How Can One Solve This Complex Trigonometric Integral Analytically?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the analytical solution of a complex trigonometric integral involving a combination of trigonometric functions and constants. Participants explore various approaches to tackle the integral, which appears challenging and potentially lacks a closed form solution.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents the integral and expresses doubt about finding an analytical solution, suggesting the use of exponential notation to simplify trigonometric functions.
  • Another participant notes that Mathematica's inability to solve the integral may indicate the absence of a closed form solution and questions the necessity of an analytical approach.
  • A different participant insists on needing a numerical answer for their research project, citing evidence that suggests a closed form solution might exist.
  • Another reply emphasizes the ease of numerical evaluation using software like MATLAB, reinforcing the idea of practicality over analytical complexity.
  • One participant proposes expanding the integral's components into a Taylor series, suggesting that this could lead to a sum of integrals that are more manageable, although potentially cumbersome.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of obtaining an analytical solution versus the practicality of numerical evaluation. There is no consensus on whether a closed form solution exists, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of the integral and the potential limitations of their approaches, including the reliance on numerical methods and the assumptions made about the constants involved.

Rmehtany
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Hey Guys!

I was working on an integration problem, and I "simplified" the integral to the following:

$$\int \limits_0^{2\pi} (7.625+.275 \cos(4x))^{1.5} \cdot (A \cos(Nx) + B \sin(Nx)) \cdot (Z-v \cos(x)) dx$$

This integral may seem impossible (I have almost lost all hope on doing this analytically.) If anyone can suggest a approach on attacking this monster, please suggest (It doesn't matter how ugly the solution will turn up to be. I will churn it out.)

Note: Assume all values to be constants EXCEPT $x$

ATTEMPTS:

An interesting idea to solve this was to use the exponential notation to replace the trigonometric functions. An example:

$$\cos(Nx) = \frac{1}{2}(e^{Nix} + e^{-Nix})$$

This allows me to express the equation in terms of these exponent terms, which is nice because the magnitude of $e^{ix}$ is 1, making the integral a closed loop integral $$\oint$$ with the integration variable equal to one. I tried to use reverse Green's theorem, but I got stuck

Suggestions?
 
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Mathematica seems unable to do it. That is not a good sign for it having a closed form solution. Is there some reason you don't simply evaluate this numerically?

Here is the result of trying.
 
This is for my research project, and for reasons that are too complicated to explain now, I need a numerical answer. I have some evidence based on partial testing that the integral has a closed form solution. This includes the form that I discussed in the second part of my first post
 
Rmehtany said:
I need a numerical answer.

Numerically evaluating the integral will give you that. It should be very easy to numerically integrate this using MATLAB or whatever.
 
Well if you're really interested in getting an analytical solution, you could try expanding the ##(7.625+.275 \cos(4x))^{1.5}## as a taylor series. At that point you'd have a sum of integrals that are just powers of trig functions, which should be integrable (though ugly). You could then truncate the series to get a number; should be pretty accurate since 0.275<<7.625
 

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