Can the integral of cos^-1(arctan) be evaluated directly?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of the integral of the function involving the inverse cosine of the arctangent, specifically the integral from 0 to 2π of cos-1(arctan((2π/b)a cos(2πx/b))) dx. Participants explore whether this integral can be evaluated directly or if numerical methods, such as the trapezium rule, are necessary.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in evaluating the integral and questions if it can be done directly or requires numerical approximation.
  • Another participant suggests that if a and b are constants, it may be possible to find a closed-form solution, although they acknowledge the complexity of the integral.
  • There is a discussion about the correct interpretation of the notation "cos-1", with some arguing it should be interpreted as arccos rather than secant, leading to confusion about the integral's formulation.
  • A participant proposes using differentiation under the integral sign with respect to a or b as a potential method to simplify the evaluation.
  • Several participants mention the use of computational tools like Wolfram Alpha and Maxima to explore the integral, noting that they yield results that may not have analytical solutions.
  • There is a reiteration that the integral is definite and that numerical approximations could be made, but the original poster seeks an analytical solution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct interpretation of the integral's notation, with some insisting on the distinction between arccos and secant. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the feasibility of finding an analytical solution versus relying on numerical methods.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the constants a and b, as well as the notation used for the inverse cosine function, which may affect the interpretation of the integral. The discussion also highlights the complexity of the integral, with some participants noting that it may not have a straightforward analytical solution.

jamie516
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Ok, I am trying to integrate the following function, and not getting very far: it's s=integral between 0 and 2pi of cos^-1(arctan((2*pi/b)*a*cos(2*pi*x/b)))dx)^-1 where a and b are known variables. What I would like to know, is can this integral be evaluated directly, or must I use the trapezium rule, and if so how would I do that?
 
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by known variables, do you mean constant in the formula? If so, it should be possible to integrate as what you then have is
(cos-1(X*cos(2pi * x/b)-1dx
to integrate. You should be able to integrate that although I can't remember what the integral of the inverse trig functions are off the top of my head. It may be a pretty complex integral but I'd expect it to be possible to do so with a closed-form solution.

edit: Ignore that... I misread the original formula and didn't match up the brackets... need to re-evaluate
 
Last edited:
yes, they are constants
 
Just trying to visualize the formula.

s= \displaystyle\int_0^{2\pi} \sec\left(\arctan\left(\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{b}\right) a \cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi x}{b}\right)\right)\right)dx )^-1

What about the last missing ")^-1"?
 
That is correct, and the whole integral is ^-1.
 
so you would need a ( in front of the integral sign to complete it
 
<br /> s= \dfrac{1}{\displaystyle\int_0^{2\pi} \sec\left(\arctan\left(\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{b}\right ) a \cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi x}{b}\right)\right)\right)dx}<br />

I couldn't solve it. Neither did "Derive 6".

Regards.
 
Last edited:
yes, that is right, and a and b can be any numbers really, as they define the shape of the sine wave.
 
I haven't done any calculuations yet, but one thought that got into my attention, is perhaps you should take derivative under the integral sign of a or b, and use the theorem, that:
(d/da)S f(x,a)dx=S df(x,a)/da dx.
Not sure if that will ease the calculations, but it sure as hell worth the effort.

Cheers.
 
  • #11
Maxima got this from your basic function without the constants

Code:
integrate(sec(atan(cos(x))), x);

[tex]\int{\sqrt{cos^2(x)+1}}dx[/tex]

which of course has no analytical solution =(

edit: with a constant such as the 'a' here

Code:
integrate(sec(atan(a*cos(x))), x);

[tex]\int{\sqrt{a^2cos^2(x)+1}}dx[/tex]
 
  • #12
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #13
This is a DEFINITE integral which means I'm sure that a computer program can make a numeric approximation, hopefully.
 
  • #14
Pinu7 said:
This is a DEFINITE integral which means I'm sure that a computer program can make a numeric approximation, hopefully.

certainly approximations can be made but the OP would like to have an analytical answer.
 
  • #15
Waaaaaaiiiiiit just a minute here. The integral that GRfrones suggested,

\int_0^{2\pi} \sec\left(\arctan\left(\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{b}\right ) a \cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi x}{b}\right)\right)\right)dx

does not appear to be the integral in the original post (following the standard convention of notations):

"integral between 0 and 2pi of cos^-1(arctan((2*pi/b)*a*cos(2*pi*x/b)))dx"

GRfrones seems to have interpreted "cos^(-1)(stuff)" as "sec(stuff)", but I would take this to be "arccos(stuff)", as that's pretty much exclusively what "cos^(-1)(stuff)" means, and so I would have thought the integral is

\int_0^{2\pi} \cos^{-1}\left(\arctan\left(\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{b}\right ) a \cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi x}{b}\right)\right)\right)dx

Is it really GRfrones' interpretation? If so, then the OP should take care when writing "cos^(-1)" to mean "sec", as I can think of no instance where "cos^(-1)" would be taken to mean the secant.
 
  • #16
Mute said:
Waaaaaaiiiiiit just a minute here. The integral that GRfrones suggested,

\int_0^{2\pi} \sec\left(\arctan\left(\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{b}\right ) a \cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi x}{b}\right)\right)\right)dx

does not appear to be the integral in the original post (following the standard convention of notations):

"integral between 0 and 2pi of cos^-1(arctan((2*pi/b)*a*cos(2*pi*x/b)))dx"

GRfrones seems to have interpreted "cos^(-1)(stuff)" as "sec(stuff)", but I would take this to be "arccos(stuff)", as that's pretty much exclusively what "cos^(-1)(stuff)" means, and so I would have thought the integral is

\int_0^{2\pi} \cos^{-1}\left(\arctan\left(\left(\dfrac{2\pi}{b}\right ) a \cos\left(\dfrac{2\pi x}{b}\right)\right)\right)dx

Is it really GRfrones' interpretation? If so, then the OP should take care when writing "cos^(-1)" to mean "sec", as I can think of no instance where "cos^(-1)" would be taken to mean the secant.

The OP has already identified the correct integral
 
  • #17
djeitnstine said:
The OP has already identified the correct integral

I'm aware of that, I wanted to double-check, and point out that if that is the correct integral then the use of "cos^{-1}" to mean "sec" is not a good idea, as it conflicts with the standard usage of the symbol.
 
  • #18
Changing it from sec to arccos stops the integral from working on wolfram as well. I'm not sure that is a good or bad thing though, considering the integral it returns for the one identified as correct by the OP :)
 

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