Solving Integration Problem: I Have No Idea What I'm Doing Wrong

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The user is struggling with a numerical integration problem where they expect the integral of a specific function to equal 2 but are consistently obtaining 1. They correctly identified the integral and attempted to solve it using u-substitution, but their algebra appears to be flawed. A suggestion was made to avoid applying the property of integration for even functions, which may have contributed to the error. The user expressed frustration over the integration process and acknowledged the help received. The discussion highlights the challenges faced in correctly evaluating definite integrals and the importance of proper substitution.
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I have no idea what I am doing wrong. I keep getting one when I should be getting two. It is part of a numerical integration problem. I've got the numerical integration part down which is ironic. The part I am having problems with is finding the actual value of the integral. I need this to find the error of the trapezoid and Simpson's estimations.

Homework Statement


The integral is:
\int^{\frac{\pi}{2}}_{-\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{3\cos(t)dt}{\left(2+\sin(t)\right)^{2}} = 2

I know it equals 2 cause of the integrate function on my calculator. I am trying to figure out where I am going wrong with my algebra.

Homework Equations


\int^{a}_{-a} x dx = 2\cdot\int^{a}_{0} x dx

Let u = sin(t) + 2, du = cos(t)dt

The Attempt at a Solution


So we start by saying:
\int^{\frac{\pi}{2}}_{-\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{3\cos(t)dt}{\left(2+\sin(t)\right)^{2}}

We can use the above property of integration to change this to:
2\cdot\int^{\frac{\pi}{2}}_{0} \frac{3\cos(t)dt}{\left(2+\sin(t)\right)^{2}}

We then use u substitution thus we can say:
x=0 \rightarrow u=2

x= \frac{\pi}{2} \rightarrow u=3

so we get:
2\cdot\int^{3}_{2} \frac{3du}{u^{2}}

We can shove the 3 out front and then integrate the resulting \frac{du}{u^{2}}
Thus we get:
6\cdot\frac{-1}{u} Evaluated from 2 to 3.

This goes to:
6\cdot\left(\frac{-1}{3}-\frac{-1}{2}\right)

Which in turn goes to:
6\cdot\frac{1}{6} = 1

I don't know what I am doing wrong. Please help.
 
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efekwulsemmay said:

Homework Equations


\int^{a}_{-a} x dx = 2\cdot\int^{a}_{0} x dx

This is true if the function is even. Try not using this when you solve for the integral. ie. use 1 and 3 as your new bounds for your u integral
 
jav said:
This is true if the function is even. Try not using this when you solve for the integral. ie. use 1 and 3 as your new bounds for your u integral

Oh bloody hell. :mad: G**d*** m*****f****** piece of s*** integral... grrrr.

Thank you for your help jav. I truly appreciate it. Now I must bang my head against a brick wall somemore :smile:
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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