INTEGRATION OF POWERS of TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

RECALL: Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions

The following theorem gives the derivative of the six trigonometric func-
tions.

Theorem 3.1 Let u a differentiable function of x. Then

(a) Dx (sin u) = (cos u)Dx u

(b) Dx (cos u) = (− sin u)Dx u

(c) Dx (tan u) = (sec2 u)Dx u

(d) Dx (cot u) = (− csc2 u)Dx u

(e) Dx (sec u) = (sec u tan u)Dx u

(f ) Dx (csc u) = (− csc u cot u)Dx u

RECALL: Integration of Trigonometric Functions

From the differentiation formulas of Theorem 3.1, the formulas of the
following theorem can be verified.

Theorem The following formulas hold:

Z
(a) sin u du = − cos u + C
Z
(b) cos u du = sin u + C
Z
(c) sec2 u du = tan u + C
Z
(d) csc2 u du = − cot u + C
Z
(e) sec u tan u du = sec u + C
 Z
(f ) csc u cot u du = − csc u + C

We shall now obtain the formulas for the indefinite integrals of the
tangent, cotangent,secant, and cosecant functions.
Z Z
sin u
tan u du = du
cos u
We let v = cos u, dv = − sin u du and we obtain
Z Z
dv
tan u du = −
v
= − ln |v| + C
= − ln | cos u| + C
= ln |(cos u)−1 | + C
= ln | sec u| + C

Thus, the following theorem.

Z
Theorem tan u du = ln | sec u| + C.

Z Z
cos u
cot u du = du
sin u
We let v = sin u, dv = cos u du and we obtain
Z Z
dv
cot u du =
v
= ln |v| + C
= ln | sin u| + C

Thus, the following theorem.

Z
Theorem cot u du = ln | sin u| + C.

Z Z
sec u(sec u + tan u)
sec u du = du
sec u + tan u
(sec2 u + sec u tan u) du
Z
=
sec u + tan u
21 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II

We let v = sec u + tan u, dv = (sec u tan u + sec2 u) du and we obtain

Z Z
dv
sec u du =
v
= ln |v| + C
= ln | sec u + tan u| + C

Thus, the following theorem.

Z
Theorem sec u du = ln | sec u + tan u| + C.

csc u(csc u − cot u)

Z Z
csc u du = du
csc u − cot u
(csc2 u − csc u cot u) du
Z
=
csc u − cot u

We let v = csc u − cot u, dv = (− csc u cot u + csc2 u) du and we obtain

Z Z
dv
csc u du =
v
= ln |v| + C
= ln | csc u − cot u| + C

Thus, the following theorem.

Z
Theorem csc u du = ln | csc u − cot u| + C.

Example Evaluate the following integrals:

Z
1
(1) tan x dx
3
Z
sec(ln x)
(2) dx
x
Z
cos 3x + 3
(3) dx
sin 3x

Solution:
 Z
1
(1) tan x dx
3
We let u = 31 x, du = 1
3
dx or 3du = dx. We obtain
Z Z
1
tan x dx = 3 tan u du
3
= 3 ln | sec u| + C
1
= 3 ln | sec x| + C
3
Z
1 1
Therefore, tan x dx = 3 ln | sec x| + C.
3 3
Z
sec(ln x)
(2) dx
x
We let u = ln x, du = x1 dx. We obtain
Z Z
sec(ln x)
dx = sec u du
x
= ln | sec u + tan u| + C
= ln | sec(ln x) + tan(ln x)| + C
Z
sec(ln x)
Therefore, dx = ln | sec(ln x) + tan(ln x)| + C.
x
Z
cos 3x + 3
(3) dx
sin 3x
Z Z Z
cos 3x + 3 cos 3x dx dx
dx = +3
sin 3x sin 3x sin 3x
Z Z
= cot 3x dx + 3 csc 3x dx

We let u = 3x, du = 3dx or 13 du = dx. We obtain,

Z Z Z
cos 3x + 3 1 3
dx = cot u du + csc u du
sin 3x 3 3
1
= ln | sin u| + ln | csc u − cot u| + C
3
1
= ln | sin 3x| + ln | csc 3x − cot 3x| + C
3
 Z
cos 3x + 3 1
Therefore, dx = ln | sin 3x| + ln | csc 3x − cot 3x| + C. J
sin 3x 3

Integration of Powers of Sine and Cosine

The indefinite integrals involving powers of sine and cosine depends on
whether the
Z powers are odd
Z or even. We have four cases.
Case 1: sin u du or cosn u du where n is an odd integer.
n

The integral can be evaluated using the trigonometric identity: sin2 u+

cos u = 1
2

Example Evaluate the following integrals:

Z
(1) sin3 x dx
Z
(2) cos5 2x dx

Solution:
Z
(1) sin3 x dx

Z Z
3
sin x dx = sin2 x sin x dx
Z
= (1 − cos2 x) sin x dx
Z Z
= sin x dx − cos2 x sin x dx
 We let u = cos x, du = − sin x dx. We obtain
Z Z Z
sin x dx = − du + u2 du
3

u3
= −u + +C
3
1
= − cos x + cos3 x + C
3
Z
(2) cos5 2x dx
Z Z
5
cos 2x dx = cos4 2x cos 2x dx
Z
= (cos2 2x)2 cos 2x dx
Z
= (1 − sin2 2x)2 cos 2x dx
Z
= (1 − 2 sin2 2x + sin4 2x) cos 2x dx
Z Z Z
= cos 2x dx − 2 sin 2x cos 2x dx + sin4 2x cos 2x dx
2

We let u = sin 2x, du = cos 2x · 2dx or 21 du = cos 2x dx. We obtain

Z Z Z Z
5 2 2 1
cos 2x dx = du − u du + u4 du
2 2
1 u3 u5
= u− + +C
2 3 10
Z
1 1 1
Therefore, cos5 2x dx = sin 2x − sin3 2x + sin5 2x + C. J
2 3 10
Z Z
Case 2: sinn u du or cosn u du where n is an even integer.
To evaluate the integral we use the following trigonometric identities:
1 − cos 2x
sin2 x =
2
1 + cos 2x
cos2 x =
2
Example Evaluate the following integrals:
Z
(1) cos2 x dx
Z
1
(2) sin4 x dx
2

Solution:
Z
(1) cos2 x dx

Z Z Z Z
2 1 + cos 2x 1 1
cos x dx = dx = dx + cos 2x dx
2 2 2
1 1
= x + sin 2x + C
2 4
Z
1
(2) sin4 x dx
2
Z Z
4 1 1
sin x dx = (sin2 x)2 dx
2 2
Z  2
1 − cosx
= dx
2
Z Z Z
1 1 1
= dx − cos x dx + cos2 x dx
4 2 4
Z
1 1 1 1 + cos 2x
= x − sin x + C1 + dx
4 2 4 2
1 1 1 1
= x − sin x + x + sin 2x + C
4 2 8 16
Z
1 3 1 1
Therefore, sin4 x dx = x − sin x + sin 2x + C. J
2 8 2 16
Z
Case 3: sinn u cosm u du where at least one of the exponents is odd.
The solution to this case is similar to the method used in Case 1.

Example 3.10 Evaluate the following integrals:

Z
(1) sin2 x cos3 x dx
 Z
(2) ex sin3 (ex ) cos5 (ex ) dx

Solution:
Z
(1) sin2 x cos3 x dx

Z Z
2 3
sin x cos x dx = sin2 x cos2 x cos x dx
Z
= sin2 x(1 − sin2 x) cos x dx
Z Z
= sin x cos x dx − sin4 cos x dx
2

We let u = sin x, du = cos x dx. We obtain

Z Z Z
2 3
sin x cos x dx = u du − u4 du
2

u3 u5
= − +C
3 5
Z
1 3 1
Therefore, sin2 x cos3 x dx = sin x − sin5 x + C.
3 5
Z
(2) ex sin3 (ex ) cos5 (ex ) dx
Let u = ex , du = ex dx.
Z Z
x 3 x 5 x
e sin (e ) cos (e ) dx = sin3 u cos5 u du
Z
= sin2 u cos5 u sin u du
Z
= (1 − cos2 u) cos5 u sin u du
Z Z
= cos u sin u du − cos7 sin u du
5
 We let v = cos u, dv = − sin u du. Thus,
Z Z Z
x 3 x 5 x
e sin (e ) cos (e ) dx = cos u sin u du − cos7 sin u du
5

Z Z
= − v dv + v 7 dv
5

v6 v8
= − + +C
6 8
1 1
= − cos6 u + cos8 u + C
6 8
Z
1 1
Therefore, ex sin3 (ex ) cos5 (ex ) dx = − cos6 (ex ) + cos8 (ex ) + C. J
6 8
Z
Case 4: sinn u cosm u du where both exponents is even.
This integral is evaluated using a method similar to Case 2.
Z
Example Evaluate the following integrals: sin4 x cos2 x dx

Solution:
Z  2  
1 − cos 2x
Z
4 2 1 + cos 2x
sin x cos x dx = dx
2 2
1 − cos 2x − cos2 2x + cos3 2x
Z
= dx
8
Z Z Z
1 1 1 1 + cos 4x
= dx − cos 2x dx − dx
8 8 8 2
Z
1
+ (1 − sin2 2x) cos 2x dx
8
1 1 1 1
= x− sin 2x − x − sin 4x
8 16 16 64
1 1 sin3 2x
+ sin 2x − · +C
16 16 3
Z
x 1 1
Therefore, sin4 x cos2 x dx = − sin 4x − sin3 2x + C. J
16 64 48
Integration of Powers of Tangent, Cotangent, Secant and Cosecant

There are some technique on how to evaluate indefinite integrals in-

volving powers of tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant functions. These
techniques depend on whether the power are odd or even. The following
trigonometric identities are used to evaluate these integrals:

1 + tan2 x = sec2 x 1 + cot2 x = csc2 x

Z Z
Case 1: Integrals of the form tan u du or cotn u du, where n is a positive
n

integer.
The integrand is factored into

tann u = tann−2 u tan2 u

= tann−2 u (sec2 u − 1)

or

cotn u = cotn−2 u cot2 u

= cotn−2 u (csc2 u − 1)

Example 3.12 Evaluate the following integrals:

Z
(1) cot3 2t dt
√
tan4 x
Z
(2) √ dx
x

Solution:
Z
(1) cot3 2t dt

Z Z
3
cot 2t dt = cot 2t(cot2 2t) dt
Z
= cot 2t(csc2 2t − 1) dt
Z Z
2
= cot 2t csc 2t dt − cot 2t dt
 We let u = cot 2t, du = − csc2 2t 2dt or − 21 = csc2 2t dt. We obtain
Z Z
3 1 1
cot 2t dt = − u du − ln | sin 2t| + C1
2 2
1 1
= − u2 − ln | sec 2t| + C
4 2
Z
1 1
Therefore, cot3 2t dt = − cot2 2t − ln | sin 2t| + C.
4 2
√
tan4 x
Z
(2) √ dx
x √
Letting u = x, du = 2√1 x dx or 2du = √dxx .
√
tan4 x
Z Z
√ dx = 2 tan2 u tan2 u du
x
Z
= 2 tan2 u(sec2 u − 1) du
Z Z
= 2 tan u sec du − 2 tan2 u du
2 2

Letting v = tan u, dv = sec2 u du. We obtain,

√
tan4 x
Z Z Z
√ dx = 2 v dv − 2 (sec2 u − 1) du
2
x
Z Z Z
2
= 2 v dv − 2 dv + 2 du
v3
= 2 − 2v + 2u + C
3
2
= tan3 u sec2 u − 2 tan u + 2u + C
3
√
tan4 x √ √ √
Z
2
Therefore, √ dx = tan3 x − 2 tan x + 2 x + C. J
x 3
Z Z
Case 2: Integrals of the form sec u du or cscn u du, where n is a positive
n

even integer.
We write
n−2
secn u = secn−2 u sec2 u = (tan2 u + 1) 2 sec2 u
n−2
or, cscn u = cscn−2 u csc2 u = (cot2 u + 1) 2 csc2 u
Example Evaluate the following integrals:
Z
(1) sec4 x dx
Z
(2) x csc6 x2 dx

Solution:
Z
(1) sec4 x dx
Z Z
4
sec x dx = sec2 x sec2 x dx
Z
= (tan2 x + 1) sec2 x dx
Z Z
= (tan x sec x dx + sec2 x dx
2 2

We let u = tan x, du = sec2 x dx. We obtain

Z Z Z
4 2
sec x dx = u du + du
u3
= +u+C
3
Z
1
Therefore, sec4 x dx = tan3 x + tan x + C.
3
Z
(2) x csc6 x2 dx
Z Z
6 2
x csc x dx = x csc4 x2 csc2 x2 dx
Z
= x(cot2 x2 + 1)2 csc2 x2 dx
Z
= x(cot4 x2 + 2 cot2 x2 + 1) csc2 x2 dx
Z Z Z
= x cot x dx + 2 x cot x csc x dx + x csc2 x2 dx
4 2 2 2 2 2
 We let u = cot x2 , du = −(csc2 x2 )(2x)dx so − 12 du = x csc2 x2 dx. We
obtain
Z Z Z Z
6 2 1 4 2 1
x csc x dx = − u du − u du − du
2 2
u5 u3 u
= − − − +C
10 3 2
Z
1 1 1
Therefore, x csc6 x2 dx = − cot5 x2 − cot3 x2 − cot x2 + C. J
10 3 2
Z Z
n
Remark For integrals of the form sec u du or cscn u du where n
is a positive odd integer integer, we have to use integration by parts. It is a
technique of integration which will be introduced in a later chapter.
Z Z
m n
Case 3: Integrals of the form tan sec u du or cotm u cscn u du, where
n is a positive even integer.
The method is illustrated in the following examples.
Example 3.15 Evaluate the following integrals:
Z
(1) tan6 x sec4 x dx
Z
(2) cot3 3x csc6 3x dx

Solution:
Z
(1) tan6 x sec4 x dx
Z Z
6 4
tan x sec x dx = tan6 x sec2 x sec2 x dx
Z
= tan6 x(tan2 x + 1) sec2 x dx
Z Z
= tan x sec x dx + tan6 x sec2 x dx
8 2

We let u = tan x, du = sec2 x dx. We obtain

Z Z Z
6 4
tan x sec x dx = u du + u6 du
8

u9 u7
= + +C
9 7
 Z
1 1
Therefore, tan6 x sec4 x dx = tan9 x + tan7 x + C.
9 7
Z
(2) cot3 3x csc6 3x dx
Z Z
3 6
cot 3x csc 3x dx = cot3 3x csc4 3x csc2 3x dx
Z
cot3 3x(cot2 3x + 1)2 csc2 3x dx
=
Z Z Z
3 2
= cot 3x csc 3x dx + cot 3x csc 3x dx + cot3 3x csc2 3x
5 2

dx
2 2 2
We let u = cot 3x, du = − csc 3x · 3dx or − 3 du = csc 3x dx. We obtain
Z Z Z Z
3 6 1 7 1 5 1
cot 3x csc 3x dx = − u du − u du − u3 du
3 3 3
1 u8 1 u6 1 u4
= − · − · − · +C
3 8 3 6 3 4
Z
1 1 1
Therefore, cot8 3x− cot6 3x− cot4 3x+
cot3 3x csc6 3x dx = −
24 18 12
C. J
Z Z
m n
Case 4: Integrals of the form tan sec u du or cotm u cscn u du, where
m is a positive odd integer.
The method is illustrated in the following example.
Z
Example 3.16 Evaluate tan7 x sec5 x dx

Solution:
Z Z
7 5
tan x sec x dx = tan6 x sec4 x tan x sec x dx
Z
= (sec2 x − 1)3 sec4 x tan x sec x dx
Z
= (sec6 x − 3 sec4 x + 3 sec2 x − 1) sec4 x tan x sec x dx
We let u = sec x, du = sec x tan x dx. We obtain
Z Z
7 5
tan x sec x dx = (u6 − 3u4 + 3u2 − 1)u4 du
Z
= (u10 − 3u8 + 3u6 − u4 ) du
u11 3u9 3u7 u5
= − + − +C
11 9 7 5
sec11 x sec9 x 3 sec7 x sec5 x
Z
Therefore, tan7 x sec5 x dx = − + − + C. J
11 3 7 5

Remark For integrals of the form tanm u secn u du or cotm u cscn u du where m
is a positive even integer and n is a positive odd integer, we have to integrate
them using integration by parts, a technique that will be introduced at a later
chapter.