Trigonometric functions and integrals

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the integral that results in the arccosine function, arccosu. Participants are exploring the relationships between the derivatives and integrals of trigonometric functions, particularly focusing on arcsin and arccos.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning why the integral of -u'/[1-u^2]^0.5 yields -arcsinu instead of arccosu. There is a discussion about the relationship between arccosu and arcsinu, including the phase difference between sine and cosine functions.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the nature of the integrals and derivatives of trigonometric functions, noting that there are two antiderivatives for the expression 1/√(1-x²). However, there is no explicit consensus on the preferred form of the integral that yields arccosu.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing discussion about the use of radians versus degrees in trigonometric calculus, with some participants emphasizing the importance of using radians in this context.

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Homework Statement


I'm searching for the integral that gives arcosu

Homework Equations


as we know : ∫u'/[1-u^2]^0.5 dx = arcsinu
derivative of arccosu = -u'/[1-u^2]^0.5 + C
derivative of arcsinu= u'/[1-u^2]^0.5

The Attempt at a Solution


when I type the -u'/[1-u^2]^0.5 on the online integral calculator it always gives me -arcsinu +C
Why it doesn't gives arccosu
is the arccosu=-arcsinu?!
and what is the integral that gives arcosu?
 
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Any Help said:

Homework Statement


I'm searching for the integral that gives arcosu

Homework Equations


as we know : ∫u'/[1-u^2]^0.5 dx = arcsinu
derivative of arccosu = -u'/[1-u^2]^0.5 + C
derivative of arcsinu= u'/[1-u^2]^0.5

The Attempt at a Solution


when I type the -u'/[1-u^2]^0.5 on the online integral calculator it always gives me -arcsinu +C
Why it doesn't gives arccosu
is the arccosu=-arcsinu?!
and what is the integral that gives arcosu?
cos-1u= -sin-1u+90°.
Sine and cosine functions have a phase difference of 90°.
 
cnh1995 said:
cos-1u= -sin-1u+90°.
Sine and cosine functions have a phase difference of 90°.

No, they differ by ##\pi/2## radians. It is a great mistake to mix trigonometric integrals with degree measurements; the calculus of trig functions is in radian units only!
 
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@Any Help, please post questions about calculus in the Calculus & Beyond section, not the Precalc section. I have moved your thread.
 
Ray Vickson said:
No, they differ by π/2π/2\pi/2 radians. It is a great mistake to mix trigonometric integrals with degree measurements; the calculus of trig functions is in radian units only!
then what's the integral that gives arccos u?
 
Any Help said:
then what's the integral that gives arccos u?

There are two antiderivatives of ##1/\sqrt{1-x^2}##; they are ##\arcsin(x)+C## and ##-\arccos(x)+C##. Typically, sources like tables of integrals, or computer algebra packages, give only ONE of the two, and those seem to always be the ##\arcsin(x)## version. When you do it manually you are certainly allowed to give ##-\arccos(x) + C## as an answer; it is absolutely correct, because it is the same as ##\arcsin(x) + K## for some constant ##K## that is different from the constant ##C##.
 
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