Trigonometric Integrals

Trigonometric integrals, at times can be quite challenging. There are some standard ways of dealing with trigonometric functions which help in reaching at the solutions easily and quickly. We discuss here some of the well-known standard ways of integrating trigonometric functions:

1. Integrals of the form 

The following line of action should be adopted:

(a) Both the numerator and denominator should be divided by cos²x.

(b) sec²x, wherever formed in denominator should be replaced by 1 + tan²x.

(c) Now, substitute tan x = t and so sec²x dx becomes dt.

(d) The given integral will reduce to the form 

This integral can be easily solved using the methods discussed in previous sections.
 

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2. Integrals of the form 

In such cases, following substitutions prove fruitful:

(a) Substitute sin x by [2 tan x/2 /(1 + tan²x/2)] and cos x by (1 - tan²x/2)/(1 + tan²x/2)

(b) (1 + tan²x/2) in the numerator should be replaced by sec²x/2.

(c) Again, as in the previous case, put tan x/2 = l,so that sec²x/2 dx becomes 2dl.

(d) This again reduces the integral into the form discussed above i.e. which can be easily solved by using the methods discussed in the previous sections.

3. Integrals of the form 

In such cases, students are advised to proceed as follows:

(a) Write (a sin x + b cos x) = A(c cos x – d sin x) + B(c sin x + d cos x) i.e.

(b) Now, by equating the coefficients of sin x and cos x on both the sides we can obtain the values of the two constants A and B.

(c) Now, the integrand in the numerator should be replaced by A(c cos x – d sin x) + B(c sin x + d cos x) which yields

∫ (a sin x + b cos x)/ (c sin x + d cos x) dx = A ∫ (c cos x – d sinx)/ (c sin x + d cos x) dx + B ∫ (c sin x + d cos x)/ (c sin x + d cos x) dx

                                                               = A log |c sin x + d cos x| + Bx + C

4. Integrals of the form 

In such integrals, we can use the following substitution:

(a) a = r cos θ, b = r sin θ so that r = √a² + b², θ = tan ^-1(b/a)

(b) Hence, the expression becomes a sin x + b cos x = r cos θ sin x + r sin θ cos x = r sin (x + θ)

Hence, the given integral becomes

∫1/(a sin x + b cos x) dx = 1/r ∫ 1/ sin (x + θ) dx = 1/r ∫ cosec (x + θ) dx 

                                     = 1/r log | tan (x/2 + θ/2) | + C

                                     = 1/√a² + b² log | tan (x/2 + ½ tan^-1b/a) | + C

5. Integrals of the form 

The algorithm for this case is listed below:

(a) Write numerator as Numerator = A (differentiation of denominator) + B (denominator) + C

and so in this case we have, 

a sin x + b cos x + c = A (p cos x – q sin x) + B(p sin x + q cos x + r) + C

(b) Now, try to obtain the values of constants by equating the coefficients of sin x, cos x and constants on both the sides.

(c) Replace the numerator in the integrand by A (p cos x – q sin x) + B(p sin x + q cos x + r) + C which yields

∫ (a sin x + b cos x + c)/(p sin x + q cos x + r) dx = A ∫ (p cos x – q sin x)/(p sin x + q cos x + r) dx + B ∫ (p sin x + q cos x + r)/(p sin x + q cos x + r) + C ∫ 1/(p sin x + q cos x + r) . dx

                                                              = A log | p sin x + q cos x + r| + Bx + C ∫ 1/ (p sin x + q cos x + r) dx

(d) The integral thus obtained in the R.H.S. of the last step can be obtained using the methods discussed earlier.

We have further tabulated some of the important substitutions in the below table: 

We discuss certain examples illustrating the application of these substitutions:

Example 1:  

Evaluate ∫ dx / sin x (2 cos²x – 1).

Solution:  

If in expression 1/sinx (2cos²x – 1) we substitute - sinx for sin x, then the integrand will change its sign. Hence, we take advantage of the substitution

t = cos x; dt = - sinx dx. This gives

 

Example 2:

Evaluate ∫ √ sin x cos x dx.

Solution:       

The given question is ∫ √ sin x cos x dx.

Put sinx = t

Then, the given integral becomes

I =  ∫ t^1/2 dt = 2/3 t^3/2 + c = 2/3 (sin x)^3/2 + c.

  
Example 3:           

Evaluate ∫sin² x cos⁴ x dx 

Q1. In integrals of the form 1/ a sin²x + b cos²x, 

(a) both the numerator and denominator should be divided by cos²x.

(b) both the numerator and denominator should be divided by sin²x.

(c) only the numerator should be divided by sin²x.

(d) only the numerator should be divided by cos²x.

Q2. While attempting to solve integrals of the form , the transformation to be used is

(a) Write denominator as a multiple of numerator.

(b) Numerator = C (differentiation of denominator) + D (denominator), C and D are constants

(c) Denominator = C (differentiation of numerator) + D (denominator), C and D are constants

(d) Numerator = C (differentiation of denominator) + D (numerator), C and D are constants

Q3. While solving rational functions involving sin x and cos x, we use the transformation tan x/2 = t. Hence, we have

(a) cos x = 2t/(1+t²), sin x = (1 - t²)/(1 + t²).

(b) sin x = 2t/(1+t²), cos x = (1 + t²)/(1 - t²).

(c) sin x = 2t/(1-t²), cos x = (1 - t²)/(1 + t²).

(d) sin x = 2t/(1+t²), cos x = (1 - t²)/(1 + t²).

Q4. In integrals of the type ∫ (a sin x + b cos x + c)/(p sin x + q cos x + r) dx, 

(a) numerator = C₁ (denominator) + C₂ (differential of numerator) + C₃

(b) numerator = C₁ (denominator) + C₂ (differential of denominator) 

(c) denominator = C₁ (numerator) + C₂ (differential of denominator) + C₃

(d) numerator = C₁ (denominator) + C₂ (differential of denominator) + C₃.

Q5. While computing integrals of the type 1/(a + b cos x) or 1/(a + b sin x), 

(a) substitute sin x by tan x/2.

(b) Substitute sin x by [2 cot x/2 /(1 + tan²x/2)] and cos x by (1 - tan²x/2)/(1 + tan²x/2)

(c) Substitute sin x by [2 tan x/2 /(1 + tan²x/2)] and cos x by (1 - tan²x/2)/(1 + tan²x/2)

(d) Substitute sin x by [2 tan x/2 /(1 - tan²x/2)] and cos x by (1 - tan²x/2)/(1 + tan²x/2)

Related Resources

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