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:
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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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.
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
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
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.
Some Important Facts |
Here R is a rational function of sin x and cos x. This can be translated into integrals of a rational function by the substitution: tan(x/2) = t. This is the so called universal substitution. In this case sin x = 2t/1+t2 ; cos x = 1–t2 / 1+t2, x = 2 tan–1t; dx = 2dt/1+t2
(a) If R (-sin x, cos x) = -R(sin x, cos x), substitute cos x = t (b) If R (sin x, -cos x) = -R(sin x, cos x), substitute sin x = t (c) If R (-sin x, - cos x) = R(sin x, cos x), substitute tan x = t
(i) ∫ p cos x + q sin x + r / a cos x + b sin x + c dx (ii) p cosx + q sinx / a cos x + b sin x dx Rule for (i) : In this integral express numerator as l (Denominator) + m(d.c. of denominator) + n. Find l, m, n by comparing the coefficients of sinx, cosx and constant term and split the integral into sum of three integrals. l∫ dx + m ∫d.c. of (Denominator) / denominator dx + n ∫ dx/ a cos x + b sin x + c Rule for (ii) : Express numerator as l (denominator) + m(d.c. of denominator) and find l and m as above
M & N ∈ natural numbers. If one of them is odd, then substitute for term of even power. If both are odd, substitute either of the term. If both are even, use trigonometric identities only. |
We discuss certain examples illustrating the application of these substitutions:
Evaluate ∫ dx / sin x (2 cos2x – 1).
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
Evaluate ∫ √ sin x cos x dx.
The given question is ∫ √ sin x cos x dx.
Put sinx = t
Then, the given integral becomes
I = ∫ t1/2 dt = 2/3 t3/2 + c = 2/3 (sin x)3/2 + c.
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)
Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Q5 |
(a) | (b) | (d) | (d) | (c) |
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