MHB Evaluate Definite Integral Challenge

[anemone]

Evaluate $$\int_0^{\pi} \frac{\cos 4x-\cos 4 \alpha}{\cos x-\cos \alpha} dx$$

 

[Ackbach]

I'm sure everyone here would consider it cheating, but my handy-dandy HP 50g yields

Spoiler

$$ \int_{0}^{ \pi} \frac{ \cos(4x)- \cos(4 \alpha)}{ \cos(x)- \cos( \alpha)} \, dx=8 \pi \cos^{3}( \alpha)-4 \pi \cos( \alpha)=4 \pi \cos( \alpha)[2 \cos^{2}( \alpha)-1]=4 \pi \cos( \alpha) \cos(2 \alpha).$$

 

[MarkFL]

My solution:

Spoiler

If we apply a double-angle identity for cosine on the numerator of the integrand, we find:

$$\cos(4x)-\cos(4\alpha)=\left(2\cos^2(2x)-1 \right)-\left(2\cos^2(\alpha)-1 \right)=$$

$$2\left(\cos(2x)+\cos(2\alpha) \right)\left(\cos(2x)-\cos(2\alpha) \right)$$

Applying a double-angle identity for cosine again, we have:

$$4\left(\cos(2x)+\cos(2\alpha) \right)\left(\cos(x)+\cos(\alpha) \right)\left(\cos(x)-\cos(\alpha) \right)$$

Hence, the definite integral may now be written:

$$I=4\int_0^{\pi}\left(\cos(2x)+\cos(2\alpha) \right)\left(\cos(x)+\cos(\alpha) \right)\,dx$$

Using the property $$\int_0^a f(x)\,dx=\int_0^a f(a-x)\,dx$$ we also have:

$$I=4\int_0^{\pi}\left(\cos(2x)+\cos(2\alpha) \right)\left(-\cos(x)+\cos(\alpha) \right)\,dx$$

Adding the two expressions for $I$, we obtain:

$$2I=8\cos(\alpha)\int_0^{\pi}\cos(2x)+\cos(2\alpha)\,dx$$

Hence:

$$I=4\pi\cos(\alpha)\cos(2\alpha)$$

Adrian, glad to see we obtained the same result! :D

 

[anemone]

Thanks for participating, Ackbach and MarkFL and I think both of you deserve a pat on the back for this prompt reply...though Ackbach did depend on a little gizmo to obtain the answer, hehehe...