Integrating Powers of sin

1. Oct 29, 2007

Okay so I am suposed to evaluate 2 of these:

1.) $$\int\sin^3(a\theta)d\theta$$ the solution manual looks

like it used a trig ID to do this. Why??

Doesn't $$\int\sin^3u du=\frac{1}{3}\cos^3u-(\cos u)+C$$ ?

So just use the u-sub $$u=a\theta \Rightarrow du/a=d\theta$$

So it should just be $$\frac{1}{3a}\cos^3a\theta-\frac{1}{a}\cosa\theta+C$$ ?

But they got: $$-\frac{1}{a}\cos a\theta-\frac{1}{3a}\cos^3a\theta+C$$

Why the negative -1/3a ? What did I miss? Is it my formula?

2.) For $$\int\sin^4(3x)\cos^3xdx$$ they went from <---that to

$$=\int\sin^4(3x)(1-sin^23x)\cos3xdx$$

How the hell does that make this problem ANY easier?! Is there a formula for ^^^that!

Casey

Last edited: Oct 29, 2007
2. Oct 29, 2007

3. Oct 29, 2007

hotcommodity

You're using sin(u) like a variable, and integrating, which will certainly get you nowhere. One thing is that $$\int sin(u)^{3}$$ does not equal $$\frac{1}{3}\cos^3u$$. You're going to have to use u-substitution, as you already have, and almost certainly some integration by parts.

Last edited: Oct 29, 2007
4. Oct 29, 2007

Dick

I would suggest you use the trig identity sin(x)^2=1-cos(x)^2, followed by u=cos(x).

5. Oct 29, 2007

rock.freak667

$$=\int\sin^4(3x)(1-sin^23x)\cos3xdx$$

If you let u=sin3x does that make it any easier?

6. Oct 29, 2007

I'll try that now. But why is my formula not producing the correct result if I am using u=a*theta ? Shouldn't it be 1/a *{Pug it in} ?

7. Oct 29, 2007

NeoDevin

$$\int \sin^3(a\theta)d\theta = \int \sin(a\theta)d\theta - \int \sin(a\theta)\cos^2(a\theta)d\theta$$

The first term should be easy for you to integrate, for the second term, try a substitution of

$$u = \cos(a\theta) \Rightarrow \frac{du}{d\theta} = -a\sin(a\theta) \Rightarrow \sin(a\theta)d\theta = -\frac{1}{a}du$$

After which the equation simplifies a little.

Use a similar idea for the second one.

8. Oct 29, 2007

So I got it using this. But I am still trying to figure out where I went wrong with the formula.

Casey

9. Oct 29, 2007

nrqed

Seems to me like there is simply a typo in the book (the coefficient of the cos^3 should indeed be positive)

10. Oct 29, 2007

Not if you use the trig substitution; it is negative. It is definitely a mistake on my part.

Casey

11. Oct 29, 2007

Dick

No, it's positive. (1-cos^(x)^2)*sin(x)*dx. u=cos(x), du=-sin(x)*dx. The u^3/3 term comes out with a plus sign.

12. Oct 29, 2007

rocomath

did you mean $$\cos^{3}3xdx$$?

13. Oct 29, 2007

I don't know what I meant?! I figured it out though.

Thanks!
Casey

14. Oct 29, 2007

rocomath

i was trying to solve it for myself but then it saw that ... lol, is all good though.