nihilist Comedian]

This may help:

$$\int \frac{f'(x)}{f(x)}dx=ln|f(x)|+c$$

 

[arildno]

As I understand roxysnapple's notation, the integrand is sin^(3)(x)*cos(x).
The problem is easily solved when observing:
sin^(3)(x)*cos(x)=1/4*d/dx(sin^(4)(x))

 

[Nihilist Comedian]

$$\begin{equation*}\begin{split}\int \tan(x) \tan(2x) \tan(3x) \, dx\\ &=\int \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)} \frac{\sin(2x)}{\cos(2x)} \frac{\sin(3x)}{\cos(3x)} \, dx\\ &= \int \frac{f '(x)}{f (x)}\dx\end{split}\end{equation*}$$

 

[rajeev asija]

It can be more simplified

I think it can be more simplified as given below:

Let I= ∫tanxtan2xtan3x dx
we know that tan3x = tan(x+2x) = tanx + tan2x/ 1 - tanxtan2x (okay)

tan3x X (1- tanxtan2x) = tanx + tan2x -- on cross multiplication
tan3x - tanxtan2xtan3x = tanx + tan2x
tan3x-tan2x-tanx= tanxtan2xtan3x
it means I = ∫tan3x dx - ∫tan2x dx - ∫tanx dx
OR I = ∫sin3x/cos3x dx - ∫sin2x/ cos2x dx - ∫sinx/ cosx dx
Put cos3x = t, sin3x.3 dx= -dt, similiarly cos2x= t and cosx= t
solve all three separately and we will get,
so I = -1/3 log(cos3x) + 1/2 log(cos2x) + log(cosx) + C -- Answer

 

[ssd]

I think it can be more simplified as given below:

Let I= ∫tanxtan2xtan3x dx
we know that tan3x = tan(x+2x) = tanx + tan2x/ 1 - tanxtan2x (okay)

tan3x X (1- tanxtan2x) = tanx + tan2x -- on cross multiplication
tan3x - tanxtan2xtan3x = tanx + tan2x
tan3x-tan2x-tanx= tanxtan2xtan3x
it means I = ∫tan3x dx - ∫tan2x dx - ∫tanx dx
OR I = ∫sin3x/cos3x dx - ∫sin2x/ cos2x dx - ∫sinx/ cosx dx
Put cos3x = t, sin3x.3 dx= -dt, similiarly cos2x= t and cosx= t
solve all three separately and we will get,
so I = -1/3 log(cos3x) + 1/2 log(cos2x) + log(cosx) + C -- Answer

The most elegant way to do it.