Integrating Trig functions (Namely tan^{2}x)

In summary: Good luck!In summary, the conversation was about finding the integral of secant and tangent functions, specifically \int \sec^{4}5x\ dx. The conversation included discussing the use of trigonometric identities and substitution to simplify the integral and make it easier to solve. The experts also suggested not memorizing the identities, but rather deriving them when needed. They also gave tips and examples for integrating trigonometric functions.
  • #1
aFk-Al
19
0
I know that
[tex]\int \tan^{2}x dx= \int \sec^{2}x-1\ dx = \tan x - x + C[/tex]
but i don't completely understand how this is derived. Because of this lack of comprehension, I have no idea what to do with [tex]\int \sec^{4}5x\ dx[/tex]. I went from there to get:
[tex]\int \sec^{4}5x\ dx=[/tex]
[tex]\int [\sec^{2}5x]^{2}\ dx=[/tex]
[tex]\int \tan^{2}5x\ dx = [/tex]
but I have no idea where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
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  • #2
change from [text] to [tex]
 
  • #3
...and change from [\text] to [/tex].

Edit: boy, are we helpful. :biggrin:
 
  • #4
Ha there we go! Thank you. How about help with the problem now?
 
  • #5
aFk-Al said:
I know that

[tex]\int [\sec^{2}5x]^{2}\ dx=[/tex]
[tex]\int \tan^{2}5x\ dx = [/tex]

This is wrong, these two lines are not equivalent. What trigonometric identity do you know that relates secant and tangent?
 
  • #6
Doesn't [tex]\int \sec^{2}x\ dx=\int \tan x dx[/tex]?

Edit: I answered the question as I was asking it. It equals [tex] \tan x[/tex] not [tex] \int \tan x dx[/tex]. So what should I do instead? I would also still like to know how to integrate [tex] \tan^2 x[/tex]
 
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  • #7
aFk-Al said:
Doesn't [tex]\int \sec^{2}x\ dx=\int \tan x dx[/tex]?

No. What is the derivative of tan(x)?
 
  • #8
d_leet said:
No. What is the derivative of tan(x)?
[tex]\sec^2 x[/tex]. roger. so what instead?
 
  • #9
aFk-Al said:
Doesn't [tex]\int \sec^{2}x\ dx=\int \tan x dx[/tex]?

Edit: I answered the question as I was asking it. It equals [tex] \tan x[/tex] not [tex] \int \tan x dx[/tex]. So what should I do instead? I would also still like to know how to integrate [tex] \tan^2 x[/tex]

Ok Starting with

[tex] \int \sec^{4} 5x dx[/tex]

split this up to

[tex] \int (\sec^{2} 5x)(\sec^{2} 5x) dx[/tex]

Then use an identity to simplify the first sec2(5x) and then it should be much simpler.
 
  • #10
Use complex numbers via
[tex]\cos(x)=\frac{1}{2}(e^{ix}+e^{-ix}})[/tex]
[tex]\sin(x)=\frac{1}{2i}(e^{ix}-e^{-ix}})[/tex]
where [tex]i^2=-1[/tex]
... and make use of
[tex]e^{ix}=\cos(x)+i\sin(x)[/tex] (to convert back)

[Integrating the exponential function is much easier.]
 
  • #11
robphy said:
Use complex numbers via
[tex]\cos(x)=\frac{1}{2}(e^{ix}+e^{-ix}})[/tex]
[tex]\sin(x)=\frac{1}{2i}(e^{ix}-e^{-ix}})[/tex]
where [tex]i^2=-1[/tex]
... and make use of
[tex]e^{ix}=\cos(x)+i\sin(x)[/tex] (to convert back)

[Integrating the exponential function is much easier.]

With sines and cosines this is easy, but with secants and tangents i think this would actually complicate things.
 
  • #12
aFk-Al said:
I know that
[tex]\int \tan^{2}x dx= \int \sec^{2}x-1\ dx = \tan x - x + C[/tex]
but i don't completely understand how this is derived. Because of this lack of comprehension,

FYI, the only trick you have used here is the fact that
[tex]\tan^2 x = \sec^2 x -1[/tex]
which is a trig identity derived from
[tex]\cos^2 x + \sin^2 x = 1[/tex]
btw, knowing this is inconsequential to how you may solve
[tex]\int \sec^4 (5x)\;dx[/tex]

as previous posters mentioned, split them up and use the identity once...your aim is to rewrite the expression in terms of things you can readily integrate like
[tex]\sec^2 x, \sec^2 x \tan^2 x [/tex]

hope I haven't given away too much :smile:
 
  • #13
aFk-Al said:
[tex]\int \sec^{4}5x\ dx=[/tex]

[tex] =\frac{1}{5}\int \frac{du}{\cos^{4}u} [/tex]

where [itex] u=5x [/itex].

Now make the substitution

[tex] \tan u =y [/tex]

Daniel.
 
  • #14
aFk-Al said:
I know that
[tex]\int \tan^{2}x dx= \int \sec^{2}x-1\ dx = \tan x - x + C[/tex]
but i don't completely understand how this is derived. Because of this lack of comprehension, I have no idea what to do with [tex]\int \sec^{4}5x\ dx[/tex]. I went from there to get:
[tex]\int \sec^{4}5x\ dx=[/tex]
[tex]\int [\sec^{2}5x]^{2}\ dx=[/tex]
[tex]\int \tan^{2}5x\ dx = [/tex]
but I have no idea where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The easiest way to go about this is

sec^4 (5x) dx
let 5x = y (which you can differentialte and substitue accordingly).

so let's integrate
I= sec^4 x dx.
= (sec^2x . sec^2x) dx
= ((1+tan^2x) .sec^2x)dx
= Sec^2 dx + sec^2x.tan^2x dx
= tan x + c + J

J = sec^2x.tan^2x dx

Now let tan x =t
therefore, sec^2xdx =dt
substituting
J = t^2 dt
J= t^3 / 3 + c

I=tan x + c + (t^3 / 3) + c
tan x +(tan^3x)/3 + constant of indefinate integration.
 
  • #15
that is good
 
  • #16
This is great guys, thank you all. I just need to memorize all those stupid trig identities and I think this will be a lot easier for me. Thanks again everyone!

-Al
 
  • #17
dickcruz said:
The easiest way to go about this is

sec^4 (5x) dx
let 5x = y (which you can differentialte and substitue accordingly).

so let's integrate
I= sec^4 x dx.
= (sec^2x . sec^2x) dx
= ((1+tan^2x) .sec^2x)dx
= Sec^2 dx + sec^2x.tan^2x dx
= tan x + c + J

J = sec^2x.tan^2x dx

Now let tan x =t
therefore, sec^2xdx =dt
substituting
J = t^2 dt
J= t^3 / 3 + c

I=tan x + c + (t^3 / 3) + c
tan x +(tan^3x)/3 + constant of indefinate integration.


Please don't post complete solutions to homework questions.
 
  • #18
aFk-Al said:
This is great guys, thank you all. I just need to memorize all those stupid trig identities and I think this will be a lot easier for me. Thanks again everyone!

-Al

You don't have to memorize the identitites.
I derive them when i need them

the basic ones are

Sin^2 x + cos^2 x= 1
Cos2x = Cos^2 - sin^2x
sin 2 x = 2. cosx. sinx

from the first one we can divide throught by cos and get values for
tan^2x +1=sec^x.
dividing by sin gives
1+cot^2x = csc^2x.

from the second one
you can substitute sin^2x or cos^2x as 1-cos^2x or 1-sin^2x
this is how how you integrate
 
  • #19
thanks for the advice, i'll work on that.
 
  • #20
to add to what dickcruz said, the cos2x formulas (there are 3) are very useful in integration:

take cos2x= 1 - 2sin^2x and solve for sin^2x
(or take cos2x = 2cos^2x - 1 and solve for cos^2x
This gives you the power reducing formulas which you'll use when you have even powers.
i.e. to integrate (cos^2 x)
you would first change it to the integral of (1 + cos2x)/2; a relatively simple integral to take care of.
 
  • #21
Yes I know how to integrate that. I am sorry but I'm not following where to go after you have split up [tex]\sec^4 5x[/tex] to [tex]\sec^2 5x + \sec^2 5x * \tan^2 5x[/tex]. I understand that you can now integrate each part seperately. I'm pretty sure you can use the power reducing formula to break down [tex] \sec^2 5x[/tex] to 1/cos. As for the other half, I know how to integrate tanx * secx but it's different with sec^2*tan^2. Do I break it down to sin^2/cos^4?
 
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  • #22
Dickcruz, please use tex, makes an easier read.

Basically with integrals with secants and tangents, we convert of the the factors into the other trig function using an identity. eg tan^3 x= (sec^2 x-1)(tan x), then we make a substituion.
 

1. How do you integrate tan2(x)?

To integrate tan2(x), you can use the trigonometric identity tan2(x) = sec2(x) - 1. This will transform the integral into one that can be easily solved using the power rule.

2. Can you give an example of integrating tan2(x)?

Sure, let's integrate tan2(x) from 0 to π/2. Using the identity mentioned above, we get:

∫tan2(x) dx = ∫(sec2(x) - 1) dx = tan(x) - x + C

Plugging in the limits of integration, we get:

0π/2tan2(x) dx = tan(π/2) - π/2 - (tan(0) - 0) = 1 - π/2

3. Is there a general formula for integrating tan2(x)?

Yes, there is a general formula for integrating tan2(x) = ∫tan2(x) dx = tan(x) - x + C. This formula can also be written in terms of sine and cosine using the trigonometric identity tan(x) = sin(x)/cos(x).

4. Are there other ways to integrate tan2(x)?

Yes, there are other methods that can be used to integrate tan2(x). One method is to use the substitution u = tan(x) or u = sec(x). Another method is to use the reduction formula for tann(x), where n is a positive integer.

5. Why is it important to know how to integrate tan2(x)?

Integrating tan2(x) is important because it is a commonly occurring function in many mathematical and scientific equations. Being able to integrate it allows for the evaluation of more complex integrals and can be useful in solving real-world problems in fields such as physics, engineering, and mathematics.

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