TRANSFORMATION BY TRIGONOMETRIC FORMULAS

Many trigonometric integrals can be evaluated after transformations

of the integrand, requiring only the most familiar trigonometric
formulas. If, instead of memorizing the types listed below, the
student will observe the character of the transformations employed,
he can easily pick the requisite method in any given case.

Type I. 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒎 𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒏 𝒙 𝒅𝒙, where either 𝑚 or 𝑛 is a positive odd

integer.

For definiteness, let 𝑛 be a positive odd integer. Writing the integral

in the form

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑚 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

and putting
𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥,
we obtain a series of powers of sin 𝑥 each multiplied by cos 𝑥 𝑑𝑥. We
proceed in a similar manner when 𝑚 is odd and positive.

Example 1. Evaluate 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 (1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

1 1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛5 𝑥 + 𝐶
3
3 5
Example 2. Evaluate 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥) 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

1
= − cos 𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑥 + 𝐶
3
Example 3. Evaluate 𝑐𝑜𝑠 5 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑐𝑜𝑠 5 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 1 − 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 cos 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= cos 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

1 1
= sin 𝑥 − 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛5 𝑥 + 𝐶
3
3 5
2 1
= sin 𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛5 𝑥 + 𝐶
3 5
Type II. 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒏 𝒙 𝒅𝒙, or 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒏 𝒙 𝒅𝒙, where n is an integer.

By the use of the formulas

𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐2 𝑥 − 1, 𝑐𝑜𝑡2 𝑥 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐2 𝑥 − 1
these integrals reduce to forms that can be evaluated.

Example 1. Evaluate 𝑡𝑎𝑛4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑡𝑎𝑛4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐2 𝑥 − 1 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

 1
𝑡𝑎𝑛4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 − (𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 − 1) 𝑑𝑥
3
1
= 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝐶
3

Example 2. Evaluate 𝑐𝑜𝑡 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑐𝑜𝑡 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑥 cot 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑐𝑠𝑐2 𝑥 − 1 cot 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= cot 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − cot 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

2
cos 𝑥
= cot 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑑𝑥
sin 𝑥
1
= − 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑥 − ln sin 𝑥 + 𝐶
2
Example 3. Evaluate 𝑡𝑎𝑛5 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑡𝑎𝑛5 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 − 1 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 tan 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 − 1 tan 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − tan 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥𝑑𝑥 − tan 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 14 𝑡𝑎𝑛4 𝑥 − 12𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 − ln cos 𝑥 + 𝐶

Type III. 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒎 𝒙 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒏 𝒙 𝒅𝒙, or 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒎 𝒙 𝒄𝒔𝒄𝒏 𝒙 𝒅𝒙, where n is a
positive even integer.

By the use of the formulas

𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 = 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥, 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑥
these integrals reduce to forms that can be evaluated.

Example 1. Evaluate 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛4 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

1 1
= 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛5 𝑥 + 𝐶
3 5
Example 2. Evaluate 𝑐𝑜𝑡 3 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 3 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥𝑑𝑥

= 𝑐𝑜𝑡 3 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= 𝑐𝑜𝑡 3 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 5 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥𝑑𝑥

Let: 𝑢 = cot 𝑥 𝑑𝑢 = −𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

1 1
= − 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑡 6 𝑥 + 𝐶
4
4 6
Type IV. 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒎 𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒏 𝒙 𝒅𝒙 , where both m and n are positive even
integers.

When 𝑚 and 𝑛 are both even, it is easily seen that the method used
for Type I is useless. Instead, we use the formulas
2 1 2
1
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 , 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 ,
2 2
1
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥,
2
repeatedly is necessary.

Example 1. Evaluate 𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠2 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

2
= sin 𝑥 cos 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Transforming the integrands

2
1 1
𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2 2

1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
8

1 1
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
8 8
1 1
If 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 = 2 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 , then 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥 = 2 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑥
1 1 1
= 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
8 2 8

1 1 1
= 𝑑𝑥 − cos 4𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
16 16 8
Integrating each integrand separately

cos 4𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑢 = 4 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥(2 𝑑𝑥)
Let 𝑢 = 4𝑥, 1 Let 𝑢 = sin 2𝑥, 1
4
𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝑢 = cos 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 2
1
cos 4𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = cos 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑢2 𝑑𝑢
4 2
1 1 𝑢3
= sin 𝑢 + 𝐶 = +𝐶
4 2 3
1 1
= sin 4𝑥 + 𝐶 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 2𝑥 + 𝐶
4 6
Finally,
1 1 1 1 1
4 2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 − sin 4𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 2𝑥 + 𝐶
16 16 4 8 6

1 1 1
= 𝑥− sin 4𝑥 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 2𝑥 + 𝐶
16 64 48
Exercises: Evaluate the following integrals.

1. 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 6. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 5 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

2. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 7. 𝑠𝑖𝑛6 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑛6 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

3. 8.

4. 𝑠𝑖𝑛5 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 9. 𝑡𝑎𝑛5 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

5. 𝑠𝑖𝑛5 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 10. 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

11. 𝑡𝑎𝑛3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 14. 𝑐𝑜𝑡 6 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

12. 𝑡𝑎𝑛5 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 6 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 15. 𝑐𝑜𝑡 3 𝑥 𝑐𝑠𝑐 3 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

13. 𝑡𝑎𝑛4 𝑥 𝑠𝑒𝑐 4 𝑥 𝑑𝑥