Integration of trig. functions II

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of trigonometric functions, specifically focusing on the integrals of \( \tan^3(x) \) and \( \sin^4(x) \cos^2(x) \). Participants explore various methods and identities for solving these integrals, including the use of Pythagorean identities, double-angle identities, and power reduction formulas.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest rewriting \( \tan^3(x) \) using the identity \( \tan^2(x) = \sec^2(x) - 1 \) to facilitate integration.
  • Others propose converting trigonometric functions to sines and cosines as a preferred method for integration.
  • One participant discusses using double-angle identities to simplify the integral of \( \sin^4(x) \cos^2(x) \) and expresses a preference for avoiding power reduction formulas.
  • There are mentions of specific identities, such as \( \sin^2(\theta) = \frac{1 - \cos(2\theta)}{2} \), and discussions about their applications in integration.
  • Participants share their progress on the integrals, with some expressing confusion about specific steps, particularly in relation to integrating \( \cos(4x) \) and how it relates to \( \sin(4x) \).
  • One participant clarifies that \( \cos(4x) \) is not equal to \( \frac{\sin(4x)}{4} \) but confirms that integrating \( \cos(4x) \) leads to \( \frac{\sin(4x)}{4} \) through differentiation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method for integrating the functions discussed. There are multiple approaches and some confusion about specific identities and their applications, indicating a lack of agreement on certain steps in the integration process.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the application of identities and the steps involved in the integration process, particularly regarding the transition between different forms of the integrals. There are unresolved questions about specific terms in the integrands and how to handle them during integration.

paulmdrdo1
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How about these?

∫tan^3xdx

∫(sin^4x cos^2x)dx
 
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Re: integration of trig func.

1.) $$\int\tan^3(x)\,dx$$

Rewrite the integrand as $$\tan(x)\tan^2(x)$$, then use the Pythagorean identity $$\tan^2(\theta)=\sec^2(\theta)-1$$.

2.) $$\int\sin^4(x)\cos^2(x)\,dx$$

I would write the integrand as:

$$\sin^2(x)(\sin(x)\cos(x))^2$$

Now, try applying the double-angle identity for sine on the second factor and the power reduction identity for sine on the first. There will be further work after that, but this should get you started...
 
paulmdrdo said:
How about these?

∫tan^3xdx

∫(sin^4x cos^2x)dx

I usually prefer converting to sines and cosines first...

[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\tan^3{(x)}\,dx} &= \int{\frac{\sin^3{(x)}}{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} \\ &= \int{ \frac{\sin{(x)}\sin^2{(x)}}{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} \\ &= \int{ \frac{\sin{(x)} \left[ 1 - \cos^2{(x)} \right] }{\cos^3{(x)}} \, dx} \\ &= \int{ \frac{-\sin{(x)}\left[ \cos^2{(x)} - 1 \right] }{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} \end{align*}[/math]

Now let [math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = \cos{(x)} \implies du = -\sin{(x)}\,dx \end{align*}[/math] and the integral becomes

[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\frac{ -\sin{(x)}\left[ \cos^2{(x)} - 1 \right] }{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} &= \int{ \frac{u^2 - 1}{u^3}\,du} \\ &= \int{ \frac{1}{u} - u^{-3}\,du} \\ &= \ln{ |u|} + \frac{1}{2}u^{-2} + C \\ &= \ln{ \left| \cos{(x)} \right| } + \frac{1}{2\cos^2{(x)}} + C \end{align*}[/math]As for the second, following Mark's initial suggestion, I would try to use more double angle identities to avoid the power reduction formulae (which I can never remember)...

[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\sin^4{(x)}\cos^2{(x)}\,dx} &= \int{\sin^2{(x)}\sin^2{(x)}\cos^2{(x)}\,dx} \\ &= \int{ \sin^2{(x)} \left[ \sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} \right] ^2 \, dx} \\ &= \int{\sin^2{(x)} \left[ \frac{1}{2}\sin{(2x)} \right] ^2 \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{4} \int{ \sin^2{(x)} \sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{4} \int{ \frac{1}{2}\left[ 1 - \cos{(2x)} \right] \sin^2{(2x)}\, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{8} \int{ \sin^2{(2x)} - \cos{(2x)}\sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{8} \int{ \frac{1}{2} \left[ 1 - \cos{(4x)} \right] - \cos{(2x)} \sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{16} \int{ 1\, dx} - \frac{1}{16} \int{ \cos{(4x)}\,dx} - \frac{1}{16} \int{ 2\cos{(2x)} \sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{16}x - \frac{1}{16} \left[ \frac{\sin{(4x)}}{4} \right] - \frac{1}{16} \left[ \frac{\sin^3{(2x)}}{3} \right] + C \\ &= \frac{x}{16} - \frac{\sin{(4x)}}{64} - \frac{\sin^3{(2x)}}{48} + C \end{align*}[/math]
 
Prove It said:
...I would try to use more double angle identities to avoid the power reduction formulae (which I can never remember)...

We are actually doing the same thing. The power reduction identity I had in mind is:

$$\sin^2(\theta)=\frac{1-\cos(2\theta)}{2}$$
 
MarkFL said:
We are actually doing the same thing. The power reduction identity I had in mind is:

$$\sin^2(\theta)=\frac{1-\cos(2\theta)}{2}$$

I thought you were referring to the power reduction formula to integrate [math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sin^{n}{(x)} \end{align*}[/math], not the double angle identity for cosine...
 
Prove It said:
I thought you were referring to the power reduction formula to integrate [math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \sin^{n}{(x)} \end{align*}[/math], not the double angle identity for cosine...

This is my "cheat sheet" and why I use the term "power reduction:"

List of trigonometric identities - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You are correct though, that it is simply a rearrangement of one of the forms of the double-angle identity for cosine.
 
Prove It said:
I usually prefer converting to sines and cosines first...

[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\tan^3{(x)}\,dx} &= \int{\frac{\sin^3{(x)}}{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} \\ &= \int{ \frac{\sin{(x)}\sin^2{(x)}}{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} \\ &= \int{ \frac{\sin{(x)} \left[ 1 - \cos^2{(x)} \right] }{\cos^3{(x)}} \, dx} \\ &= \int{ \frac{-\sin{(x)}\left[ \cos^2{(x)} - 1 \right] }{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} \end{align*}[/math]

Now let [math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = \cos{(x)} \implies du = -\sin{(x)}\,dx \end{align*}[/math] and the integral becomes

[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\frac{ -\sin{(x)}\left[ \cos^2{(x)} - 1 \right] }{\cos^3{(x)}}\,dx} &= \int{ \frac{u^2 - 1}{u^3}\,du} \\ &= \int{ \frac{1}{u} - u^{-3}\,du} \\ &= \ln{ |u|} + \frac{1}{2}u^{-2} + C \\ &= \ln{ \left| \cos{(x)} \right| } + \frac{1}{2\cos^2{(x)}} + C \end{align*}[/math]As for the second, following Mark's initial suggestion, I would try to use more double angle identities to avoid the power reduction formulae (which I can never remember)...

[math]\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\sin^4{(x)}\cos^2{(x)}\,dx} &= \int{\sin^2{(x)}\sin^2{(x)}\cos^2{(x)}\,dx} \\ &= \int{ \sin^2{(x)} \left[ \sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} \right] ^2 \, dx} \\ &= \int{\sin^2{(x)} \left[ \frac{1}{2}\sin{(2x)} \right] ^2 \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{4} \int{ \sin^2{(x)} \sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{4} \int{ \frac{1}{2}\left[ 1 - \cos{(2x)} \right] \sin^2{(2x)}\, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{8} \int{ \sin^2{(2x)} - \cos{(2x)}\sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{8} \int{ \frac{1}{2} \left[ 1 - \cos{(4x)} \right] - \cos{(2x)} \sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{16} \int{ 1\, dx} - \frac{1}{16} \int{ \cos{(4x)}\,dx} - \frac{1}{16} \int{ 2\cos{(2x)} \sin^2{(2x)} \, dx} \\ &= \frac{1}{16}x - \frac{1}{16} \left[ \frac{\sin{(4x)}}{4} \right] - \frac{1}{16} \left[ \frac{\sin^3{(2x)}}{3} \right] + C \\ &= \frac{x}{16} - \frac{\sin{(4x)}}{64} - \frac{\sin^3{(2x)}}{48} + C \end{align*}[/math]
where did you get the sin4x/4 part?
 
i understood the first 8 lines of your solution but after that I'm stucked! this is what i do..

∫ sin²x (sin²x cos²x) dx

= ∫ sin²x (sinx cosx)² dx

half-angle identity:

sin²x = (1/2)[1 - cos(2x)]

the double-angle identity:

sin(2x) = 2sinx cosx → sinx cosx = (1/2) sin(2x)

the integral becomes:

∫ (1/2)[1 - cos(2x)] [(1/2) sin(2x)]² dx =

∫ (1/2)[1 - cos(2x)] (1/4) sin²(2x) dx =

pulling out the constants and expanding the integrand,

(1/8) ∫ [sin²(2x) - cos(2x) sin²(2x)] dx =

break it into:

(1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) dx - (1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx =

(1/8) ∫ (1/2){1 - cos[2(2x)]} dx - (1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx =

(1/16) ∫ dx - (1/16) ∫ cos(4x) dx - (1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx = ---> this is where I'm stuck how can the cos4x be sin4x/4? please help me!
 
Let's look at:

$$\int\cos(4x)\,dx$$

Now, if we let:

$$u=4x\,\therefore\,du=4\,dx$$

then we have:

$$\frac{1}{4}\int\cos(u)\,du$$

Now, integrate, then back-substitute for $u$, and you have the result.
 
  • #10
paulmdrdo said:
i understood the first 8 lines of your solution but after that I'm stucked! this is what i do..

∫ sin²x (sin²x cos²x) dx

= ∫ sin²x (sinx cosx)² dx

half-angle identity:

sin²x = (1/2)[1 - cos(2x)]

the double-angle identity:

sin(2x) = 2sinx cosx → sinx cosx = (1/2) sin(2x)

the integral becomes:

∫ (1/2)[1 - cos(2x)] [(1/2) sin(2x)]² dx =

∫ (1/2)[1 - cos(2x)] (1/4) sin²(2x) dx =

pulling out the constants and expanding the integrand,

(1/8) ∫ [sin²(2x) - cos(2x) sin²(2x)] dx =

break it into:

(1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) dx - (1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx =

(1/8) ∫ (1/2){1 - cos[2(2x)]} dx - (1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx =

(1/16) ∫ dx - (1/16) ∫ cos(4x) dx - (1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx = ---> this is where I'm stuck how can the cos4x be sin4x/4? please help me!
Hello Paul,
indeed that $$\cos(4x)\neq \frac{\sin(4x)}{4}$$ BUT what prove it did Was that he integrate it! Let's check if it is correct! So if we derivate $$\frac{\sin(4x)}{4}$$ we shall get $$\cos(4x)$$ so if we use chain rule to derivate that we get $$\frac{4\cos(4x)}{4}$$ and if we simplifie that we get $$\cos(4x)$$ which we wanted to get:)
Edit:Mark Was faster:(
Regards,
$$|\pi\rangle$$
 
  • #11
MarkFL said:
Let's look at:

$$\int\cos(4x)\,dx$$

Now, if we let:

$$u=4x\,\therefore\,du=4\,dx$$

then we have:

$$\frac{1}{4}\int\cos(u)\,du$$

Now, integrate, then back-substitute for $u$, and you have the result.

no i understand that part.. my follow up question is how would i deal with the third term in the integrand ((1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx )?

should i use the power reduction formula for sin²(2x) again?
 
  • #12
paulmdrdo said:
no i understand that part.. my follow up question is how would i deal with the third term in the integrand ((1/8) ∫ sin²(2x) cos(2x) dx )?

should i use the power reduction formula for sin²(2x) again?

You asked (twice):

paulmdrdo said:
where did you get the sin4x/4 part?

paulmdrdo said:
...how can the cos4x be sin4x/4? please help me!

So this is what I was addressing. To evaluate:

$$\int\sin^2(2x)\cos(2x)\,dx$$

I would use the substitution:

$$u=\sin(2x)\,\therefore\,du=2\cos(2x)\,dx$$

and so we have:

$$\frac{1}{2}\int u^2\,du$$

Now, integrate, then back-substitute for $u$. :D
 
  • #13
MarkFL said:
You asked (twice):So this is what I was addressing. To evaluate:

$$\int\sin^2(2x)\cos(2x)\,dx$$

I would use the substitution:

$$u=\sin(2x)\,\therefore\,du=2\cos(2x)\,dx$$

and so we have:

$$\frac{1}{2}\int u^2\,du$$

Now, integrate, then back-substitute for $u$. :D

hmmm..correct me if my thougth processes is wrong.

(1/8) ∫ [sin²(2x) - cos(2x) sin²(2x)] dx = in this part of the solution can i use that substitution of u=sin2x? in that way i don't have to use the power reduction formula anymore. please bear with me.
 
  • #14
paulmdrdo said:
hmmm..correct me if my thougth processes is wrong.

(1/8) ∫ [sin²(2x) - cos(2x) sin²(2x)] dx = in this part of the solution can i use that substitution of u=sin2x? in that way i don't have to use the power reduction formula anymore. please bear with me.
Hello Paul,
Just a fast respond as I have to think more when I am home but that Dont work, Cause you Will have $$du$$ on one side... You need on both side:)
Regards,
$$|\pi\rangle$$
 
  • #15
paulmdrdo said:
hmmm..correct me if my thougth processes is wrong.

(1/8) ∫ [sin²(2x) - cos(2x) sin²(2x)] dx = in this part of the solution can i use that substitution of u=sin2x? in that way i don't have to use the power reduction formula anymore. please bear with me.
Hello Paul,
I think now this should work
subsitute $$u=2x <=> du=2$$ and integrate them separate so you got
$$\frac{1}{16}\int\sin^2(u) du-\frac{1}{16}\int\cos(u)\sin^2(u)du$$
does this make it simpler?

Regards
$$|\pi\rangle$$
 

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