Question
Question: Evaluate the following integral \(\int{\dfrac{\cos 3x}{\cos x}}\)....
Evaluate the following integral ∫cosxcos3x.
Solution
In this question, we need to find the integration of a function f(x)=cosxcos3x. For this, we will first simplify f(x) to find the integration. We will use the formula cos3x=4cos3x−3cosx and cos2x=2cos2x−1 to simplify the function f(x).
After that, we will use the basic integration formula of cosax given by ∫cosaxdx=asinax. We will also use ∫1⋅dx=x
Complete step-by-step answer:
Here, we need to find the integration of the function f(x)=cosxcos3x. But first let us simplify it.
As we know, cos3x=4cos3x−3cosx so our function f(x) becomes f(x)=cosx4cos3x−3cosx.
Separating terms we get: f(x)=cosx4cos3x−cosx3cosx.
Cancelling cos x from the numerator and denominator from both terms we get: f(x)=4cos2x−3.
Now, we know that, cos2x=2cos2x−1 so we get: cos2x+1=2cos2x.
Putting it in f(x) we get: f(x)=24(cos2x+1)−3.
Simplifying it we get: f(x)=2(cos2x+1)−3=2cos2x+2−3=2cos2x−1.
Now, we need to find the integration of f(x). Therefore, ∫f(x)dx=∫(2cos2x−1)dx.
As we know, ∫[u(x)+v(x)]dx=∫u(x)dx+∫v(x)dx so we get: ∫f(x)dx=∫2cos2xdx+∫(−1)dx.
Also we know that ∫ag(x)dx=a∫g(x)dx hence we get: ∫f(x)dx=2∫cos2xdx−∫dx.
Using ∫cosaxdx=asinax and ∫dx=x we get: ∫f(x)dx=2(2sin2x)−x.
Cancelling 2 we get: ∫f(x)dx=sin2x−x
As f(x) was supposed to be cosxcos3x so we get: ∫cosxcos3x=sin2x−x which is our required answer.
Note: Students should keep in mind the formula of finding integration of the trigonometric function. Students should note that we always need to simplify our function as there exists no formula for finding integration of the two dividing functions.