Loading [MathJax]/jax/element/mml/optable/BasicLatin.js
Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Calculus Volume 2

3.2 Trigonometric Integrals

Calculus Volume 23.2 Trigonometric Integrals

Learning Objectives

  • 3.2.1 Solve integration problems involving products and powers of sinx and cosx.
  • 3.2.2 Solve integration problems involving products and powers of tanx and secx.
  • 3.2.3 Use reduction formulas to solve trigonometric integrals.

In this section we look at how to integrate a variety of products of trigonometric functions. These integrals are called trigonometric integrals. They are an important part of the integration technique called trigonometric substitution, which is featured in Trigonometric Substitution. This technique allows us to convert algebraic expressions that we may not be able to integrate into expressions involving trigonometric functions, which we may be able to integrate using the techniques described in this section. In addition, these types of integrals appear frequently when we study polar, cylindrical, and spherical coordinate systems later. Let’s begin our study with products of sinx and cosx.

Integrating Products and Powers of sinx and cosx

A key idea behind the strategy used to integrate combinations of products and powers of sinx and cosx involves rewriting these expressions as sums and differences of integrals of the form sinjxcosxdx or cosjxsinxdx. After rewriting these integrals, we evaluate them using u-substitution. Before describing the general process in detail, let’s take a look at the following examples.

Example 3.8

Integrating cosjxsinxdx

Evaluate cos3xsinxdx.

Checkpoint 3.5

Evaluate sin4xcosxdx.

Example 3.9

A Preliminary Example: Integrating cosjxsinkxdx Where k is Odd

Evaluate cos2xsin3xdx.

Checkpoint 3.6

Evaluate cos3xsin2xdx.

In the next example, we see the strategy that must be applied when there are only even powers of sinx and cosx. For integrals of this type, the identities

sin2x=1212cos(2x)=1cos(2x)2

and

cos2x=12+12cos(2x)=1+cos(2x)2

are invaluable. These identities are sometimes known as power-reducing identities and they may be derived from the double-angle identity cos(2x)=cos2xsin2x and the Pythagorean identity cos2x+sin2x=1.

Example 3.10

Integrating an Even Power of sinx

Evaluate sin2xdx.

Checkpoint 3.7

Evaluate cos2xdx.

The general process for integrating products of powers of sinx and cosx is summarized in the following set of guidelines.

Problem-Solving Strategy

Integrating Products and Powers of sin x and cos x

To integrate cosjxsinkxdx use the following strategies:

  1. If k is odd, rewrite sinkx=sink1xsinx and use the identity sin2x=1cos2x to rewrite sink1x in terms of cosx. Integrate using the substitution u=cosx. This substitution makes du=sinxdx.
  2. If j is odd, rewrite cosjx=cosj1xcosx and use the identity cos2x=1sin2x to rewrite cosj1x in terms of sinx. Integrate using the substitution u=sinx. This substitution makes du=cosxdx. (Note: If both j and k are odd, either strategy 1 or strategy 2 may be used.)
  3. If both j and k are even, use sin2x=(1/2)(1/2)cos(2x) and cos2x=(1/2)+(1/2)cos(2x). After applying these formulas, simplify and reapply strategies 1 through 3 as appropriate.

Example 3.11

Integrating cosjxsinkxdx where k is Odd

Evaluate cos8xsin5xdx.

Example 3.12

Integrating cosjxsinkxdx where k and j are Even

Evaluate sin4xdx.

Checkpoint 3.8

Evaluate cos3xdx.

Checkpoint 3.9

Evaluate cos2(3x)dx.

In some areas of physics, such as quantum mechanics, signal processing, and the computation of Fourier series, it is often necessary to integrate products that include sin(ax), sin(bx), cos(ax), and cos(bx). These integrals are evaluated by applying trigonometric identities, as outlined in the following rule.

Rule: Integrating Products of Sines and Cosines of Different Angles

To integrate products involving sin(ax), sin(bx), cos(ax), and cos(bx), use the substitutions

sin(ax)sin(bx)=12cos((ab)x)12cos((a+b)x)
(3.3)
sin(ax)cos(bx)=12sin((ab)x)+12sin((a+b)x)
(3.4)
cos(ax)cos(bx)=12cos((ab)x)+12cos((a+b)x)
(3.5)

These formulas may be derived from the sum-of-angle formulas for sine and cosine.

Example 3.13

Evaluating sin(ax)cos(bx)dx

Evaluate sin(5x)cos(3x)dx.

Checkpoint 3.10

Evaluate cos(6x)cos(5x)dx.

Integrating Products and Powers of tanx and secx

Before discussing the integration of products and powers of tanx and secx, it is useful to recall the integrals involving tanx and secx we have already learned:

  1. sec2xdx=tanx+C
  2. secxtanxdx=secx+C
  3. tanxdx=ln|secx|+C
  4. secxdx=ln|secx+tanx|+C.

For most integrals of products and powers of tanx and secx, we rewrite the expression we wish to integrate as the sum or difference of integrals of the form tanjxsec2xdx or secjxtanxdx. As we see in the following example, we can evaluate these new integrals by using u-substitution.

Example 3.14

Evaluating secjxtanxdx

Evaluate sec5xtanxdx.

Media

You can read some interesting information at this website to learn about a common integral involving the secant.

Checkpoint 3.11

Evaluate tan5xsec2xdx.

We now take a look at the various strategies for integrating products and powers of secx and tanx.

Problem-Solving Strategy

Integrating tankxsecjxdx

To integrate tankxsecjxdx, use the following strategies:

  1. If j is even and j2, rewrite secjx=secj2xsec2x and use sec2x=tan2x+1 to rewrite secj2x in terms of tanx. Let u=tanx and du=sec2xdx.
  2. If k is odd and j1, rewrite tankxsecjx=tank1xsecj1xsecxtanx and use tan2x=sec2x1 to rewrite tank1x in terms of secx. Let u=secx and du=secxtanxdx. (Note: If j is even and k is odd, then either strategy 1 or strategy 2 may be used.)
  3. If k is odd where k3 and j=0, rewrite tankx=tank2xtan2x=tank2x(sec2x1)=tank2xsec2xtank2x. It may be necessary to repeat this process on the tank2x term.
  4. If k is even and j is odd, then use tan2x=sec2x1 to express tankx in terms of secx. Use integration by parts to integrate odd powers of secx.

Example 3.15

Integrating tankxsecjxdx when j is Even

Evaluate tan6xsec4xdx.

Example 3.16

Integrating tankxsecjxdx when k is Odd

Evaluate tan5xsec3xdx.

Example 3.17

Integrating tankxdx where k is Odd and k3

Evaluate tan3xdx.

Example 3.18

Integrating sec3xdx

Integrate sec3xdx.

Checkpoint 3.12

Evaluate tan3xsec7xdx.

Reduction Formulas

Evaluating secnxdx for values of n where n is odd requires integration by parts. In addition, we must also know the value of secn2xdx to evaluate secnxdx. The evaluation of tannxdx also requires being able to integrate tann2xdx. To make the process easier, we can derive and apply the following power reduction formulas. These rules allow us to replace the integral of a power of secx or tanx with the integral of a lower power of secx or tanx.

Rule: Reduction Formulas for secnxdx and tannxdx

secnxdx=1n1secn2xtanx+n2n1secn2xdx
(3.6)
tannxdx=1n1tann1xtann2xdx
(3.7)

The first power reduction rule may be verified by applying integration by parts. The second may be verified by following the strategy outlined for integrating odd powers of tanx.

Example 3.19

Revisiting sec3xdx

Apply a reduction formula to evaluate sec3xdx.

Example 3.20

Using a Reduction Formula

Evaluate tan4xdx.

Checkpoint 3.13

Apply the reduction formula to sec5xdx.

Section 3.2 Exercises

Fill in the blank to make a true statement.

69.

sin2x+_______=1

70.

sec2x1=_______

Use an identity to reduce the power of the trigonometric function to a trigonometric function raised to the first power.

71.

sin2x=_______

72.

cos2x=_______

Evaluate each of the following integrals by u-substitution.

73.

sin3xcosxdx

74.

cosxsinxdx

75.

tan5(2x)sec2(2x)dx

76.

sin7(2x)cos(2x)dx

77.

tan(x2)sec2(x2)dx

78.

tan2xsec2xdx

Compute the following integrals using the guidelines for integrating powers of trigonometric functions. Use a CAS to check the solutions. (Note: Some of the problems may be done using techniques of integration learned previously.)

79.

sin3xdx

80.

cos3xdx

81.

sinxcosxdx

82.

cos5xdx

83.

sin5xcos2xdx

84.

sin3xcos3xdx

85.

sinxcosxdx

86.

sinxcos3xdx

87.

secxtanxdx

88.

tan(5x)dx

89.

tan2xsecxdx

90.

tanxsec3xdx

91.

sec4xdx

92.

cotxdx

93.

cscxdx

94.

tan3xsecxdx

For the following exercises, find a general formula for the integrals.

95.

sin2axcosaxdx

96.

sinaxcosaxdx.

Use the double-angle formulas to evaluate the following integrals.

97.

π0sin2xdx

98.

π0sin4xdx

99.

cos23xdx

100.

sin2xcos2xdx

101.

sin2xdx+cos2xdx

102.

sin2xcos2(2x)dx

For the following exercises, evaluate the definite integrals. Express answers in exact form whenever possible.

103.

2π0cosxsin2xdx

104.

π0sin3xsin5xdx

105.

π0cos(99x)sin(101x)dx

106.

ππcos2(3x)dx

107.

2π0sinxsin(2x)sin(3x)dx

108.

4π0cos(x/2)sin(x/2)dx

109.

π/3π/6cos3xsinxdx (Round this answer to three decimal places.)

110.

π/3π/3sec2x1dx

111.

π/201cos(2x)dx

112.

Find the area of the region bounded by the graphs of the equations y=sinx,y=sin3x,x=0,andx=π2.

113.

Find the area of the region bounded by the graphs of the equations y=cos2x,y=sin2x,x=π4,andx=π4.

114.

A particle moves in a straight line with the velocity function v(t)=sin(ωt)cos2(ωt). Find its position function x=f(t) if f(0)=0.

115.

Find the average value of the function f(x)=sin2xcos3x over the interval [π,π].

For the following exercises, solve the differential equations.

116.

dydx=sin2x. The curve passes through point (0,0).

117.

dydθ=sin4(πθ)

118.

Find the length of the curve y=ln(cscx),π4xπ2.

119.

Find the length of the curve y=ln(sinx),π3xπ2.

120.

Find the volume generated by revolving the curve y=cos(3x) about the x-axis, 0xπ36.

For the following exercises, use this information: The inner product of two functions f and g over [a,b] is defined by f(x)·g(x)=f,g=baf·gdx. Two distinct functions f and g are said to be orthogonal if f,g=0.

121.

Show that {sin(2x),cos(3x)} are orthogonal over the interval [π,π].

122.

Evaluate ππsin(mx)cos(nx)dx.

123.

Integrate y=tanxsec4x.

For each pair of integrals, determine which one is more difficult to evaluate. Explain your reasoning.

124.

sin456xcosxdx or sin2xcos2xdx

125.

tan350xsec2xdx or tan350xsecxdx

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/calculus-volume-2/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/calculus-volume-2/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jul 25, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.