Why Are My Tangent Half-Angle Substitution Answers Different from the Workbook?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the differences in answers obtained using the tangent half-angle substitution for specific integrals compared to those provided in a workbook. Participants explore various methods of integration and simplification, focusing on the integrals involving trigonometric functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents their answers to two integrals using the tangent half-angle substitution and notes discrepancies with the workbook answers.
  • Another participant suggests that the workbook may have used partial fraction decomposition instead of the secant substitution that the first participant typically employs.
  • Some participants assert that all methods discussed are valid, indicating that the differences in answers may stem from simplification processes.
  • There is a back-and-forth regarding the simplification of the logarithmic expressions, with one participant expressing uncertainty about the presence of a radical in the denominator.
  • Another participant provides a detailed breakdown of their substitution process and how it leads to their answer, reinforcing the complexity of the integration methods used.
  • One participant shares a mathematical identity related to the integral of \( \frac{dx}{1 - x^2} \), which introduces additional context but does not directly resolve the original question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which method leads to the correct answer, as multiple valid approaches are discussed. The differences in answers remain unresolved, with participants exploring various simplifications and substitutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the simplification steps and the assumptions underlying their methods. There are indications of missing assumptions that could affect the outcomes of the integrals discussed.

Dethrone
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I did two questions from my workbook that involved the tangent half-angle substitution, $$z = tan (\frac{x}{2})$$. The answers that I got, for two questions, were different (but correct, I think) in the same way. Can you assist me in how to acquire the workbook answer?

1. $$\int \frac{dx}{1-2sinx} $$

Workbook answer:
$$\int \frac{\sqrt{3}}{3} \ln\left({\frac{\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2-\sqrt{3}}{\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2+\sqrt{3}}}\right)$$

My answer:
$$\int \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\ln\left({\frac{\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)^2-3}}}\right)$$

Method:
Applying the tangent half-angle substitution and completing the square in the denominator, I get
$$\int \frac{2}{(z-2)^2-3} dz$$

Letting $$z - 2 = u = \sqrt{3}sec\theta$$, I end up with
$$\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3} \int csc\theta d\theta$$

Evaluating that and putting subbing back all the variables gives me the answer I wrote above. The same method was applied in number 2.
2. $$\int \frac{sinx}{1+sin^2x} dx$$

Workbook answer:
$$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{4}\ln\left({\frac{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right))^2+3-2\sqrt{2}}{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right))^2+3+2\sqrt{2}}}\right)$$

My answer:

$$\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\ln\left({\frac{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right))^2+3-\sqrt{8}}{\sqrt{((\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right))^2+3)^2-8}}}\right)$$

As is seen, my answer differs from the workbook in the same manner for both questions. I tried using wolfram alpha, which obtains the same answer as the workbook, but it uses the tanh substitution, which I don't think was used in the workbook. Which integration method did the textbook use? (I have come to love LaTex, especially with all the user-friendly commands on the side :) )
 
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I was scouring the internet and I found what they did.

$$\int \frac{2}{(z-2)^2-3} dz$$

At this step, I generally use a secant substitution; wouldn't that be the most obvious choice anyways? Well, they used a difference of squares factoring in the denominator and applied partial fraction decomposition.

$$\int \frac{2}{(z-2-\sqrt{3})(z-2+\sqrt{3})} dz$$
 
Hi Rido! ;)

All 3 methods are equally valid.

However, in both problems your answer can be simplified further.
If you do, you'll get the textbook answer.
 
I tried to simplify it before with limited success. Any hints? Let's try 1)

$$\displaystyle \int \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\ln\left({\frac{\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)^2-3}}}\right)$$
 
Rido12 said:
I tried to simplify it before with limited success. Any hints? Let's try 1)

$$\displaystyle \int \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\ln\left({\frac{\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)^2-3}}}\right)$$

Oh wait. There is something wrong after all.
Apparently there shouldn't be a radical in the denominator.
Then it would simplify properly.

Edit: Nope. It's right after all.
 
That's weird. My substitution is that $$z-2=u=\sqrt{3}sec\theta$$

Constructing a right angle triangle, I get that the hypotenuse is u, adjacent is $$\sqrt{3}$$, and opposite is $$\sqrt{u^2-3}$$

From $$\displaystyle \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3} \int csc\theta d\theta$$ (in my first post)

I get $$\frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\ln\left({csc\theta-cot\theta}\right)$$

Replacing the trig functions and letting u = z-2, and z = tan(x/2), I'm pretty I get

$$\displaystyle \displaystyle \int \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\ln\left({\frac{\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)^2-3}}}\right) $$
 
Sorry for the confusion.
It does simplify properly.
$$\ln\left({\frac{\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)^2-3}}}\right)

= \ln\left(\sqrt{{\frac{\left((\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)-\sqrt{3}\right)^2}{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)^2-3}}}\right)

= \frac 1 2 \ln\left({\frac{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)-\sqrt{3}}{(\tan\left({\frac{x}{2}}\right)-2)+\sqrt 3}}\right)
$$
 
Btw, did you know that:

$$\int \frac{dx}{1 - x^2} = \text{artanh }x + C$$

And that:
$$\text{artanh }x = \frac 1 2 \ln \left( \frac{1+x}{1-x} \right)$$
 
Well, thanks for all the help! I guess this question is now official solved. :)
Wolfram Alpha showed me that, but I haven't learned it yet. Heck, I just self-learned integration so far, so I really appreciate the help :)
 

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