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Exercise 7.2 · Q30

Q.Integrate the following function: sin⁡x1+cos⁡x\frac{\sin x}{1 + \cos x}

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The integral ∫sin⁡x1+cos⁡x dx\int \frac{\sin x}{1 + \cos x} \, dx is solved by substituting u=1+cos⁡xu = 1 + \cos x, which turns the numerator sin⁡x dx\sin x \, dx into −du-du. The result is −log⁡∣1+cos⁡x∣+C-\log|1 + \cos x| + C.

Why substitution works here

When you see a fraction where the numerator looks like the derivative of the denominator (or close to it), substitution is your best friend. Here, the denominator is 1+cos⁡x1 + \cos x, and its derivative is −sin⁡x-\sin x. The numerator is sin⁡x\sin x — almost a perfect match, just missing a minus sign. That’s the signal: set uu equal to the denominator, and the rest will fall into place.

Tip

Spotting a function and its derivative (up to a constant) in an integrand is the hallmark of a substitution problem. Here, ddx(1+cos⁡x)=−sin⁡x\frac{d}{dx}(1 + \cos x) = -\sin x, so the numerator sin⁡x\sin x is essentially −1-1 times that derivative.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Choose the substitution.

    Let u=1+cos⁡xu = 1 + \cos x.

    Why this? Because the denominator is uu, and the derivative of uu will simplify the numerator.

  2. Differentiate to find dudu.

dudx=−sin⁡x⇒du=−sin⁡x dx\frac{du}{dx} = -\sin x \quad \Rightarrow \quad du = -\sin x \, dx

This means sin⁡x dx=−du\sin x \, dx = -du. The integral’s numerator sin⁡x dx\sin x \, dx is exactly −du-du.

  1. Rewrite the integral in terms of uu.

∫sin⁡x1+cos⁡x dx=∫−duu=−∫duu\int \frac{\sin x}{1 + \cos x} \, dx = \int \frac{-du}{u} = -\int \frac{du}{u}

  1. Integrate with respect to uu. The integral ∫duu\int \frac{du}{u} is log⁡∣u∣+C\log|u| + C, so:

−∫duu=−log⁡∣u∣+C-\int \frac{du}{u} = -\log|u| + C

  1. Substitute back for xx. Since u=1+cos⁡xu = 1 + \cos x, we get: −log⁡∣1+cos⁡x∣+C-\log|1 + \cos x| + C …

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