MHB Reduction formula instead of using identities for trigonometric integration?

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on integrating trigonometric functions, specifically comparing traditional identity-based methods with reduction formulas. An example problem, integrating cos^5(x), is solved using both approaches, yielding different forms. The reduction formula method initially appears to produce a different result, but it is suggested that applying the Pythagorean identity can reconcile the two forms. By expanding and collecting like terms, the two results can be shown to be equivalent. This highlights the flexibility of integration techniques in trigonometric functions.
aleksbooker1
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
This is one of the example problems in my book to show how to deal with integrating trigonometric functions to higher powers, by breaking them down into identities.

$$=\int cos^5x dx$$
$$=\int (cos^2x)^2cos^x dx $$
$$=\int (1-sin^2x)^2*d(sin x)$$
$$=\int (1-u^2)^2 du$$
$$=\int 1-2u^2 + u^4 du$$
$$=u-\frac{2}{3}u^3 + \frac{1}{5}u^5$$
$$=sinx-\frac{2sin^3x}{3}+\frac{sin^5x}{5}+C$$

I tried to do the same problem, but with the reduction formula instead. I'm not sure if I did it right, since the result doesn't really look the same.

$$=\frac{\cos^2{x}\sin{x}}{5} + \frac{4}{5}\int \cos^3{x} dx$$
$$=\frac{1}{5}\cos^4{x}\sin{x} + \frac{4}{5}(\frac{1}{3}\cos^2{x}\sin{x} + \frac{2}{3}\int \cos{x})$$
$$=\frac{1}{5}\cos^4{x}\sin{x}+\frac{4}{15}\cos^2{x}\sin{x}+\frac{8}{15}\sin{x}$$
$$=\frac{3\cos^4{x}\sin{x}+4\cos^2{x}\sin{x}+8\sin{x}}{15}$$
$$=\frac{1}{15}\sin{x}(3\cos^4{x}+4\cos^2{x}+8)+C$$
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Use the Pythagorean identity $\cos^2(x)=1-\sin^2(x)$ on your second form, then expand and collect like terms and you will find it is the same as your first form. :D
 
Thread 'Problem with calculating projections of curl using rotation of contour'
Hello! I tried to calculate projections of curl using rotation of coordinate system but I encountered with following problem. Given: ##rot_xA=\frac{\partial A_z}{\partial y}-\frac{\partial A_y}{\partial z}=0## ##rot_yA=\frac{\partial A_x}{\partial z}-\frac{\partial A_z}{\partial x}=1## ##rot_zA=\frac{\partial A_y}{\partial x}-\frac{\partial A_x}{\partial y}=0## I rotated ##yz##-plane of this coordinate system by an angle ##45## degrees about ##x##-axis and used rotation matrix to...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K