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2.3: Powers of Trig Functions

  • Page ID
    520
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    \[\begin{align} \int \sin^5 x \, dx &= \int \sin^4 x \, \sin x \, dx \\ &= \int (\sin^2 x)^2 \sin x \,dx \\ &= \int (1-\cos^2x)^2 \sin x \, dx \\ &\text{substitute } u = \cos x \text{ and } du = -\sin x\, dx \\ &= -\int (1 - u^2)^2 du \\ & = -\int [1 - 2u^2 + u^4] \; du \\ &= -u + \dfrac{2}{3} u^3 - \dfrac{1}{5} u^5 + C \\ &= -\cos x + \dfrac{2}{3} \cos^3 x - \dfrac{1}{5} \cos^5x + C \end{align}. \]

    Evaluate \( \int \cos^7 x \, dx\).

    Evaluate \(\int \sin^4 x\, dx\).

    Solution

    We write

    \[\begin{align} \int \sin^4 x \; dx &= \int (\sin^2 x)^2 dx \\ &= \int \Big(\dfrac{1}{2} - \dfrac{1}{2} \cos(2x)\Big)^2 \; dx \\ &= \int \Big[ \dfrac{1}{4}-\dfrac{1}{2} \cos(2x) + \dfrac{1}{4} \cos^2(2x) \Big] dx \end{align}\]

    For the second integral let \( u = 2x\) and \(dx = \dfrac{1}{2} du\).

    The integral becomes

    \[ \dfrac{1}{4} x - \dfrac{1}{4} \sin(2x) + \dfrac{1}{4}\int \Big[ \dfrac{1}{2}+\dfrac{1}{2} \cos(4x) \Big] dx \]

    \[\text{Let } u = 4x, dx = \dfrac{1}{4} \; du \]

    \[\dfrac{1}{4}x - \dfrac{1}{4}\sin(2x) +\dfrac{1}{8}x +\dfrac{1}{32}\sin(4x) +C. \]

    We see that if the power is odd we can pull out one of the sin functions and convert the other to an expression involving the cos function only. Then use \( u = \cos x. \)

    If the power is even, we must use the trig identities

    \[ \sin^2x = \dfrac{1}{2} - \dfrac{1}{2} \cos (2x) \]

    and

    \[ \cos^2 x = \dfrac{1}{2} + \dfrac{1}{2} \cos (2x). \]

    This method will always work and is always long and tedious.

    \[\begin{align} \int u^2 (1-u^2) \; du &= \int u^2-u^4 \; du \\ &= \dfrac{1}{3}u^5 + C \\ &= \dfrac{1}{3} \sin^3 x -\dfrac{1}{5} \sin^5 x + C \end{align}\]

    \[ \int \sin^5 x \cos^2 x \, dx \]

    Powers of Tangents and Secants

    To integrate powers of tangents and secants we use the formula

    \[ \tan^2 x = \sec^2 x - 1.\]

    \[\begin{align} \int u^2 \,du - \tan x + x &= \dfrac{1}{3} u^3 - \tan x + x + C \\ &= \dfrac{1}{3} \tan^3 x - \tan x + x + C \end{align}.\]

    \[ \int \sec^5 x \tan^3 x \, dx.\]

    Mixed Angles

    We have the following formulas:

    \[ \sin(m \theta) \sin(n \theta) = \dfrac{1}{2} \left[ \cos[(m - n) \theta] - \cos[(m + n) \theta] \right]\]

    \[ \sin(m \theta) \cos(n \theta) = \dfrac{1}{2} \left[ \sin[(m - n) \theta] + \sin[(m + n) \theta] \right] \]

    \[ \cos(m \theta) \cos(n \theta) = \dfrac{1}{2} \left[ \cos[(m - n) \theta] + \cos[(m + n) \theta] \right]. \]

    \[ \dfrac{1}{2} -\sin{(-x)} + \dfrac{1}{7} \sin{(7x)} + C.\]

    Larry Green (Lake Tahoe Community College)

    • Integrated by Justin Marshall.


    This page titled 2.3: Powers of Trig Functions is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Larry Green.

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