MHB What is the Integral of a Trigonometric Expression with Positive Constants?

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The discussion focuses on a problem of the week involving the integral of a trigonometric expression with positive constants. The integral in question is defined as $$\int_0^{\pi/2} \frac{\cos^3u\sin^7 u}{(p\cos^2u + q\sin^2u)^{6}}\, du$$ where p and q are positive constants. Participants are encouraged to provide proof for the exact value of this integral. Despite the challenge, no responses have been posted to the problem, and one user has shared their solution. The thread emphasizes the importance of following the guidelines for problem-solving contributions.
Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Find, with proof, the exact value of

$$\int_0^{\pi/2} \frac{\cos^3u\sin^7 u}{(p\cos^2u + q\sin^2u)^{6}}\, du$$

where $p$ and $q$ are positive constants.-----

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No one answered this week's problem. Here is my solution.
The integral evaluates to $\frac{1}{40p^2q^4}$. Let $I(p,q)$ denote the value of the integral. By a change of variable $x = \sin^2 u$,

$$I(p,q) = \frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 \frac{(1 - x)x^3}{[(q - p)x + p]^6}\, dx.$$

If $p = q$, then

$$I(p,q) = \frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 \frac{x^3 - x^4}{p^6}\, dx = \frac{1}{40p^6}.$$

If $p\neq q$, then

$$I(p,q) = \frac{1}{2(q-p)^6} \int_0^1 \frac{(1 - x)x^3}{(x + r)^6}\, dx$$

where $r = \frac{p}{q - p}$. Now let $y = \frac{(r+1)x}{x+r}$.Then

$$I(p,q) = \frac{1}{2(q-p)^6}\int_0^1 \left(\frac{1 - x}{x + r}\right)^2\left(\frac{x}{x + r}\right)^4 \frac{1}{x(1 - x)} dx = \frac{1}{2(q - p)^6}\int_0^1 \left(\frac{1-y}{r}\right)^2\left(\frac{y}{r+1}\right)^4\frac{(r + 1 - y)^2}{r(r+1)y(1-y)}\frac{r(r+1)}{(r + 1 - y)^2}\, dy$$
$$\qquad = \frac{1}{2(q-p)^6r^2(r + 1)^4}\int_0^1 (1 - y)y^3\, dy$$
$$\qquad = \frac{1}{40p^2q^4}.$$
 

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