Calculus II - Trigonometric Integrals - Evaluate Integral tan(x)^5*sec(x)^4 dx

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the integral of tan(x)^5 * sec(x)^4 dx, a problem situated within the context of calculus, specifically trigonometric integrals. Participants are examining various approaches to solve this integral and are sharing their attempts and reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore different methods of integration, including substitution and the use of known integral formulas. Some question the validity of their approaches and the formulas they are applying, while others express confusion over the results they are obtaining.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on each other's work. Some have pointed out potential errors in the application of integration formulas, while others are attempting to clarify their reasoning and validate their steps. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or solution yet.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the need to verify the correctness of the integration formulas they are using, indicating a potential misunderstanding or misapplication of these formulas in their calculations. Additionally, there is a sense of frustration regarding the discrepancies in their results.

GreenPrint
Messages
1,186
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Hi,
I'm trying to solve this problem and guess I'm doing something wrong.

Evaluate Integral tan(x)^5*sec(x)^4 dx

Homework Equations



integral tan(x) dx = ln(|sec(x)|)

integral tan(x)^n dx = tan(x)^(n-1)/(n-1) - integral tan(x)^(n-1) dx

tan(x)^2+1=sec(x)^2

The Attempt at a Solution



My Answer
Integral tan(x)^5*sec(x)^4 dx = 1/8*tan(x)^8 + 1/6*tan(x)^6 + 1/2*tan(x)^2 + ln(|sec(x)|)+c

I don't see what I'm doing wrong...
You can see my work attached. Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide! Don't forget you can click on the window that pops up after clicking attachments to open the image in a new tab to view it at a larger scale.
 

Attachments

  • helpme please.jpg
    helpme please.jpg
    18.8 KB · Views: 3,098
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
∫ tan5(x) sec4(x) dx
= ∫ tan5(x) (tan2(x)+1) sec2(x) dx
= ∫ [tan7(x) + tan5(x)] sec2(x) dx
 
∫ tan5(x) sec4(x) dx
= ∫ tan5(x) (tan2(x)+1) sec2(x) dx
= ∫ [tan7(x) + tan5(x)] sec2(x) dx
= ∫ [tan7(x) + tan5(x)] (tan2(x)+1) dx
= ∫ [tan9(x) + tan7(x)+tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx
= ∫ [tan9(x) + 2tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx
is this not correct?
 
Why would you do that when d/dx tan(x) = sec2(x)?
 
I didn't think of making the substitution at the time <_< it would of made the problem much easier @_@ I should still be able to obtain the correct answer though, yes? I find it odd that I don't get the right answer

as you can see in my work
∫ tan5(x) sec4(x) dx
= ∫ tan5(x) (tan2(x)+1) sec2(x) dx
= ∫ [tan7(x) + tan5(x)] sec2(x) dx
= ∫ [tan7(x) + tan5(x)] (tan2(x)+1) dx
= ∫ [tan9(x) + tan7(x)+tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx
= ∫ [tan9(x) + 2tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx

one i get here i evaluated each integral separately using
integral tan(x)^n dx = tan(x)^(n-1)/(n-1) - integral tan(x)^(n-1) dx
I should be able to get the correct answer and i don't think my answer
1/8*tan(x)^8 + 1/6*tan(x)^6 + 1/2*tan(x)^2 + ln(|sec(x)|)+c
is correct for whatever strange reason when i can't find a error in my work at all
 
GreenPrint said:
I should be able to get the correct answer and i don't think my answer
1/8*tan(x)^8 + 1/6*tan(x)^6 + 1/2*tan(x)^2 + ln(|sec(x)|)+c
is correct

It's not correct. The bolded terms are extraneous. Here's your work:

∫ tan5(x) sec4(x) dx
= ∫ tan5(x) (tan2(x)+1)2 dx
= ∫ tan5(x) (tan2(x)+1)2 dx
= ∫ tan5(x) (tan4(x)+2 tan2(x) +1) dx
= ∫ [tan9(x) + 2 tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx

Let's evaluate each individually, using your formula. I'm not even sure whether or not your formula is true, but let's assume that it is.

∫ tann(x) dx = tann-1(x)/(n-1) - ∫ tann-1(x) dx
∫ [tan9(x) dx = tan8(x)/8 - ∫ tan8(x) dx
∫ [tan8(x) dx = tan7(x)/7 - ∫ tan7(x) dx
∫ [tan7(x) dx = tan6(x)/6 - ∫ tan6(x) dx
∫ [tan6(x) dx = tan5(x)/5 - ∫ tan5(x) dx

The problem here is that you used your own formula incorrectly. Using the formula correctly:

∫ [tan9(x) + 2 tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx
= tan8(x)/8 - ∫ tan8(x) dx + ∫ [2 tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + ∫ tan7(x) dx + ∫ [2 tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + ∫ [3 tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 [tan6(x)/6 - ∫ tan6(x) dx] + ∫ tan5(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 [tan6(x)/6 - tan5(x)/5 + ∫ tan5(x) dx] + ∫ tan5(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 tan6(x)/6 - 3 tan5(x)/5 + 4 ∫ tan5(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 tan6(x)/6 - 3 tan5(x)/5 + 4 tan4(x)/4 - 4 ∫ tan4(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 tan6(x)/6 - 3 tan5(x)/5 + 4 tan4(x)/4 - 4 tan3(x)/3 + 4 ∫ tan3(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 tan6(x)/6 - 3 tan5(x)/5 + 4 tan4(x)/4 - 4 tan3(x)/3 + 4 tan2(x)/2 - 4 ∫ tan2(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 tan6(x)/6 - 3 tan5(x)/5 + 4 tan4(x)/4 - 4 tan3(x)/3 + 4 tan2(x)/2 - 4 tan(x) - 4 ∫ tan(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan7(x)/7 + 3 tan6(x)/6 - 3 tan5(x)/5 + 4 tan4(x)/4 - 4 tan3(x)/3 + 4 tan2(x)/2 - 4 tan(x) + 4 log|cos(x)| +C

It seems like something is seriously wrong with your formula.
 
Last edited:
I thought the formula was correct, see attachment
ah yes the correct formula is
∫ tann(x) dx = tann-1(x)/(n-1) - ∫ tann-2(x) dx
which although i wrote the wrong formula in my posts i still used this one in my work and the correct

I don't see how you get rid of terms... isn't this correct

∫ tan9(x) dx = tan8(x)/8 - ∫ tan7(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan6(x)/6 +∫ tan5(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan6(x)/6 + tan4(x)/4 - ∫ tan3(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan6(x)/6 + tan4(x)/4 - tan2(x)/2 + ∫ tan(x) dx
= tan8(x)/8 - tan6(x)/6 + tan4(x)/4 - tan2(x)/2 + ln(|sec(x)|)

2∫ tan7(x) = 2*tan6(x)/6 - 2 ∫ tan5(x) dx
= tan6(x)/3 - 2*tan4(x)/4 + 2 ∫ tan3(x) dx
= tan6(x)/3 - tan4(x)/2 + 2*tan2(x)/2 - 2 ∫ tan(x) dx
= tan6(x)/3 - tan4(x)/2 + tan2(x) - 2 ln(|sec(x)|)

∫ tan5(x) dx = tan4(x)/4 - ∫ tan3(x) dx
= tan4(x)/4 - tan2(x)/2 + ∫ tan(x) dx
= tan4(x)/4 - tan2(x)/2 + ln(|sec(x)|)

∫ [tan9(x) + 2 tan7(x)+tan5(x)] dx

= tan8(x)/8 - tan6(x)/6 + tan4(x)/4 - tan2(x)/2 + ln(|sec(x)|) + tan6(x)/3 - tan4(x)/2 + tan2(x) - 2 ln(|sec(x)|) + tan4(x)/4 - tan2(x)/2 + ln(|sec(x)|)

= tan8(x)/8 - tan6(x)/6 + tan6(x)/3 + tan4(x)/4 - tan4(x)/2 + tan4(x)/4 - tan2(x)/2 + tan2(x) - tan2(x)/2 + ln(|sec(x)|) - 2 ln(|sec(x)|) + ln(|sec(x)|)


= tan8(x)/8 + tan6(x)/6

hmm interesting
 

Attachments

  • Capture.JPG
    Capture.JPG
    4.2 KB · Views: 818

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K