Understanding Reduction Formula

  • #1
chwala
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TL;DR Summary
To check on how to arrive at ##I_n = \dfrac{1}{n-1}⋅ \tan^{n-1} x - I_{n-2}##
I am looking at ## \int \tan^n dx ## where ##n## is a positive integer. The index ##n## has been reduced by writing ##\tan^n x ## as ##\tan ^{n-2} \tan^2 x## which is quite clear with me.

We have,

## \int \tan^n xdx = \int \tan^{n-2} x⋅ \tan^2 x dx=\int \tan^{n-2}x ⋅(\sec^2 x -1) dx ##

=##\int \tan^{n-2} x⋅\sec^2 x dx - \int \tan^{n-2} dx ##

now this is the part that i need some insight how they moved to

##I_n = \dfrac{1}{n-1}⋅ \tan^{n-1} x - I_{n-2}##

not to say that i do not get it...i want to check if i am doing it right,

My steps,

given,

## \int \tan^n x dx = \int \tan^{n-2} x⋅\sec^2 x dx - \int \tan^{n-2} dx ##

i let ##u = tan x## therefore ##u^{'} = \sec^2 x## and writing ##\int \tan^n x dx ## as ##I_n##,

##I_n = \int u^{n-2} du - I_{n-2}##

##I_n = \dfrac{1}{n-1}⋅ u^{n-1} - I_{n-2}##

##I_n = \dfrac{1}{n-1}⋅ \tan^{n-1} x - I_{n-2}##

Thanks and cheers.
 
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  • #2
I haven't checked but I think you should use ##\dfrac{d}{dx}\tan x = 1+\tan^2 x## to remain in the tangent regime.
 

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