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Ch. 8 - Techniques of Integration
Hass - Thomas' Calculus 15th Edition
Hass15th EditionThomas' CalculusISBN: 9780137616077Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 8, Problem 8.6.46

Use reduction formulas to evaluate the integrals in Exercises 41–50.
∫ 8 cot^4(t) dt

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1
Recall the reduction formula for powers of cotangent: for an integer \(n \geq 2\), the integral \(\int \cot^n(t) \, dt\) can be expressed in terms of \(\int \cot^{n-2}(t) \, dt\). Specifically, use the identity \(\cot^2(t) = \csc^2(t) - 1\) to rewrite higher powers.
Rewrite \(\cot^4(t)\) as \((\cot^2(t))^2\) and then express \(\cot^2(t)\) in terms of \(\csc^2(t)\): \(\cot^4(t) = (\csc^2(t) - 1)^2\).
Expand the square to get \(\cot^4(t) = \csc^4(t) - 2\csc^2(t) + 1\), so the integral becomes \(\int 8 \cot^4(t) \, dt = 8 \int (\csc^4(t) - 2\csc^2(t) + 1) \, dt\).
Split the integral into three separate integrals: \(8 \int \csc^4(t) \, dt - 16 \int \csc^2(t) \, dt + 8 \int 1 \, dt\).
Use known reduction formulas or standard integrals for \(\int \csc^2(t) \, dt\) and \(\int \csc^4(t) \, dt\) to evaluate each term, then combine the results to express the original integral.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Reduction Formulas

Reduction formulas are recursive relationships that express an integral involving a power of a function in terms of an integral with a lower power. They simplify complex integrals by breaking them down step-by-step, making it easier to evaluate powers of trigonometric functions like cotangent.
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Integration of Trigonometric Functions

Integrating powers of trigonometric functions such as cotangent requires understanding their identities and derivatives. Recognizing how to rewrite cot^n(t) using identities or expressing it in terms of sine and cosine helps in applying integration techniques effectively.
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Trigonometric Identities

Trigonometric identities, like cot^2(t) = csc^2(t) - 1, are essential tools for simplifying integrals involving powers of cotangent. These identities allow the integral to be rewritten in a more manageable form, facilitating the use of reduction formulas or direct integration.
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