Section 8.

6: Trigonometric Integration, remixed by Jeff Eldridge from work by Dale Hoffman, is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. © Mathispower 4u.
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 1

8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions

There are an overwhelming number of combinations of trigonometric functions which appear in integrals,
but fortunately they fall into a few patterns and most of their integrals can be found using reduction
formulas and tables of integrals. This section examines some of the patterns of these combinations and
illustrates how some of their integrals can be derived.

Products of Sine and Cosine: ⌡ sin(ax).sin(bx) dx , ⌠

⌠ ⌡ cos(ax). cos(bx) dx , ⌠
⌡ sin(ax).cos(bx) dx

All of these integrals are handled by referring to the trigonometric identities for sine and cosine of sums
and differences:
sin(A + B) = sin(A)cos(B) + cos(A)sin(B)
sin(A – B) = sin(A)cos(B) – cos(A)sin(B)
cos(A + B) = cos(A)cos(B) – sin(A)sin(B)
cos(A – B) = cos(A)cos(B) + sin(A)sin(B)

By adding or subtracting the appropriate pairs of identities, we can write the various products such as
sin(ax)cos(bx) as a sum or difference of single sines or cosines. For example, by adding the first two
1
identities we get 2sin(A)cos(B) = sin(A + B) + sin(A – B) so sin(A)cos(B) = 2 { sin(A+B) + sin(A–B)

}. Using this last identity, the integral of sin(ax)cos(bx) for a ≠ b is relatively easy:

–cos( (a–b)x ) –cos( (a+b)x )

⌡ 12 { sin( (a+b)x ) + sin( (a–b)x ) } dx = 12 {
⌡ sin(ax)cos(bx) dx = ⌠
⌠ a–b + a+b } + C.

The other integrals of products of sine and cosine follow in a similar manner.

If a ≠ b, then

sin( (a–b)x ) sin( (a+b)x )

⌡ sin(ax).sin(bx) dx
⌠ 1
= 2 { a–b – a+b }+C

sin( (a–b)x ) sin( (a+b)x )

⌡ cos(ax).cos(bx) dx =
⌠ 1
2 { a–b + a+b }+C

cos( (a–b)x ) cos( (a+b)x )

sin(ax).cos(bx) dx = 2
–1
" { a–b + a+b }+C

!
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 2

If a = b, we have patterns we have already used.

⌠ sin2(ax) dx x sin(2ax) x sin(ax).cos(ax)

⌡ = 2 – 4a + C = 2 – 2a +C

x sin(2ax) x sin(ax).cos(ax)
⌡ cos2(ax) dx
⌠ = 2 + 4a + C = 2 + 2a +C

2
⌠ sin(ax).cos(ax) dx = sin2a(ax) + C = 1 – cos(2ax)
⌡ 4a +C

2 1 – cos(2ax)
The first and second of these integral formulas follow from the identities sin (ax) = 2 and
2 1 + cos(2ax)
cos (ax) = 2 , and the third can be derived by changing the variable to u = sin(ax).

Powers of Sine and Cosine Alone: ⌡ sinn(x) dx , ⌠

⌠ ⌡ cosn(x) dx

All of these antiderivatives can be found using integration by parts or the reduction formulas (formulas 19
and 20 in the integral tables) which were derived using integration by parts. For small values of m and n
it is just as easy to find the antiderivatives directly.

Even Powers of Sine or Cosine Alone

For even powers of sine or cosine, we can successfully reduce the size of the exponent by repeatedly

2 1 – cos(2x) 2 1 + cos(2x)
applying the identities sin (x) = 2 and cos (x) = 2 .

Example 1: Evaluate ⌡ sin4(x) dx .

⌠

4 2 2 1 2 1 2
Solution: sin (x) = { sin (x) } = { 2 [ 1 – cos(2x) ] } = 4 { 1 – 2cos(2x) + cos (2x) } so

⌠ sin4(x) dx = ⌠ 1
⌡ ⌡ 4 { 1 – 2cos(2x) + cos2(2x) } dx

1 x sin(2x)cos(2x)
= 4 {x + sin(2x) + 2 + 2 } +C.

Practice 1: Evaluate ⌡ cos4(x) dx .

⌠
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 3

Odd Powers of Sine or Cosine Alone

For odd powers of sine or cosine we can split off one factor of sine or cosine, reduce the remaining even
2 2 2 2
exponent using the identities sin (x) = 1 – cos (x) or cos (x) = 1 – sin (x) , and finally integrate by
changing the variable.

Example 2: Evaluate ⌡ sin5(x) dx .

⌠

5 4 2 2 2 2
Solution: sin (x) = sin (x) sin(x) = { sin (x) } sin(x) = { 1 – cos (x) } sin(x)
2 4
= { 1 – 2 cos (x) + cos (x) } sin(x) .

Then ⌠ sin5(x) dx = ⌡
⌡ ⌠ cos2(x)sin(x) dx + ⌡
⌠ sin(x) dx – 2 ⌡ ⌠ cos4(x)sin(x) dx .

The first integral is easy, and the last two can be evaluated by changing the variable to u = cos(x) :

3 5
cos (x) cos (x)
⌡ sin5(x) dx = – cos(x) – 2{ – 3
⌠ } + {– 5 }+C.

Practice 2: Evaluate ⌡ cos5(x) dx .

⌠

Patterns for
⌠
⌡ sinm(x) cosn(x) dx

If the exponent of sine is odd, we can split off one factor sin(x) and use the identity
2 2
sin (x) = 1 – cos (x) to rewrite the remaining even power of sine in terms of cosine. Then the change of
variable u = cos(x) makes all of the integrals straightforward.

Example 3: Evaluate ⌠ sin3(x) cos6(x) dx .

⌡

3 6 2 6 2 6
Solution: sin (x) cos (x) = sin(x) sin (x) cos (x) = sin(x) { 1 – cos (x) } cos (x)

6 8
= sin(x)cos (x) – sin(x)cos (x) .

Then ⌠
⌡ sin3(x) cos6(x) dx = ⌠
⌡ sin(x)cos6(x) – sin(x)cos8(x) dx ( put u = cos(x) )

7 9
cos (x) cos (x)
= – 7 + 9 +C.

Practice 3: Evaluate ⌠ sin3(x) cos4(x) dx .

⌡
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 4

If the exponent of cosine is odd, we can split off one factor cos(x) and use the identity
2 2
cos (x) = 1 – sin (x) to rewrite the remaining even power of cosine in terms of sine. Then the change of
variable u = sin(x) makes all of the integrals straightforward.

2 1
If both exponents are even, we can use the identities sin (x) = 2 (1 – cos(2x) ) and
2 1
cos (x) = 2 (1 + cos(2x) ) to rewrite the integral in terms of powers of cos(2x) and then proceed with

integrating even powers of cosine.

Powers of Secant and Tangent Alone: ⌡ secn(x) dx , ⌠

⌠ ⌡ tann(x) dx

All of the integrals of powers of secant and tangent can be evaluated by knowing

⌠
⌡ sec(x) dx = ln| sec(x) + tan(x) | + C and

⌠
⌡ tan(x) dx = – ln| cos(x) | + C = ln| sec(x) | + C

and then using the reduction formulas

n–2 .
⌠ secn(x) dx = sec n(x)
⌡ –1
tan(x) n–2 ⌠
+ n–1 ⌡ sec
n–2
(x) dx and

n–1
tan (x)
⌡ tann(x) dx = n – 1 – ⌠
⌠ ⌡ tann–2(x) dx .

Example 4: Evaluate ⌠
⌡ sec3(x) dx .

Solution: Using the reduction formula with n = 3,

. .
⌠ sec3(x) dx = sec(x)2tan(x) + 12 ⌡
⌡ ⌠ sec(x) dx = sec(x)2tan(x) + 1
2 ln| sec(x) + tan(x) | + C.

Practice 4: Evaluate ⌠
⌡ tan3(x) dx and ⌠
⌡ sec5(x) dx .

Patterns for ⌡ secm(x).tann(x) dx

⌠

The patterns for evaluating ⌠ secm(x).tann(x) dx are similar to those for ⌡

⌡ ⌠ sinm(x).cosn(x) dx

2 2
because we treat the even and odd powers differently and we use the identities tan (x) = sec (x) – 1 and
2 2
sec (x) = tan (x) + 1.
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 5

2
If the exponent of secant is even, factor off sec (x), replace the other even powers (if any) of secant using
2 2 2
sec (x) = tan (x) + 1, and make the change of variable u = tan(x) (then du = sec (x) dx ).

If the exponent of tangent is odd, factor off sec(x)tan(x), replace the remaining even powers (if any) of
2 2
tangent using tan (x) = sec (x) – 1, and make the change of variable u = sec(x) (then du = sec(x)tan(x) dx ).

If the exponent of secant is odd and the exponent of tangent is even, replace the even powers of tangent
2 2
using tan (x) = sec (x) – 1. Then the integral contains only powers of secant, and we can use the patterns
for integrating powers of secant alone.

Example 5: Evaluate ⌡ sec(x).tan2(x) dx .

⌠

Solution: Since the exponent of secant is odd and and the exponent of tangent is even, we can use the
2 2
last method mentions: replace the even powers of tangent using tan (x) = sec (x) – 1. Then

⌡ sec(x).tan2(x) dx = ⌠
⌠ ⌡ sec(x).{ sec2(x) – 1 } dx

= ⌠ sec3(x) – sec(x) dx = ⌡
⌡ ⌠ sec3(x) dx – ⌡
⌠ sec(x) dx

sec(x).tan(x) 1
={ 2 + 2 ln| sec(x) + tan(x) | } – ln| sec(x) + tan(x) | + C

sec(x).tan(x) 1
= 2 – 2 ln| sec(x) + tan(x) | + C.

Practice 5: Evaluate ⌠ sec4(x).tan2(x) dx .

⌡

Wrap Up

Even if you use tables of integrals (or computers) for most of your future work, it is important to realize
that most of the integral formulas can be derived from some basic facts using the techniques we have
discussed in this and earlier sections.

PROBLEMS

Evaluate the integrals. (More than one method works for some of the integrals.)

⌠ 2 ⌠ ⌠ x.
⌡ ⌡ ⌡ e sin(e ).cos(e ) dx
2 x x
1. sin (3x) dx 2. cos (5x) dx 3.
π π
⌠1 ⌠ 4 ⌠
4. ⌡ x .sin ( ln(x) ) dx 5. ⌡ sin (3x) dx 6. ⌡ cos (5x) dx
2 4
0 0
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 6

π π
⌠ 3 ⌠ ⌠
⌡ sin(7x).cos(7x) dx
7. ⌡ sin (7x) dx 8. ⌡ cos (5x) dx
3
9.
0 0

⌠
⌡ sin(7x).cos2(7x) dx ⌠
⌡ sin(7x).cos3(7x) dx ⌠
⌡ sin2(3x).cos(3x) dx
10. 11. 12.

⌠
⌡ sin2(3x).cos2(3x) dx ⌠
⌡ sin2(3x).cos3(3x) dx ⌠
⌡ sec2(5x).tan(5x) dx
13. 14. 15.

⌠
⌡ sec2(3x).tan2(3x) dx ⌠
⌡ sec3(3x).tan(3x) dx ⌠
⌡ sec3(5x).tan2(5x) dx
16. 17. 18.

The definite integrals of various combinations of sine and cosine on the interval [0, 2π] exhibit a
number of interesting patterrns. For now these patterns are simply curiousities and a source of additional
problems for practice, but the patterns are very important as the foundation for an applied topic, Fourier
Series, that you may encounter in more advanced courses.

The next three problems ask you to show that the definite integral on [0, 2π] of sin(mx) multiplied by almost
any other combination of sin(nx) or cos(nx) is 0. The only nonzero value comes when sin(mx) is multiplied
by itself.
2π
⌠
⌡ sin(mx).sin(nx) dx = 0.
19. Show that if m and n are integers with m ≠ n, then
0
2π
⌠
⌡ sin(mx).cos(nx) dx = 0. (Consider m = n and m ≠ n.)
20. Show that if m and n are integers, then
0

2π
⌠
21. Show that if m ≠ 0 is an integer, then ⌡ sin(mx).sin(mx) dx = π.
0

22. Suppose P(x) = [Link](x) + [Link](x) – [Link](2x) + [Link](2x) – [Link](3x). (This is called a trigonometric
polynomial.) Use the results of problems 19–21 to quickly evaluate

2π 2π
1 ⌠ 1 ⌠
(a) a1 = π ⌡ sin(1x).P(x) dx (b) a2 = π ⌡ sin(2x).P(x) dx
0 0
2π 2π
1 ⌠
⌡ sin(3x).P(x) dx 1 ⌠
⌡ sin(4x).P(x) dx
(c) a3 = π (d) a4 = π
0 0
(e) Describe how the values of ai are related to the coeffiecients of P(x).

(f) Make up your own trigonometric polynomial P(x) and see if your description in part (e) holds
for the ai values calculated from the new P(x).
(g) Just by knowing the ai values we can "rebuild" part of P(x). Find a similar method for getting
the coefficients of the cosine terms of P(x): bi = ??
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 7

2π
⌠
⌡ sinn(x) dx = 0.
23. Show that if n is a positive, odd integer, then
0
2π 2π
⌠ 2 ⌠
24. It is straightforward (using formula 19 in the integral table) to show that ⌡ sin (x) dx = π, ⌡
0 0
2π 2π
4 3 ⌠
⌡ sin6(x) dx = 5 3 π. ⌠
⌡ sin8(x) dx .
sin (x) dx = 4 π, and 64 (a) Evaluate
0 0
2π
⌠ 10
⌡
(b) Predict the value of sin (x) dx and then evalaute the integral.
0

Section 8.6 Practice Answers

1
Practice 1: ⌡ cos4(x) dx
⌠ 2
{ Use cos (x) = 2 ( 1 + cos(2x) ) }

1 1
⌡ cos (x).cos (x) dx
=⌠
2 2
=⌠
⌡ 2 ( 1 + cos(2x) ) 2 ( 1 + cos(2x) ) dx

1 1 1
= 4 ⌡ 1 + 2cos(2x) + cos2(2x) dx = 4 ⌠
⌠ ⌡ 1 + 2cos(2x) + 2 { 1 + cos(4x) } dx

1 ⌠ 3 1 3 1 1
= 4 ⌡ 2 + 2cos(2x) + 2 cos(4x) dx = 8 x + 4 sin(2x) + 32 sin(4x) + C .

Practice 2: ⌠ ⌡ cos2(x).cos2(x).cos(x) dx = ⌠
⌡ cos5(x) dx = ⌠ ⌡ ( 1 – sin2(x) )( 1 – sin2(x) ) cos(x) dx

= ⌠ { 1 – 2sin2(x) + sin4(x) }cos(x) dx

⌡

= ⌠ sin2(x).cos(x) dx + ⌡
⌠ cos(x) dx – 2 ⌡
⌡ ⌠ sin4(x).cos(x) dx (Use u = sin(x), du = cos(x) dx )

2 3 1 5
= sin(x) – 3 sin (x) + 5 sin (x) + C .

Practice 3: ⌡ sin3(x).cos4(x) dx = ⌠
⌠ ⌡ sin(x).sin2(x).cos4(x) dx = ⌠
⌡ sin(x).(1 – cos2(x) ).cos4(x) dx

= ⌡ sin(x).cos4(x) dx – ⌠
⌠ ⌡ sin(x).cos6(x) dx (Use u = cos(x), du = – sin(x) dx )

1 5 1 7
= – 5 cos (x) + 7 cos (x) + C
8.6 Integrals of Trigonometric Functions Contemporary Calculus 8

Practice 4: ⌠ tan3(x) dx = 12 tan2(x) – ⌡

⌡ ⌠ tan(x) dx = 12 tan2(x) – ln| sec(x) | + C .

1 3
⌡ sec5(x) dx = 2 sec3(x).tan(x) + 4 ⌠
⌠ ⌡ sec3(x) dx

1 3 1 1
= 2 sec (x).tan(x) + 4 sec(x).tan(x) + 2 ⌠
3
{2 ⌡ sec(x) dx }

1 3 3
= 2 sec (x).tan(x) + 8 sec(x).tan(x) + 8 ln| sec(x) + tan(x) | + C.
3

Practice 5: ⌡ sec4(x).tan2(x) dx = ⌠
⌠ ⌡ sec2(x).sec2(x).tan2(x) dx

= ⌡ sec2(x).(tan2(x) + 1).tan2(x) dx
⌠

= ⌡ sec2(x).tan4(x) dx + ⌠
⌠ ⌡ sec2(x).tan2(x) dx 2
(Use u = tan(x), du = sec (x) dx )

1 5 1 3
= 5 tan (x) + 3 tan (x) + C .