Beginning Trignometric Antiderivative

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 2K views
calisoca
Messages
28
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Okay, I think I'm finally getting the hang of these antiderivatives. However, I'm still stumbling some on trigonometric functions.

Find the antiderivative of [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1 + \cos^2{\theta}}{\cos^2{\theta}}[/tex]

Homework Equations

[tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1 + \cos^2{\theta}}{\cos^2{\theta}}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



1.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1 + \cos^2{\theta}}{\cos^2{\theta}}[/tex]

2.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1}{\cos^2{\theta}}} \ + \ \frac{cos^2{\theta}}{cos^2{\theta}}[/tex]

3.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1}{\cos^2{\theta}}} \ + \ 1[/tex]

4.) Trigonometric Identity: [tex]\frac{1}{\cos^2{\theta}}} \ = \ \csc^2{\theta}[/tex]

5.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \csc^2{\theta}\ + \ 1[/tex]

6.) [tex]F(\theta) \ = \ -\cot{\theta} \ + \ \theta[/tex]Where have I gone wrong? I know the answer isn't correct, but I'm not sure what I have done wrong here?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Ah, crap! I don't know where I got [tex]\frac{1}{\cos^2{\theta}}} \ = \ \csc^2{\theta}[/tex] from. That's obviously not right. Thank you for pointing out my stupid mistake.

So...

1.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1 + \cos^2{\theta}}{\cos^2{\theta}}[/tex]

2.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1}{\cos^2{\theta}}} \ + \ \frac{cos^2{\theta}}{cos^2{\theta}}[/tex]

3.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \frac{1}{\cos^2{\theta}}} \ + \ 1[/tex]

4.) Trigonometric Identity: [tex]\frac{1}{\cos^2{\theta}}} \ = \ \sec^2{\theta}[/tex]

5.) [tex]f(\theta) \ = \ \sec^2{\theta}\ + \ 1[/tex]

6.) [tex]F(\theta) \ = \ \tan{\theta} \ + \ \theta[/tex]


Now, would it be [tex]F(\theta) \ = \ \tan{\theta} \ + \ \theta \ + \ C[/tex] or just [tex]F(\theta) \ = \ \tan{\theta} \ + \ \theta[/tex] ?
 
You need to include the constant C. While it may seem trivial or non-important, you can actually contrive anti-derivatives, which, when simplified yield 1 = 0 (or some other non-sensical equality) if you neglect the constant.
 
Last edited:
Great. Thanks to everyone for their help!