Can Integration by Parts Solve Higher Power Trigonometric Integrals?

In summary, the author attempted to solve a homework equation using integration by parts, but was unable to get the answer correct. They eventually realized they could have solved the equation using the opposite substitution and ended up with the same answer.
  • #1
just_see
6
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Homework Statement



If [tex]\int_{0}^{pi/4}\tan^{6}(x)sec(x)dx = I[/tex] then express [tex]\int_{0}^{pi/4}\tan^{8}(x)sec(x)dx[/tex] in terms of I.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I figured you would have to get the second equation to look like the first one, so I pulled out a tan^2(x) to make it
[tex]\int_{0}^{pi/4}\((sec^{2}(x)-1)tan^{6}(x)sec(x)dx[/tex] then
[tex]\int_{0}^{pi/4}\sec^{2}{x}tan^{6}(x)sec(x)dx - I[/tex]

And here's where I get stuck. My thought is to use integration by parts, setting sec^2 = u, and tan^6xsecxdx = dv. However this just leads me to a dead end when I try to figure out what v could be. Using the opposite substitution (u = tan^6... etc) I end up with

[tex]tan^{7}(x)sec(x) - 6\int_{0}^{pi/4}\tan^{6}(x)sec^{3}(x)dx = 2\int_{0}^{pi/4}\tan^{8}(x)sec(x)dx[/tex]

which gives me the same problem I had to begin with (an even power to tangent and an odd power of secant).

Is there some substitution I could make somewhere?
 
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  • #2
Have you tried integrating by parts using dv = sec x tan x?
 
  • #3
Yeah... that gets me:

[tex]\int_{0}^{pi/4}\sec^{2}{x}tan^{6}(x)sec(x)dx - I[/tex]

u = sec^2xtan^5x dv = secxtanx
du = 2sec^2xtan^6x + 5tan^4xsec^4x

[tex]sec^{3}(x)tan^{5}(x) - \int_{0}^{pi/4}\sec(x)[2sec^{2}(x)tan^{6}(x) + 5tan^{4}(x)sec^{4}(x)]dx[/tex]

simplified...

[tex]sec^{3}(x)tan^{5}(x) - 2\int_{0}^{pi/4}\sec^{3}(x)tan^{6}(x) - 5\int_{0}^{pi/4}\tan^{4}(x)sec^{5}(x)dx[/tex]

Which still leaves me with odd powers of secant and even powers of tangent...

EDIT: Woops, dropped the "- I" after all of those, but it's pretty irrelevant.
 
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  • #4
Hmm.. I just tried a different approach, would like to know if this is a correct approach...

[tex]\int_{0}^{pi/4}\sec^{2}{x}tan^{6}(x)sec(x)dx - I[/tex]

using u = secx, dv = tan^6xsec^2x
du = secxtanx, v = (1/7)tan^7x

[tex]\frac{sec(x)tan^{7}(x)}{7} - \frac{1}{7}\int_{0}^{pi/4}\sec(x)tan^{8}(x)dx - I = \int_{0}^{pi/4}tan^{8}(x)sec(x)dx[/tex]

So...

[tex]\frac{\sqrt{2}}{7} - I = \frac{8}{7}\int_{0}^{pi/4}tan^{8}(x)sec(x)dx[/tex]

[tex]= \frac{\sqrt{2}-7I}{8}[/tex]this look right?
 
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  • #5
Looks good to me. (And for the record, you can get the same result by using using dv = sec x tan x in the *original* equation. You'll get an integral with sec^3 x, which you can rewrite as sec x(1 + tan^2 x).)
 
  • #6
TMFKAN64 said:
Looks good to me. (And for the record, you can get the same result by using using dv = sec x tan x in the *original* equation. You'll get an integral with sec^3 x, which you can rewrite as sec x(1 + tan^2 x).)

Ah... yeah I see. I did that at one point but didn't think to write sec^2 as (1+tan^2). Anyway, thanks a ton.
 

FAQ: Can Integration by Parts Solve Higher Power Trigonometric Integrals?

What is a trigonometric integral?

A trigonometric integral is an integral that involves trigonometric functions, such as sine, cosine, tangent, etc. It is used to find the area under a curve of a trigonometric function or to solve problems involving trigonometric equations.

How do you solve a trigonometric integral?

To solve a trigonometric integral, you can use various techniques such as substitution, integration by parts, or trigonometric identities. It is important to first identify the type of integral and then choose the appropriate method to solve it.

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