Back to homeMathematics · High School Year 3 · Physics-Math · Change subject
Start for free
Prep 3 Tech · Mathematics
Integrals · Antiderivatives

Integration of Trigonometric Functions

Before you start, make sure you know: Double-angle ratios (High School Year 2 (semesters 3 and 4))
Before you start, make sure you know: Differentiation rules (High School Year 2 (semesters 3 and 4))

A skateboard park ramp has a slope $g(x)=\operatorname{sen}^2 x$ at each point. What is the height of the ramp at $x$? We need to find an antiderivative of $\operatorname{sen}^2 x$, and that function is not in the table of basic integrals. We will see how to transform it with an identity. With the same ideas you will solve integrals like $\tan^3 x \sec^2 x$, $\cos(4x-1)$, or $\dfrac{1}{3\operatorname{sen}^2 x+\cos^2 x}$.

A strategy for choosing

Faced with a trigonometric integral, don't try things at random. Ask yourself these questions in order:

Decision list for integrating a trigonometric expression: chain, power times its derivative, identity, odd power, product, and change of variable. 1. Is it g(u)·u′ ? Substitute u 2. Even power or quotient? Use identities 3. Odd power of sin or cos? Split one off 4. Product of different angles? Product to sum 5. Polynomial or exponential times sin/cos? By parts 6. If nothing works: t = tan x or t = tan(x/2)

Each section of this page develops one of these steps.

First check whether it is a chain

Practice★☆☆Not started
To start practising finding antiderivatives, find the general antiderivative of the following function, which includes a linear adjustment in the argument of the cosine:…

To start practising finding antiderivatives, find the general antiderivative of the following function, which includes a linear adjustment in the argument of the cosine:

$f(x) = \cos(4x - 1)$

X Y 1 −1 1 −1 f(x) = cos(4x - 1) Δx=1/4 1/4 T = π/2 ∫
Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
Find the indefinite integral of the following function, noting that it is a composite function containing the derivative of the argument:…

Find the indefinite integral of the following function, noting that it is a composite function containing the derivative of the argument:

$\int x \times \sin(x^2 + 3) \, dx$

Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
Find the antiderivative of the function $f(x) = \sec^2(3x)$ given that its graph passes through the point $P(0, 2)$. Remember to calculate the constant of integration…

Find the antiderivative of the function $f(x) = \sec^2(3x)$ given that its graph passes through the point $P(0, 2)$. Remember to calculate the constant of integration $C$.

Solve

Power times its derivative

Practice★☆☆Not started
Determine the family of antiderivatives of the given expression. Keep in mind that the derivative of sine is cosine: $f(x) = \sin^4(x) \times \cos(x)$

Determine the family of antiderivatives of the given expression. Keep in mind that the derivative of sine is cosine:

$f(x) = \sin^4(x) \times \cos(x)$

Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
Obtain the set of all antiderivatives of the following composite function, which combines a square root with a trigonometric function:…

Obtain the set of all antiderivatives of the following composite function, which combines a square root with a trigonometric function:

$f(x) = \frac{\cos(x)}{\sqrt{\sin(x)}}$

π/4 π/2 3π/4 π 1 2 −1 −2 + C f(x) ∫f(x)dx = ?
Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
Find the indefinite integral of the function $f(x) = \tan^3(x) \times \sec^2(x)$. Remember to check whether the expression fits a power-type integral where a function is…

Find the indefinite integral of the function $f(x) = \tan^3(x) \times \sec^2(x)$. Remember to check whether the expression fits a power-type integral where a function is raised to an exponent and multiplied by its derivative.

Solve

The case $n=-1$: logarithm

Practice★☆☆Not started
Find the following indefinite integral using the natural logarithm in the result, recognising that the numerator is (almost) the derivative of the denominator:…

Find the following indefinite integral using the natural logarithm in the result, recognising that the numerator is (almost) the derivative of the denominator:

$\int \frac{\sin(x)}{5 + \cos(x)} \, dx$

Solve

Identities for even powers

The two curves coincide: they are the same function written in two ways.

Practice★☆☆Not started
On many occasions, trigonometric identities allow us to transform a difficult expression into an immediate one. Use the relation $\tan^2(x) + 1 = \sec^2(x)$ to calculate…

On many occasions, trigonometric identities allow us to transform a difficult expression into an immediate one. Use the relation $\tan^2(x) + 1 = \sec^2(x)$ to calculate the following antiderivative:

$\int \tan^2(x) \, dx$

tan²(x) + 1 = sec²(x) tan²(x) = sec²(x) - 1 ∫ tan²(x) dx = ∫ ( sec²(x) - 1) dx
Solve
Practice★☆☆Not started
A simple harmonic oscillator moves such that its velocity as a function of time $t$ (in seconds) is given by $v(t) = 3 \times \cos(t)$. If at the initial time $t=0$ the…

A simple harmonic oscillator moves such that its velocity as a function of time $t$ (in seconds) is given by $v(t) = 3 \times \cos(t)$. If at the initial time $t=0$ the object is at position $s=0$, obtain the expression for its position $s(t)$ by finding the corresponding antiderivative.

s s=0 s(0) = 0 m s(t) = ? v(t) = 3·cos(t) Time t > 0
Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
An architecture firm is designing the profile of a ramp for an extreme sports park. The gradient of the ramp at each point $x$ is given by the function…

An architecture firm is designing the profile of a ramp for an extreme sports park. The gradient of the ramp at each point $x$ is given by the function $g(x) = \sin^2(x)$. If the ramp starts at the point $(0, 0)$, determine the function $G(x)$ that describes the height of the ramp at any point.

x y G(x) Height x Gradient g(x) = sin²(x) (0,0)
Solve

Odd powers: split off a factor

Practice★★☆Not started
Calculate the antiderivative of the following trigonometric function using fundamental identities to simplify the expression before integrating: $$f(x) =…

Calculate the antiderivative of the following trigonometric function using fundamental identities to simplify the expression before integrating:

$$f(x) = \frac{\cos^3(x)}{1 - \sin(x)}$$ x y π/2 π -π/2 -π 1 −1 f(x) = cos³(x) 1 - sin(x) Trigonometric identity: cos²(x) + sin²(x) = 1 Antiderivative ∫ f(x) dx = ?
Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
Find the antiderivative of the function $f(x) = \frac{\sin^3(x)}{\cos^2(x)}$. Hint: As this is an odd function in $\sin(x)$, use the substitution $t = \cos(x)$.

Find the antiderivative of the function $f(x) = \frac{\sin^3(x)}{\cos^2(x)}$.

Hint: As this is an odd function in $\sin(x)$, use the substitution $t = \cos(x)$.

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
Find the antiderivative $F(x)$ of the function $f(x) = \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos^3(x)}$ that passes through the origin, that is, $F(0) = 0$.

Find the antiderivative $F(x)$ of the function $f(x) = \frac{\sin(x)}{\cos^3(x)}$ that passes through the origin, that is, $F(0) = 0$.

Solve

Integrals with $\tan x$ and functions even in sine and cosine

Practice★★☆Not started
Determine the indefinite integral of the function $f(x) = \frac{1}{\sin^2(x) \times \cos^2(x)}$. Hint: You can try substituting the number $1$ in the numerator with the…

Determine the indefinite integral of the function $f(x) = \frac{1}{\sin^2(x) \times \cos^2(x)}$.

Hint: You can try substituting the number $1$ in the numerator with the Pythagorean identity $\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1$ to split the integral into two simpler terms.

Solve
Practice★★★Not started
Find the family of antiderivatives of the following function using an appropriate substitution for even trigonometric functions in sine and cosine: $$f(x) =…

Find the family of antiderivatives of the following function using an appropriate substitution for even trigonometric functions in sine and cosine:

$$f(x) = \frac{1}{3\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x)}$$

Suggestion: Divide the numerator and denominator by $\cos^2(x)$ to express the function in terms of $\tan(x)$ and its derivative $\sec^2(x)$.

Solve
Practice★★★Not started
Determine the antiderivative of the function $f(x)$ knowing that its graph passes through the point $P\left(\frac{\pi}{4}, 1\right)$ and its derivative is:…

Determine the antiderivative of the function $f(x)$ knowing that its graph passes through the point $P\left(\frac{\pi}{4}, 1\right)$ and its derivative is:

$f'(x) = \frac{1}{\sin^4(x) \times \cos^2(x)}$

Hint: Try to express the numerator using the fundamental identity $\sin^2(x) + \cos^2(x) = 1$ iteratively or look for a substitution based on the tangent.

Solve

Products of sines and cosines: product to sum

Practice★★★Not started
Find the antiderivative of the function $f(x)$ described below, using product-to-sum transformations: $$f(x) = \cos(5x) \times \cos(3x)$$ Once the family of…

Find the antiderivative of the function $f(x)$ described below, using product-to-sum transformations:

$$f(x) = \cos(5x) \times \cos(3x)$$

Once the family of antiderivatives is obtained, determine the one whose graph has an inflection point with a horizontal tangent at the point with abscissa $x = \frac{\pi}{2}$ and ordinate value $y = 2$.

Solve

By parts with sines and cosines; cyclic integrals

For $x^2\cos x$ the method is applied twice: the first time lowers $x^2$ to $2x$ and the second lowers it to a constant.

Practice★★☆Not started
Find the antiderivative of the function $h(x) = x^2 \times \cos(x)$ using the method of integration by parts. You will need to apply the method twice to reduce the…

Find the antiderivative of the function $h(x) = x^2 \times \cos(x)$ using the method of integration by parts. You will need to apply the method twice to reduce the degree of the polynomial until an immediate integral is obtained.

Solve
Practice★★☆Not started
In a physics experiment, the damped oscillation of a spring is analysed, where its vibration velocity as a function of time $t$ follows the function…

In a physics experiment, the damped oscillation of a spring is analysed, where its vibration velocity as a function of time $t$ follows the function $v(t) = e^{-t} \times \sin(2t)$. Determine the position function $s(t)$, knowing that this is a cyclic integral.

t v(t) ±e⁻ᵗ Equilibrium m v(t) s(t)=? v(t) = e⁻ᵗ · sin(2t) s(t) = ∫ v(t) dt = ? Note: Cyclic integral
Solve
Practice★★★Not started
In the design of alternating current circuits, instantaneous power is usually given by the product of exponential and trigonometric functions. Calculate the family of…

In the design of alternating current circuits, instantaneous power is usually given by the product of exponential and trigonometric functions. Calculate the family of antiderivatives of the following expression, which represents the rate of change of energy in a specific component:

$$f(x) = e^{2x} \times \cos^2(x)$$

Tip: First use a trigonometric identity to reduce the exponent of the cosine before applying the integration by parts method.

x f(x) 0 π/2 3π/2 5π/2 7π/2 f(x) = e²ˣ·cos²(x) ∫ f(x) dx e²ˣ
Solve

Results with inverse functions: arcsin and arctan

Practice★★★Not started
Calculate the indefinite integral of the function $f(x)$, which combines powers of inverse trigonometric functions and direct functions: $$I = \int \frac{\arcsen(x) +…

Calculate the indefinite integral of the function $f(x)$, which combines powers of inverse trigonometric functions and direct functions:

$$I = \int \frac{\arcsen(x) + x}{\sqrt{1 - x^2}} \, dx$$ x = −1 x = 1 x y 0 x ? y = f(x) I = ∫ f(x) dx = ? I = ∫ f₁(x) dx + ∫ f₂(x) dx
Solve
Practice★★★Not started
In the study of the oscillations of a suspension bridge, the acceleration of a point on the structure is given by the function $a(t)$. Find the velocity function $v(t)$…

In the study of the oscillations of a suspension bridge, the acceleration of a point on the structure is given by the function $a(t)$. Find the velocity function $v(t)$ knowing that the initial velocity is $v(0) = 0$ and the acceleration is:

$a(t) = \frac{\sec^2(t)}{\sqrt{4 - \tan^2(t)}}$

Hint: Be careful with the domains of the resulting functions.

Solve

Universal change of variable $t=\tan(x/2)$

Practice★★★Not started
The "universal substitution" is a powerful tool for solving integrals of rational functions of sine and cosine. Use the substitution $t = \tan\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$…

The "universal substitution" is a powerful tool for solving integrals of rational functions of sine and cosine. Use the substitution $t = \tan\left(\frac{x}{2}\right)$ to find the following antiderivative:

$$I = \int \frac{1}{1 + \sin(x) + \cos(x)} \, dx$$ x/2 1 t √(1 + t²) t = tan(x/2) sin(x) = 2t/(1+t²) cos(x) = (1-t²)/(1+t²) dx = 2dt/(1+t²)
Solve

Summary

Back to the beginning: the ramp with slope $\operatorname{sen}^2x$ has height $G(x)=\frac x2-\frac{\operatorname{sen}2x}4$, and it was obtained with the double angle.

See all the exercises in this section