Antiderivative involving Trig Identities.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of integrals involving trigonometric identities, specifically focusing on the integral of \(2 \int 4 \sin^2x \, dx\) and related expressions. Participants explore different approaches to simplifying the integral using trigonometric identities and substitution methods.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest pulling constants out of the integral, leading to different forms of the integral, such as \(8 \int \frac{1 - \cos 2x}{2} \, dx\) or \(4\int 2\sin^2(x)\,dx\).
  • Others argue for applying trigonometric identities directly, resulting in expressions like \(4\int 1-\cos(2x)\,dx\) and leading to different final forms of the integral.
  • A participant expresses confusion over the application of the antiderivative of \(\cos(2\theta)\) and how it affects the constants in their final answer.
  • There is a discussion about the substitution \(x=2\sin(\theta)\) and how it transforms the integral, with varying interpretations of the resulting expressions.
  • Some participants acknowledge errors in their approaches and clarify their understanding of pulling constants out of integrals.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method for evaluating the integral, as different approaches yield different forms and interpretations of the final answer. There is acknowledgment of errors and misunderstandings, but no agreement on a single correct method.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the manipulation of constants in integrals and the application of trigonometric identities, highlighting the complexity of the problem and the need for careful consideration of each step.

shamieh
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A little confused on something.

Suppose I have the integral

$$2 \int 4 \sin^2x \, dx$$

So I understand that $$\sin^2x = \frac{1 - \cos2x}{2}$$

BUT we have a 4 in front of it, so shouldn't we pull the $$4$$ out in front of the integral to get:

$$8 \int \frac{1 - \cos 2x}{2} \, dx$$

then pull out the $$\frac{1}{2}$$ to get: $$4 \int 1 - \cos 2x \, dx$$

then:

$$8 [ x + \frac{1}{2} \sin2x ] + C$$?
 
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I would switch the constants so that we have:

$$4\int 2\sin^2(x)\,dx$$

Apply the identity:

$$4\int 1-\cos(2x)\,dx$$

And then we have:

$$4x-2\sin(2x)+C$$
 
shamieh said:
A little confused on something.

Suppose I have the integral

$$2 \int 4 \sin^2x \, dx$$

So I understand that $$\sin^2x = \frac{1 - \cos2x}{2}$$

BUT we have a 4 in front of it, so shouldn't we pull the $$4$$ out in front of the integral to get:

$$8 \int \frac{1 - \cos 2x}{2} \, dx$$

then pull out the $$\frac{1}{2}$$ to get: $$4 \int 1 - \cos 2x \, dx$$

then:

$$8 [ x + \frac{1}{2} \sin2x ] + C$$?

Surely you mean $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 4 \left[ x + \frac{1}{2}\sin{(2x)} \right] + C \end{align*}$. Apart from that everything you have done is correct :)
 
MarkFL said:
I would switch the constants so that we have:

$$4\int 2\sin^2(x)\,dx$$

Apply the identity:

$$4\int 1-\cos(2x)\,dx$$

And then we have:

$$4x-2\sin(2x)+C$$
I see. Ok here is where I am getting lost Mark. My original problem was this $$\int \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{4 - x^2}} dx$$

So I got to the step we just mentioned above (ignore that my final answer had an 8 in front of all those terms, should be a 4 - BUT I then noticed that the A.D. of $$\cos(2\theta)$$ is just $$\frac{1}{2}\sin(2\theta) $$THUS I can now change the 4 to a 2 since$$ \frac{4}{2} = 2$$ when I pulled it out to the constant.)

Finally, after applying all of those changes - now I am here:

$$2\theta - 2\sin(2\theta) + C$$ ... So then I said ok, simple enough, just sub back in for my original equation where I had $$x = 2\sin\theta$$ which becomes $$\theta = \arcsin(\frac{x}{2})$$ (Note: From when I used my trig sub)

Thus $$2\arcsin(\frac{x}{2}) - 2\sin(2\arcsin(\frac{x}{2})) $$ But somehow my teacher is getting:

$$2\arcsin(\frac{x}{2}) - \frac{1}{2} x\sqrt{4 -x^2} + C$$ as the final answer..In the second term when i have sin(arcsin ... etc What would I do there?
 
We are given:

$$I=\int \frac{x^2}{\sqrt{4-x^2}}\,dx$$

I would use the substitution:

$$x=2\sin(\theta)\,\therefore\,dx=2\cos(\theta)\,d \theta$$

And so now we have:

$$I=\int \frac{4\sin^2(\theta)}{\sqrt{4-4\sin^2(\theta)}}\,2\cos(\theta)\,d\theta$$

Simplifying this, we obtain:

$$I=4\int \sin^2(\theta)\,d\theta$$

This is half of what I began with in post #2 above, so using that method, we would obtain:

$$I=2\theta-\sin(2\theta)+C$$

Now, using the double-angle identity for sine, we may write:

$$I=2\theta-2\sin(\theta)\cos(\theta)+C$$

Observing that:

$$\sin(\theta)=\frac{x}{2}\implies\cos(\theta)=\frac{\sqrt{4-x^2}}{2}$$

we may now write:

$$I=2\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{x}{2} \right)-\frac{x\sqrt{4-x^2}}{2}+C$$

I think you are still trying to pull constants out in front of your integrals that are not factors of the entire integrand. :D
 
Yes you are exactly right. I was pulling things out in front that I couldn't (Drunk)

So essentially I should have

$$4[\theta - \frac{1}{2}\sin(2\theta)]$$

Which becomes:

$$ 4\theta-2\sin(2\theta)$$

Which then becomes:

$$2\theta - \sin(2\theta)$$

Then plug in double angle formula,

Then 2 in the second term cancels out with the $$\frac{x}{2}$$

Wow I see where I made my many errors. Thanks for the clarification.
 

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