Homework Help: Trig anti-dervative

1. Mar 11, 2009

jwxie

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Int of sin x over - sin ^2 x of dx

3. The attempt at a solution

I don;t know if I have the right question. But I just couldn't reproduce the problem (from my answer)!!
please take a look at my note, see if you can reproduce the original question

i am talking about question #7

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2. Mar 11, 2009

Staff: Mentor

Your attachment is still pending approval.
$$\int \frac{sin x}{-sin^2 x}dx$$

If so, this is the same as
$$\int -csc (x) dx$$
If I recall correctly, this can be done using integration by parts.

3. Mar 11, 2009

jwxie

yeah i think that;s what it is
but if we use -csc x can it be done easily?
i mean cscx does not have any Anti-derv...

4. Mar 11, 2009

Staff: Mentor

But -sin^2(x) isn't equal to cos^2(x), so your first step is incorrect.

5. Mar 11, 2009

jwxie

then shouldn't it be int of sinx times -sin^2 x?

6. Mar 11, 2009

Staff: Mentor

I don't know what you mean. This is what you wrote in your first post in this thread:
By "over" I assume you mean the quotient of sin(x) and -sin^2(x), which is what I showed in the integral.

7. Mar 11, 2009

jwxie

i am sorry, i am referring to your #4
you said my first step was wrong

now, i knew the mistake, and this is what i did

original question:
Int of sin x over - sin ^2 x of dx

first step, change the bottom, -sin^2 (x) to this form --> 1 over csc^2 (x)

so the entire int will become

int of sin (x) times csc^2 (x)

because 1/sinx = cscx, then 1 / -sin^2 (x) = csc^2 (x)
am i correct?

8. Mar 11, 2009

Staff: Mentor

Or, using inline LaTeX tags,
$\int sin(x)/(-sin^2(x)) dx$
You've lost a sign. -sin^2(x) = -1/csc^2(x)
Or $\int sin(x)(-csc^2(x)) dx$
No.
1 / -sin^2 (x) = -csc^2 (x)

9. Mar 11, 2009

Brian_C

You're going around in circles. The integrand simplifies to -1/sin x or -csc x.

It is not at all obvious how to integrate csc x. Try multiplying the integrand by a certain factor which allows you to make a substitution, but which doesn't change the value of the integrand. Hint: the final result involves a logarithm.