Integral involving powers of trig functions

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The discussion revolves around the integral of the function (sinx + sin^3x) / cos2x. Participants confirm the correctness of the initial approach but identify mistakes in the integration process, specifically regarding the treatment of the numerator during partial fraction decomposition. It is emphasized that to verify an antiderivative, one should differentiate it to check if it returns to the original integrand. Additionally, no simpler method for solving the integral is suggested. The conversation highlights the importance of careful algebraic manipulation in integration.
Memo
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Homework Statement
∫(sinx+sin^3x)dx/(cos2x)
Relevant Equations
cos2x=2cos^2x-1
368064999_867353445000190_1304311522445404453_n.jpg

Could you check if my answer is correct? Thank you very much!
Is therea simpler way to solve the math?
 
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Memo said:
Homework Statement: ∫(sinx+sin^3x)dx/(cos2x)
Relevant Equations: cos2x=2cos^2x-1

View attachment 334635
Could you check if my answer is correct?
You can do that yourself by differentiating your answer and checking you get the original integrand.
Memo said:
Thank you very much!
Is therea simpler way to solve the math?
Your method looks good to me. Maybe there's a trick, but not always.
 
PeroK said:
You can do that yourself by differentiating your answer and checking you get the original integrand.
Could you tell me how?
 
PeroK said:
You can do that yourself by differentiating your answer and checking you get the original integrand.

Memo said:
Could you tell me how?
If you integrate a function f(x) and get an antiderivative F(x) + C, you can check your answer by differentiating F(x). If your antiderivative is correct, the result will be f(x).

In symbols...
If ##\int f(x) dx = F(x) + C##, then ##\frac d{dx}\left(F(x) + C\right) = f(x)##
 
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Mark44 said:
If you integrate a function f(x) and get an antiderivative F(x) + C, you can check your answer by differentiating F(x). If your antiderivative is correct, the result will be f(x).

In symbols...
If ##\int f(x) dx = F(x) + C##, then ##\frac d{dx}\left(F(x) + C\right) = f(x)##
It appears that I was wrong
 
## \text { The method is good, but there are two mistakes. } ##
## \text { The first one is: } u ^ 2 \text { is missed } ##
## \text { in the part where } \int \frac { u ^ 2 – 2 } { ( \sqrt 2 u – 1 ) ( \sqrt 2 u + 1 ) } \, du \text { becomes } \int \frac { 1 } { \sqrt 2 u + 1} \, du - \int \frac { 1 } { \sqrt 2 u – 1 } \, du \text { . } ##
## \text { The second one is: } \sqrt 2 \text { is missed } ##
## \text { in the part where } \int \frac { 1 } { \sqrt 2 u + 1 } \, du - \int \frac { 1 } { \sqrt 2 u – 1 } \ , du \text { becomes } \ln | \sqrt 2 u + 1 | - \ln | \sqrt 2 u - 1 | \text { . } ##

## \text { ... and there is not a simpler way. } ##
 
Mark44 said:
If you integrate a function f(x) and get an antiderivative F(x) + C, you can check your answer by differentiating F(x). If your antiderivative is correct, the result will be f(x).

In symbols...
If ##\int f(x) dx = F(x) + C##, then ##\frac d{dx}\left(F(x) + C\right) = f(x)##
Look up the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
 
Memo said:
Homework Statement: ∫(sinx+sin^3x)dx/(cos2x)
Relevant Equations: cos2x=2cos^2x-1

View attachment 334635
Could you check if my answer is correct? Thank you very much!
Is therea simpler way to solve the math?

You have correctly obtained <br /> \int \frac{\sin x + \sin^3 x}{\cos 2x}\,dx = \int \frac{u^2 - 2}{2u^2 - 1}\,du. But you then obtain the partial fraction decomposition of \frac{1}{2u^2 - 1}, which is not your integrand; the numerator is u^2 - 2 not 1. So you need a further step first: \begin{split}<br /> \int \frac{u^2 - 2}{2u^2 - 1}\,du &amp;= \frac12 \int \frac{2u^2 - 4}{2u^2 - 1}\,du \\<br /> &amp;= \frac 12 \int 1 - \frac{3}{2u^2 - 1}\,du \\<br /> &amp;= \frac u2 - \frac{3}{4} \int \frac{1}{u^2 - \frac12}\,du\end{split} and now you can use your partial fraction decomposition.