“JUST THE MATHS”

UNIT NUMBER

12.10

INTEGRATION 10
(Further reduction formulae)

by

A.J.Hobson

12.10.1 Integer powers of a sine

12.10.2 Integer powers of a cosine
12.10.3 Wallis’s formulae
12.10.4 Combinations of sines and cosines
12.10.5 Exercises
12.10.6 Answers to exercises
UNIT 12.10 - INTEGRATION 10

FURTHER REDUCTION FORMULAE

INTRODUCTION

As an extension to the idea of reduction formulae, there are two particular definite integrals
which are worthy of special consideration. They are

Z π Z π
2 n 2
sin x dx and cosn x dx.
0 0

But, first, we shall establish the reduction formulae for the equivalent indefinite integrals.

12.10.1 INTEGER POWERS OF A SINE

Suppose that
Z
In = sinn x dx;

then, by writing the integrand as the product of two functions, we have

Z
In = sinn−1 x sin x dx.

Using integration by parts, with u = sinn−1 x and dv

dx
= sin x, we obtain

Z
n−1
In = sin x(− cos x) + (n − 1)sinn−2 xcos2 x dx.

But, since cos2 x ≡ 1 − sin2 x, this becomes

In = −sinn−1 x cos x + (n − 1)[In−2 − In ].

Thus,

1h i
In = −sinn−1 x cos x + (n − 1)In−2 .
n

1
EXAMPLE

Determine the indefinite integral

Z
sin6 x dx.

Solution

1h i
I6 = −sin5 x cos x + 5I4 ,
6

where

1h i 1
I4 = −sin3 x cos x + 3I2 , I2 = [− sin x cos x + I0 ]
4 2

and
Z
I0 = dx = x + constant.

Hence,

1
I2 = [− sin x cos x + x + constant] ;
2

1 3 3
 
I4 = −sin3 x cos x − sin x cos x + x + constant ;
4 2 2

1 5 15 15
 
I6 = −sin5 x cos x − sin3 x cos x − sin x cos x + x + constant .
6 4 8 8

Z
1 5 5 5x
Thus, sin6 x dx = − sin5 x cos x − sin3 x cos x − sin x cos x + + C,
6 24 16 16

where C is an arbitrary constant.

2
12.10.2 INTEGER POWERS OF A COSINE

Suppose that

Z
In = cosn x dx;

then, by writing the integrand as the product of two functions, we have

Z
In = cosn−1 x cos x dx.

dv
Using integration by parts, with u = cosn−1 x and dx
= cos x, we obtain

Z
n−1
In = cos x sin x + (n − 1)cosn−2 xsin2 x dx.

But, since sin2 x ≡ 1 − cos2 x, this becomes

In = cosn−1 x sin x + (n − 1)[In−2 − In ].

Thus,

1 h n−1 i
In = cos x sin x + (n − 1)In−2 .
n

EXAMPLE

Determine the indefinite integral

Z
cos5 x dx.

Solution

1h 4 i
I5 = cos x sin x + 4I3 ,
5

3
where

1h 2 i
I3 = cos x sin x + 2I1
3

and
Z
I1 = cos x dx = sin x + constant.

Hence,

1h 2 i
I3 = cos x sin x + 2 sin x + constant ;
3

1 4 8
 
I5 = cos4 x sin x + cos2 x sin x + sin x + constant ;
5 3 3

We conclude that
Z
1 4 8
cos5 x dx = cos4 x sin x + cos2 x sin x + sin x + C,
5 15 15

where C is an arbitrary constant.

12.10.3 WALLIS’S FORMULAE

Here, we consider the definite integrals

Z π Z π
2 2
sinn x dx and cosn x dx.
0 0

Denoting either of these integrals by In , the reduction formula reduces to

n−1
In = In−2
n

in both cases, from the previous two sections.

4
Convenient results may be obtained from this formula according as n is an odd number or
an even number, as follows:

(a) n is an odd number

Repeated application of the reduction formula gives

n−1 n−3 n−5 6 4 2

In = . . . . . . . . .I1 .
n n−2 n−4 7 5 3

But
Z π Z π
2 2
I1 = sin x dx or I1 = cos x dx,
0 0

both of which have a value of 1.

Therefore,

(n − 1)(n − 3)(n − 5). . . . 6.4.2

In = ,
n(n − 2)(n − 4). . . . 7.5.3

which is the first of “Wallis’s formulae”.

(b) n is an even number

This time, repeated application of the reduction formula gives

n−1 n−3 n−5 5 3 1

In = . . . . . . . . .I0 .
n n−2 n−4 6 4 2

But
π
Z
2 π
I0 = dx = .
0 2

Therefore,

(n − 1)(n − 3)(n − 5). . . . 5.3.1 π

In = ,
n(n − 2)(n − 4). . . . 6.4.2 2

5
which is the second of “Wallis’s formulae”.

EXAMPLES

1. Evaluate the definite integral π

Z
2
sin5 x dx.
0

Solution
π
Z
2 4.2 8
sin5 x dx = = .
0 5.3 15
2. Evaluate the definite integral π
Z
2
cos4 x dx.
0

Solution
π
Z
2 3.1 π 3π
cos4 x dx = = .
0 4.2 2 16

12.10.4 COMBINATIONS OF SINES AND COSINES

Another type of problem to which Wallis’s formulae may be applied is of the form

Z π
2
sinm xcosn x dx,
0

where either m or n (or both) is an even number. We simply use sin2 x ≡ 1 − cos2 x or
cos2 x ≡ 1 − sin2 x in order to convert the problem to several integrals of the types already
discussed.

EXAMPLE

Evaluate the definite integral π

Z
2
cos5 xsin2 x dx.
0

Solution

Z π Z π   Z π  
2 2 2
cos5 xsin2 x dx = cos5 x 1 − cos2 x dx = cos5 x − cos7 x dx,
0 0 0

6
which may be interpreted as

4.2 5.4.3 8 16 8
I5 − I7 = − = − = .
5.3 6.4.2 15 35 105

12.10.5 EXERCISES

1. Determine the indefinite integral

Z
cos4 x dx.

2. Determine the indefinite integral

Z
sin7 x dx.

3. Evaluate the definite integral

Z π
2
sin6 x dx.
0

4. Evaluate the definite integral

Z π
2
cos9 x dx.
0

5. Evaluate the definite integral

Z π
2
cos2 xsin6 x dx.
0

6. Evaluate the definite integral

Z π
2
sin3 xcos4 x dx.
0

7
12.10.6 ANSWERS TO EXERCISES

1.
1 3 3 3x
cos x sin x + cos x sin x + + C.
4 8 8
2.
1 6 24 16
− sin6 x cos x − sin4 x cos x − sin2 x cos x − cos x + C.
7 35 105 35
3.
5π
.
32
4.
128
.
315
5.
5π
.
32
6.
4
− .
105