Solving Difficult Integral: $\int \frac{dx}{1+\sin(x) -\cos^2(x)}$

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integral $$\int \frac{dx}{1+\sin(x) -\cos^2(x)}$$. Participants explore various substitution methods and simplifications to solve the integral, engaging in a step-by-step analysis of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using a substitution that transforms the integral into a different form, specifically $$\int \frac{1}{1+\frac{2z}{1+z^2}-\left(\frac{1-z^2}{1+z^2}\right)^{\!2}} \cdot \frac{2dz}{1+z^2}$$.
  • Another participant proposes breaking the integral into simpler parts, suggesting that $$\frac{1}{\sin^{2} x + \sin x} = \frac{1}{\sin x} - \frac{1}{1 + \sin x}$$ as a first step.
  • There is a challenge regarding the clarity of one participant's work, with a request for clarification on how they arrived at a specific step involving partial fractions.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the correctness of their work, indicating that their calculations may be messy and difficult to follow.
  • Another participant claims to have reached an answer involving logarithmic terms, but it is unclear how they derived this result.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct approach or solution to the integral. There are multiple competing methods and some uncertainty regarding the steps taken by various contributors.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' steps are noted as messy or unclear, leading to challenges in following their reasoning. There are unresolved mathematical steps and dependencies on specific substitutions that have not been fully clarified.

leprofece
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View attachment 2974
Viewing the image
the integral is
$$\int \frac{dx}{1+\sin(x) -\cos^2(x)}$$

I am going to prove mathtype this time
View attachment 2975
Well I am getting better
I put or use the theorem of the image and I put
$$\frac{dx}{\sin^2(x)+\sin(x)} $$
I substitute and I got a difficult unsolvable integral
 

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Last edited by a moderator:
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leprofece said:
View attachment 2974
Viewing the image
the integral is
$$\int \frac{dx}{1+\sin(x) -\cos^2(x)}$$

Hi leprofece!

As the first step, let's do only the substitution.
$$
\int \frac{dx}{1+\sin x - \cos^2 x}
= \int \frac{1}{1+\frac{2z}{1+z^2}-\left(\frac{1-z^2}{1+z^2}\right)^{\!2}} \cdot \frac{2dz}{1+z^2}
$$

Can you simplify it?
 
leprofece said:
View attachment 2974
Viewing the image
the integral is
$$\int \frac{dx}{1+\sin(x) -\cos^2(x)}$$

I am going to prove mathtype this time
View attachment 2975
Well I am getting better
I put or use the theorem of the image and I put
$$\frac{dx}{\sin^2(x)+\sin(x)} $$
I substitute and I got a difficult unsolvable integral

Why don't proceed step by step?... first step: the integral can be broken into two more simple integrals because is...

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sin^{2} x + \sin x} = \frac{1}{\sin x} - \frac{1}{1 + \sin x}\ (1)$

Second step : now You can apply the suggested substitution to both terms of (1)...

Are You able to proceed?... Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
Last edited:

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Your work is a bit messy, so I can't tell where you went wrong.

Starting from where ILS left off:

$$=\int \frac{1}{1+\frac{2z}{1+z^2}-\left(\frac{1-z^2}{1+z^2}\right)^{\!2}} \cdot \frac{2dz}{1+z^2}$$

Simplifying it:

$$=\int \frac{2}{\left(\frac{1+z^2+2z}{1+z^2}-\frac{(1-z^2)^2}{(1+z^2)^2}\right)(1+z^2)}dz$$
$$=\int \frac{2}{\frac{(1+z^2+2z)(1+z^2)-(1-z^2)^2}{1+z^2}}dz$$

Do you see your mistake?
 

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You are right up to:

$$\int \frac{1+z^2}{z(1+z)^2}dz$$

Can you explain how you got to the next step? Did you use partial fractions?
 

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