So ∫
sinxcosxdx=
1
2
∫
sin 2xdx
=−
1
4
cos 2x+C
Refer back to Review Question 9.1.6(iv) for an alternative form of
this.
9.2.9 Using trig substitutions in integration
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252 283➤
Trig or hyperbolic substitutions may help you to deal with some rational and irrational
functions. Thus if you have
√
a^2 −x^2 tryx=asinθ orx=tanhθ
√
x^2 −a^2 tryx=acoshθ orx=secθ
√
a^2 +x^2 tryx=asinhθ orx=tanθ
The form of the substitution may depend on the range of values ofx.
Another useful trig substitution is
t=tanθ/ 2
With this we have
cosθ=
1 −t^2
1 +t^2
, sinθ=
2 t
1 +t^2
We also have to change betweendθanddtof course. We have
dθ
dt
=
1
2
sec^2
θ
2
=
1
2
(
1 +tan^2
θ
2
)
=
1
2
( 1 +t^2 )
from which
dθ=
2 dt
1 +t^2
This substitution can sometimes be used to convert an integral of the form
∫
f(cosθ,sinθ)dθ
to an integral of a rational function int, which may be easier to deal with.