L/Unit 4: Integration of powers of trigonometric function involving (sine,

cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, cosecant)

Objectives

By the end of this learning unit students should be able to:

Z
• integrate integrals of the form sinm xcosn xdx for different values of m and n.

Z
• integrate integrals of the form tanm xsecn xdx for different values of m and n.

Z
INTEGRALS OF THE FORM sinm xcosn xdx
Z
We have three cases in which we can evaluate the integral of the form sinm xcosn xdx:
CASE 1: Both m and n are even
If both m and n are even positive integers, use half angle formulas for sin2 x and cos2 x to
reduce exponents by one half.
Solution:
Z Z
4 4 2 2
sin xcos xdx = (sin2 x) (cos2 x) dx

Z  2  2
1 1
= (1 − cos2x) (1 + cos2x) dx
2 2
Z
1
1 − 2cos2 2x + cos4 2x dx


=
16

1
It follows that half angle substitution method, cos2 2x = (1 + cos4x) has to be used to
2
finish up the solution.
CASE 2: When Z n is odd integer Z
Here we write sinm xcosn xdx = sinm xcosn−1 xcosxdx and express cosn−1 x in terms
of sinx by using the trigonometric identity cos2 x = 1 − sin2 x. Then use substitution
u = sinx to evaluate the resulting integral.

1
CASE 3: When m is odd Z Z
m n
If m is an odd integer, write the integral as sin xcos xdx = sinm−1 xcosn xsinxdx
and express sinm−1 x in terms of cosx using identity sin2 x = 1−cos2 x and use substitution
u = cosx to evaluate Zresulting integral.
Example: Evaluate sin4 xcos3 xdx
Solution:
Z Z
4 3
sin xcos xdx = sin4 xcos2 xcosxdx
Z
= sin4 x(1 − sin2 x)cosxdx (1)

Now, from equation (1), suppose u = sinx, it implies that du = cosxdx. Substituting
these information to equation (1) we have:
Z Z
4 3
sin xcos xdx = u4 (1 − u2 )du

1 5 1 7
= u − u +C (2)
5 7
By replacing u = sinx we find that;
Z
1 1
sin4 xcos3 xdx = sin5 x − sin7 x + C
5 7
Z
Exercise: Evaluate the following integral cos4 xsin3 xdx

Z
INTEGRALS OF THE FORM tanm xsecn xdx
Z
We have three cases for evaluating the integrals of the form tanm xsecn xdx
CASE 1: When n is even
If n is even then we write:
Z Z
tan xsec xdx = tanm xsecn−2 xsec2 xdx
m n

and express secn−2 x in terms of tanx by using identity sec2 x = 1+tan2 x. Use substitution
u = tanx to evaluate the integral.

2
 Z
Exercise: Evaluate tan2 xsec4 xdx
Solution:
Z Z
2 4
tan xsec xdx = tan2 xsec2 xsec2 xdx
Z
= tan2 x(1 + tan2 x)sec2 xdx (3)

From equation (3), let u = tanx, this implies that du = sec2 xdx and replacing them we
find that:
Z Z
2 4
tan xsec xdx = u2 (1 + u2 )du

1 3 1 5
= u + u +C
3 5
1 1
= tan3 x + tan5 x + C
3 5

CASE 2: If m is odd integer.

Here we write;
Z Z
m n
tan xsec xdx = tanm−1 xsecn−1 x(secxtanx)dx

and then we express tanm−1 x in terms of secx by using trigonometric identity tan2 x =
sec2 x − 1. Finally weZuse substitution, u = secx to evaluate the integral.
Example: Evaluate tan3 xsec5 xdx
Solution: It follows that:
Z Z
3 5
tan xsec xdx = tan2 xsec4 xsecxtanxdx
Z
= (sec2 x − 1)sec4 x(secxtanx)dx

(4)

If we let u = secx, it implies that du = secxtanxdx and we have now:

Z Z
3 5
tan xsec xdx = (u2 − 1)u4 xdu

3
 1 7 1 5
= u − u +C
7 5
1 7 1
= sec x − sec5 x + C
7 5
CASE 3: When n is odd and m is even.
For this case another Zmethod such as integration by parts, should be used.
Example: Evaluate tan2 xsec3 xdx

Z Z
2 3
tan xsec xdx = (sec2 x − 1)sec3 xdx
Z Z
5
= sec xdx − sec3 xdx

1 7 1
= sec x − sec5 x + C
7 5

Activity 1.4

1. Establish
Z the reduction formulas of the following integrals
Z
n x
(i) x e dx and evaluate it when n = 3 (ii) sinn xdx and evaluate it when
n=4

2. Show that if m 6= 1, then:

secm−2 xtanx m − 2
Z Z
m
sec xdx = + secm−2 xdx
m−1 m−1
Z
and hence evaluate sec6 xdx

3. Evaluate
Z the following integrals:
Z
5 3
(a) sin xcos xdx (b) sin4 3xcos2 3xdx

4
 Z Z
4 4
(c) tan xsec xdx (d) cot3 xcsc3 xdx.

Resources/ References

1. Smith, R.T., Minton, R.B., Single Variable Calculus, 2nd edition, Mc Graw-Hill,
2002. pp 567-569

2. Swokowski, E.W., Calculus with Analytical Geometry, 2nd alternate edition, PWS-
KENT Publishing company, 1989. pp 397-399