Anybody know a general way to approach this sin/cos integral?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding an effective method to evaluate the integral of the form \(\int_0^T \sin(at+b) \cos(ct+d) dt\). Participants explore various techniques, including trigonometric identities and integration by parts, to simplify the integral.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using a change of variables or trigonometric identities to simplify the integral.
  • Another participant questions whether the integration is over a whole period, indicating that this could simplify the process.
  • A different participant proposes using the identities for \(\sin(A+B)\) and \(\cos(A+B)\) to break the integral into four simpler integrals.
  • One participant recommends using the exponential form of sine and cosine for algebraic manipulation, suggesting it leads to simpler integrals.
  • Another participant notes the identity \(\sin(u)\cos(v)=\frac{1}{2}(\sin(u+v)+\sin(u-v))\) as a useful tool for simplification.
  • A later reply mentions that they ultimately used integration by parts to solve the integral, finding it manageable.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple competing views on how to approach the integral, with no consensus on a single method being preferred or superior.

Contextual Notes

Some methods proposed depend on specific conditions, such as the limits of integration being over a whole period, which may affect the applicability of certain techniques.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in integral calculus, particularly those looking for various techniques to tackle trigonometric integrals.

AxiomOfChoice
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Anyone know a nifty change of variables or trigonometric identity that will make this integral relatively easy to do:

<br /> \int_0^T \sin(at+b) \cos(ct+d) dt<br />

'Cause from where I'm standing, that's pretty awful...

Thanks!
 
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Is the integration over a whole period? That would simplify things significantly.
 
well if you use the identities for sin(A+B) and cos(A+B) you can change it into four simpler integrals.

Could you integrate cos(ax)sin(bx) with respect to x? if you can then using the above identities helps.
 
I would choose the exponential form which makes it a matter of algebraic manipulation, but using trigonometric identities is equality valid.
sin(\theta) = \frac{e^{i\theta} - e^{-i\theta}}{2i}
and cos(\theta) = = \frac{e^{i\theta} + e^{-i\theta}}{2}
substituting in the original equation, you'll eventually end up with an expression of the form
\frac{e^{ix} - e^{-ix} + e^{iy} - e^{-iy}}{4i}
getting that back to the trigonometric form, you should end up with two easy integrals, namely the integral of 1/2sin(x) + 1/2sin(y)
 
Last edited:
Remember that:
\sin(u)\cos(v)=\frac{1}{2}(\sin(u+v)+\sin(u-v))
 
All of these are great suggestions. But I just wound up doing it by parts. It wasn't too bad.

Thanks though. :smile:
 

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