How to Simplify an Integral Involving tan x

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses methods for simplifying the integral \( \int_{0}^{\pi/2} \frac{dx}{1+(tan(x))^{\sqrt2}} \). Participants explore various techniques and transformations related to this integral, including substitutions and symmetry properties.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks guidance on how to start simplifying the integral, noting that a book claims the exponent \(\sqrt{2}\) does not matter.
  • Another participant suggests replacing \(\sqrt{2}\) with any power and applying the substitution \(x \mapsto \frac{\pi}{2} - x\).
  • A third participant presents a transformation of the integral into a form involving cosine and sine, indicating that adding two derived equations will yield further insights.
  • A fourth participant proposes a substitution \(x = \tan^{-1}{t}\) to transform the integral into a different form, and then splits the integral into two parts over different ranges, suggesting a further substitution for one of the parts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present various methods and transformations without reaching a consensus on a single approach. Multiple competing views and techniques remain in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some methods rely on specific properties of trigonometric functions and integrals, while others depend on the choice of substitution. The implications of the exponent \(\sqrt{2}\) are also not fully resolved.

Math1
$

\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\pi/2} \frac{dx}{1+(tan(x))^{\sqrt2}}$

Could anyone tell me how to start,

In a book ,it was given that $\sqrt2$ does not even matter
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Replace $\sqrt2$ for any power and put $x\mapsto\dfrac\pi2-x.$
 
\( \displaystyle \begin{align*}
I &=\int_{0}^{\pi/2}\frac{1}{1+\tan^{\sqrt{2}}(x)}dx \\ \Rightarrow I &=\int_{0}^{\pi/2}\frac{\cos^{\sqrt{2}}(x)}{\sin^{\sqrt{2}}(x)+ \cos^{\sqrt{2}}(x)}dx \qquad (1)

\end{align*} \)

Applying Property,\( \displaystyle \begin{align*}
I &= \int_{0}^{\pi/2}\frac{\cos^{\sqrt{2}}\left( \frac{\pi}{2}-x \right)}{\sin^{\sqrt{2}}\left( \frac{\pi}{2}-x \right)+ \cos^{\sqrt{2}}\left( \frac{\pi}{2}-x \right)}dx\\ \Rightarrow I &= \int_{0}^{\pi/2}\frac{\sin^{\sqrt{2}}(x)}{\sin^{\sqrt{2}}(x)+ \cos^{\sqrt{2}}(x)}dx \qquad (2)

\end{align*} \)

Add equations (1) and (2) and see what happens! (Giggle)
 
Last edited:
Let $x = \tan^{-1}{t}$, then:

$\begin{aligned} I & = \int_{0}^{\pi/2}\frac{1}{1+\tan^{\alpha}{x}}\;{dx} \\& = \int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{(1+t^2)(1+t^{\alpha})}\;{dt} \end{aligned}$

Range it from $[0, 1]$ and $[1, \infty]$,

$\displaystyle I = \int_{0}^{1}\frac{1}{(1+t^2)(1+t^{\alpha})}\;{dt}+\int_{1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{(1+t^2)(1+t^{\alpha})}\;{dt}$

Put $t \mapsto \frac{1}{t}$ for the second one,

$\displaystyle \begin{aligned}I & = \int_{0}^{1}\frac{1}{(1+t^2)(1+t^{\alpha})}\;{dt}+\int_{0}^{1}\frac{t^{\alpha}}{(1+t^2(1+t^{\alpha})}\;{dt} \\& = \int_{0}^{1}\frac{1+t^{\alpha}}{(1+t^2)(1+t^{ \alpha})}\;{dt} = \int_{0}^{1}\frac{1}{1+t^2}\;{dt} = \frac{\pi}{4}.\end{aligned}$
 
Last edited:

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