Why can't the trig identity be used to simplify this integral?

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djeitnstine
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For some reason I cannot see why :

[tex]\int \sqrt{1+tan^2 \left( \frac{\pi }{4H}} z \right)} dz = \frac{4H}{\pi} sinh^{-1} \left( tan \left[ \frac{\pi z}{4H} \right] \right)[/tex]

I do not understand so because can't the trig identity [tex]1+tan^2 \theta = sec^2 \theta[/tex] be used and then the integrand simplifies to:

[tex]\int sec \left( \frac{\pi z}{4H}} \right) dz[/tex]

why can't it be done? This leads to a whole different answer obviously...
 
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djeitnstine said:
This leads to a whole different answer obviously...

No, it doesn't. I just worked out the proof that the result was the same using either method. I encourage you to do the proof yourself, although personally I could not have done it without converting between trigonometric and exponential expressions a few times. If you want I will post the proof.
 
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Wait never mind. I now know why when I plugged in the numbers it came out different...calculator was not in radians:smile::blushing: