What is the general integral for this improper integral?

[BlackMamba]

Hello,

I have a problem that I am having difficulties with. I'm told to find the general integral.

So here is the problem:
\int_{\frac {\pi} {2}}^{\frac {-\pi} {2}} \frac {sinx} {1 - sin^2 x} dx

Here is my partial solution:

\int_{\frac {\pi} {2}}^{\frac {-\pi} {2}} \frac {sinx} {cos^2 x} dx

\int_{\frac {\pi} {2}}^{\frac {-\pi} {2}} \frac {1} {cosx} * \frac {sinx} {cosx} dx

\int_{\frac {\pi} {2}}^{\frac {-\pi} {2}} secxtanx dx

= [tanx]

But here is where I am stuck, because when you evaluate tanx from \frac {\pi} {2} to \frac {-\pi} {2} you get an error because no value exists for tan \frac {\pi} {2}


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fourier jr]

wouldn't it be zero? you're integrating from pi/2 to -pi/2 & tan is an odd function.

 

[BlackMamba]

Well that is what I was unsure of. I just double checked the math on my calculator, and I realized I made an error inputting the values. So that would explain the error.

Thanks for the input.

 

[d_leet]

The problem might be that you have the wrong antiderivative of sec(x)tan(x). What is the derivative of sec(x)?

 

[fourier jr]

OOPS i guess it has been a while since i last did calculus... sorry about that

 

[Tomsk]

The problem might be that you have the wrong antiderivative of sec(x)tan(x). What is the derivative of sec(x)?

But surely sec (pi/2)=1/0 as well??

 

[HallsofIvy]

I'm a little puzzled by your saying you are asked to find the "general integral" and then asking for a specific value for a definite integral.

Of course, since the denominator, 1- sin²x is 0 at both \frac{pi}{2} and -\frac{\pi}{2}, this is an "improper integral". It's value is defined as
\lim_{\alpha\rightarrow -\frac{\pi}{2}} \lim_{\beta\rightarrow \frac{\pi}{2}}\int_\beta^\alpha \frac{sin x}{1- sin^2 x}dx
So what you want to do is find the "general anti-derivative" and then take limits. Of course, that is precisely what you did- you can't evaluate tan(x) at the endpoints precisely because those limits do not exist.

The "Cauchy Principal Value" for this integral is defined as
\lim_{\alpha\rightarrow \frac{pi}{2}}\int_\alpha^{-\alpha}\frac{sin x}{1- sin^2x} dx
and since the integrand is odd, that is 0.