Friday January 7 − Lecture 3 : Integration Methods : Trigonometric integrals (Refers

to Section 9.3 in your text)

Expectations:

1. Apply some of the common trigonometric identities to transform integrands to

ones that can be integrated by substitution or by parts.

3.1 Objective − We will be looking at various methods of integration for integrands that
contain trig function.

Given an integrand which appears to be difficult to integrate in its given form, we attempt
to re-express it either as a sum or/and product of simpler functions; the form we seek
allows us to integrate the expression by using more elementary techniques such as
integration by substitution or integration by parts.

3.2 Recall − First recall the trig identities :

• sin (x + y ) = sin x cos y + cos x sin y

• cos (x + y) = cos x cos y − sin x sin y.

From which we easily derive:

• sin(2x) = 2sin(x)cos(x)
• cos(2x) = 2cos2(x) − 1 or equivalently cos2(x) = (1/2)[1 + cos(2x)]
• cos(2x) = 1 − 2sin2(x) or equivalently sin2(x) = (1/2)[1 − cos(2x)]

Also sec2x = 1 + tan2x and csc2x = 1 + cot2x.

3.3 For integrands of the form sinm(x)cosn(x).

• If n is odd (n = 2k + 1) save one cosine factor and use cos2(x) = 1 − sin2(x) to

express the remaining factors in terms of sine :
 ∫sin (x)cos
m 2k + 1
∫
(x)dx = sinm(x)cos2k(x)cos(x)dx

= ∫sin (x)[1 − sin (x)] cos(x)dx

m 2 k

o Then let u = sin x.

o The integral then has the form

∫u [1 − u ] du
m 2 k

The integrand is a polynomial in u which can easily be integrated term by term.

• If m is odd (m = 2k + 1) save one sine factor and use sin2(x) = 1 − cos2(x) to express
the remaining factors in terms of sine :

∫sin 2k + 1
∫
(x)cosn(x)dx = sin2k(x)cosn(x)sin(x)dx

∫
= cosn(x)[1 − cos2(x)]ksin(x)dx

o Then let u = cos x. Also du = −sin x dx.

o The integral then has the form

∫
− un[1 − u2]kdu

The integrand is a polynomial in u which can easily be integrated term by term.

• If both m and n are even use one or a combination of the identities

ƒ cos2(x) = (1/2)[1 + cos(2x)]

ƒ sin2(x) = (1/2)[1 − cos(2x)]
ƒ sin(x)cos(x) = (1/2)sin(2x).

Then,
 ∫sin2k
∫
(x)cos2h(x)dx = [sin2(x)]k[cos2(x)]hdx

∫
= (1/2) k + h [ 1 − cos(2x)]k [ 1 + cos(2x)]hdx

Then let u = 2x. This reduces the highest power of the trig function from 2k or 2h to
k and h.

Or sometimes

∫sin2k
∫
(x)cos2h(x)dx = sin2k(x)cos2k(x)cos2t(x)dx

= ∫[sin(x)cos(x)] cos (x)dx

2k 2t

= ∫[(1/2)sin(2x)] cos (x)dx

2k 2t

∫
= [(1/2)sin(2x)]2k[(1/2)[1 + cos(2x)]tdx

and then attempt to solve from there, by reiterating these over and over, reducing
the powers of the trig functions each time. These require a bit of practice.

∫
3.3.1 Example - Find sin2 3x dx.

Both powers of sin and cos are even:

∫sin 3x dx = ∫(1/2)( 1 − cos 6x) dx. Let u = 6x. We then obtain

2

∫(1/2)( 1 − cos 6x) dx = (1/2)[∫ 1 dx − ∫(1/6)cos u du]

= (1/2)( x − (1/6)sin 6x ) + C.

∫
3.3.2 Example − Find sin3x cos2xdx.

Since the power of sine is odd, isolate one factor of sine and use sin2 x = 1 − cos2 x.
∫sin x cos xdx = ∫ (1 − cos x) cos x sin x dx.
3 2 2 2

= ∫( u − u )du (with u = cos x)

4 2

= (1/5)u5 − (1/3)u3 + C

= (1/5)cos5 x − (1/3)cos3x + C.

∫
3.3.3 Example − Find cos5xdx.

Since the power of cosine is odd, isolate one factor of cosine and use
cos2 x = 1 − sin2 x.

∫cos xdx = ∫ (1 − sin x) cos x dx.

5 2 2

= ∫(1 − u ) du (with u = sin x)

2 2

= ∫(1 − 2u − u ) du
2 4

= u − (2/3)u3 + (1/5)u5 + C.

= sin x − (2/3)sin3 x + (1/5)sin5 x + C.

3.3.4 Example − Find ∫ sin x cos x dx

2 2

Since both powers are even apply the identities sin2x = (1/2)(1 − cos2x) and cos2x =
(1/2)(1 + cos2x).

∫sin x cos xdx = ∫ (1/2)(1 − cos 2x)(1/2)(1 + cos 2x) dx.

2 2

∫
= (1/4) (1 − cos2 2x) dx

= (1/4)∫[1 − (1/2)(1 + cos 4x)] dx (Why?)

 ∫
= (1/8) [1 − cos 4x)] dx
= (1/8)x − (1/32)sin 4x + C.

∫
3.3.5 Example − Find cos4 3x dx

Since both powers are even apply the identities sin2x = (1/2)(1 − cos2x) and cos2x =
(1/2)(1 + cos2x).

∫cos 3x dx = ∫ (1/4)(1 − cos 6x) dx.

4 2

∫
= (1/4) [1 + 2cos 6x + cos2 6x)] dx

= (1/4)∫[(3/2) + 2cos 6x + (1/2)(cos 12x)] dx.

Why? We combined two steps here.

= (3/8)x − (1/12)sin 6x + (1/96)sin 12x + C.

∫
3.4 Integrals of the form sin(mx)cos(nx)dx, ∫sin(mx)sin(nx)dx or ∫cos(mx)cos(nx)dx
Use the identities

• sin(x)cos(y) = (1/2) [ sin(x + y) + sin(x − y) ]

• sin(x)sin(y) = (1/2) [ cos(x − y) − cos(x + y) ]
• cos(x)cos(y) = (1/2) [ cos(x − y) + cos(x+ y) ]

For example:

∫sin(2x)cos(3x)dx = ∫(1/2) [ sin(2x + 3x) + sin(2x − 3x) ] dx .

an integral easily solved by integrating term by term.

3.5 For integrands of the form tanm(x)secn(x).

• If n is even (n = 2k, k > 1) save one factor of sec2 and use sec2(x) = 1 + tan2(x) to
express the remaining factors in terms of tan x :

∫tan (x)sec
m 2k
∫
(x)dx = tanm(x) [sec2(x)]k − 1 sec2(x)dx

∫
= tanm(x)[1 + tan2(x)]k − 1sec2(x) dx.

Then use u = tan x.

• If m is odd (m = 2k + 1) save one factor of sec x tan x and use tan2(x) = sec2(x) −
1 to express the remaining factors in terms of sec x :

∫tan 2k + 1
∫
(x)secn(x)dx = tan2k(x)secn - 1(x)sec(x)tan(x)dx

∫
= (sec2(x) − 1)ksecn − 1(x)sec(x)tan(x)dx

Then use u = sec x.

For integrands that don't fall within these categories you may want to transform the
tan and sec functions in sin and cos functions and apply previously described
techniques.

3.5.1 Example − Find ∫ tan x sec3 3

dx.

The power of tan is odd, so we factor out a sec x tan x and use tan2(x) = sec2(x) − 1 to
transform the remaining tan functions into a function of secant.

∫tan x sec
3 3
∫
dx = (sec2x − 1) sec2 x sec x tan x dx.

∫
= (u4 - u2) du (where u = sec x)

= (1/5)u5 − (1/3)u3 + C

= (1/5) sec5x − (1/3)sec3x + C.

3.5.2 Example − Find ∫ tan x sec
4 4
dx¸

The power of sec is even so we factor out a sec2 x use sec2(x) = 1 + tan2(x) to express
the remaining factors in terms of tan x.

∫ tan x sec
4 4
∫
dx = tan4 x sec2 x sec2 dx

∫ ∫
= tan4 x (1 + tan2 x)d(tan x) = u4 (1 + u2 )du.

Then solve. Check the details

∫
3.5.3 Example − Find cot2 3x dx.

We use the identity csc2 x = 1 + cot2 x.

∫cot 3x dx = ∫( csc 3x − 1 )dx

2 2

∫
= ( csc2 u − 1 )(1/3)du (with u = 3x)
= (1/3)(−cot u − u) + C
= (−1/3) cot 3x − x + C.

∫
3.5.4 Example − Find cot x dx.

∫cot x dx = ∫cos x / sin x dx

∫
= 1/ sin x d(sin x)

= ln | sin x | + C

= − ln | csc x | + C.
3.6 Example − In lecture 1 we found ∫ sec(x) dx. Here is another way to get this.
∫ sec(x) dx = ∫ [1 / cos(x) ] dx
∫
= [1 / cos(x) ] [ cos2(x) / cos2(x) ] dx

=
∫ [1 / cos(x) ] [ cos (x) / (1 − sin (x) ]dx
2 2

=
∫ cos(x) / (1 − sin (x) ] dx
2

∫
= 1 / [ 1 − u2 ]du (letting u = sin(x))

=
∫ 1 / [(1 − u)(1 + u)] du
=
∫ (1/2) [ 1 / (1 − u) + 1 / (1 + u) ] du (breaking up integrand into 2 fractions)
=
(1/2) ∫ 1 / (1 − u) du + (1/2)∫ 1 / (1 + u) du

...which is now easily solved.

3.7 Find the definite integral ∫ 0 to π π sin4(x) dx.

Use the identity sin4(x) = (1/2)2(1 − cos 2x)2 expand then integrate term by term to get

∫ 0 to π π sin4(x) dx = π[(3/8)x − (1/4)sin 2x + (1/32) sin 4x]0 to π = (3/8)π2.