U-substitution for trigonometric functions

Calculus Level 3

Derek was told to evaluate the following problem: sec 2 x tan x d x . \displaystyle \int \sec^2 x \tan x \, dx.

Which, if any, of Derek's three steps was incorrect?

Step 1:

  • u = sec x u = \sec x
  • d u = sec x tan x d x du = \sec x \tan x\, dx

Step 2:

  • d x = d u sec x tan x dx = \dfrac{du}{\sec x \tan x}
  • sec 2 x tan x sec x tan x d u \displaystyle \int \frac{\sec^2 x \tan x}{\sec x \tan x} du
  • u d u \displaystyle \int u\, du

Step 3:

  • u d u = u 2 2 + C \displaystyle \int u\, du = \frac{u^2}{2} + C
  • ( sec 2 x tan x ) d x = sec 2 x 2 + C \displaystyle \int \big( \sec^2 x \tan x\big)\, dx = \frac{\sec^2 x}{2} + C
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 There were no errors

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1 solution

First, notice that the derivative of sec(x) is sec(x)tan(x), and so the integral is really sec(x) multiplied by its derivative. As such, u should be sec(x), and du should be sec(x)tan(x). The algebra was correct in step 2, as you can simplify the fraction within the integral to u (or sec(x)) by dividing the numerator and denominator by sec(x)tan(x). Step 3 was correct, because of the integral power rule. The substitution of sec(x) for u was correct, so there were no errors.

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