Solving a Complex Integral: Substituting tg (x/2)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving a complex integral involving the substitution of \( \tan(x/2) \). Participants explore various methods for simplifying and evaluating the integral, including the use of partial fractions and alternative substitutions.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an integral that becomes lengthy after substituting \( \tan(x/2) \) and expresses concern about its complexity.
  • Another participant suggests that the integral can be expressed as \( \int \frac{4}{(1-z^2)(3-z^2)} \,dz \) and proposes using partial fractions for simplification.
  • A later reply elaborates on the previous suggestion, providing a step-by-step breakdown of the integral and confirming the use of partial fractions.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the manageability of the integral, with one mentioning that it appears lengthy according to Wolfram Alpha.
  • Another participant indicates that while they are not a computer algebra system, the integral seems manageable and suggests working from the provided expression to apply partial fractions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to solve the integral, with multiple competing views on the complexity and methods of simplification remaining evident throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific techniques such as the Wierstrauss Substitution and express hesitance in factoring certain terms due to known antiderivatives, indicating that the discussion is contingent on various mathematical strategies and assumptions.

leprofece
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integral View attachment 2995

This is my work but I got a very looong integral to solve
after substitute tg (x/2) based in my former exercise

View attachment 2996
it remains 4/ (1-z^2)(3-z^2)
 

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leprofece said:
integral View attachment 2995

This is my work but I got a very looong integral to solve
after substitute tg (x/2) based in my former exercise

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/2996
it remains 4/ (1-z^2)(3-z^2)

Each of those can be factorised further and you can apply partial fractions.

However I think it might be possible to avoid the Wierstrauss Substitution...

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{ \frac{1 + \cos{(x)}}{\cos{(x)} \left[ 1 + 2\cos{(x)} \right] } \, \mathrm{d}x} &= \int{ \frac{ \left[ 1 + \cos{(x)} \right] \left[ 1 - \cos{(x)} \right] }{ \cos{(x)} \left[ 1 + 2\cos{(x)} \right] \left[ 1 - \cos{(x)} \right] } \,\mathrm{d}x} \\ &= \int{ \frac{1 - \cos^2{(x)}}{\cos{(x)} \left[ 1 + 2\cos{(x)} \right] \left[ 1 - \cos{(x)} \right] } \, \mathrm{d}x } \\ &= \int{ \frac{\sin^2{(x)} }{ \cos{(x)} \left[ 1 + 2\cos{(x)} \right] \left[ 1 - \cos{(x)} \right] } \,\mathrm{d}x} \\ &= -\int{ \frac{\sqrt{ 1 - \cos^2{(x)} } \left[ - \sin{(x)} \right] }{ \cos{(x)} \left[ 1 + 2\cos{(x)} \right] \left[ 1 - \cos{(x)} \right] } \, \mathrm{d}x } \end{align*}$

Now you could try the substitution $\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = \cos{(x)} \implies \mathrm{d}u = -\sin{(x)} \,\mathrm{d}x \end{align*}$...
 
Since you're at the home stretch, elaborating on what Prove It said:

$$=\int \frac{4}{(1-z^2)(3-z^2)} \,dz$$
$$=\int \frac{4}{(z^2-1)(z^2-3)}\,dz$$
$$=\int \frac{4}{(z+1)(z-1)(z^2-3)}\,dz$$

Now apply partial fractions. :D
 
Rido12 said:
Since you're at the home stretch, elaborating on what Prove It said:

$$=\int \frac{4}{(1-z^2)(3-z^2)} \,dz$$
$$=\int \frac{4}{(z^2-1)(z^2-3)}\,dz$$
$$=\int \frac{4}{(z+1)(z-1)(z^2-3)}\,dz$$

Now apply partial fractions. :D

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} &= \int{ \frac{4}{ \left( z + 1 \right) \left( z - 1 \right) \left( z + \sqrt{3} \right) \left( z - \sqrt{3} \right) } \, \mathrm{d}z} \end{align*}$
 
Ok let's see
this integral is too long according to wolphramalpha
maybe as prove it did it, it is easier
thanks anyway
 
I'm not Wolfram Alpha, nor a CAS, but the integral does seem manageable.

$$=\int \frac{4}{(z^2-1)(z^2-3)}\,dz$$

I was hesitant to factor the $z^2-3$ because it has a known antiderivative, and if you know what that is, it would be easier to split the integral as

$$=\int \frac{4}{(z^2-1)(z^2-3)}\,dz$$

Otherwise, if you want to further pursue this problem, work from and here and try partial fractions.

\begin{align*} &= \int{ \frac{4}{ \left( z + 1 \right) \left( z - 1 \right) \left( z + \sqrt{3} \right) \left( z - \sqrt{3} \right) } \, \mathrm{d}z} \end{align*}
 

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