# How can I calculate $\int_{0}^{2\pi}\sqrt{2-\sin(2t) }dt$?

I'm trying to calculate the perimeter of a curve $C$ in ${\mathbb R}^3$ where $C$ is given by $$\begin{cases} x^2+y^2=1\\ x+y+z=1 \end{cases}$$ Things boil down to calculating $$\int_{0}^{2\pi}\sqrt{2-\sin(2t) }dt$$ using $\vec{r}(t)=(\cos t,\sin t,1-\sin t-\cos t)$. Is this an elliptic integral so that one can not find its value? Is there any other way to find the perimeter?

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It is one of those elliptic integrals; in general they do not have closed forms. –  anon Oct 4 '12 at 2:46

Using symmetry: $$\int_0^{2\pi} \sqrt{2 - \sin(2t)} \mathrm{d}t = 2 \int_0^{\pi} \sqrt{2 - \sin(2t)} \mathrm{d}t = \int_0^{2 \pi} \sqrt{2 - \sin(t)} \mathrm{d}t$$ Now we use $\sin(t) = 1 - 2 \sin^2\left(\frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{t}{2} \right)$: $$\int_0^{2 \pi} \sqrt{2 - \sin(t)} \mathrm{d}t = \int_0^{2\pi} \sqrt{1+2 \sin^2\left(\frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{t}{2} \right)} \mathrm{d} t = 2\int_{-\tfrac{\pi}{4}}^{\tfrac{3 \pi}{4}} \sqrt{1+2 \sin^2(u)} \mathrm{d} u$$ The anti-derivative is not elementary (uses elliptic integral of the second kind): $$\int \sqrt{1 - m \sin^2 \phi} \, \mathrm{d} \phi = E\left(\phi|m\right) + C$$ Thus the parameter of interest equals $$2 \left( E\left(\left.\frac{3 \pi}{4}\right|-2\right) - E\left(\left.-\frac{\pi}{4}\right|-2\right)\right) = 2 \left( E\left(\left.\frac{3 \pi}{4}\right|-2\right) + E\left(\left.\frac{\pi}{4}\right|-2\right)\right)$$

Inspired by Mhenni's result: $$2\int_{-\tfrac{\pi}{4}}^{\tfrac{3 \pi}{4}} \sqrt{1+2 \sin^2(u)} \mathrm{d} u = 2\int_{0}^{\pi} \sqrt{1+2 \sin^2(u)} \mathrm{d} u = 4 \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \sqrt{1+2 \sin^2(u)} \mathrm{d} u = 4 E(-2)$$ where $E(m)$ is the complete elliptic integral of the second kind.

Numerical verification in Mathematica:

In[67]:= NIntegrate[Sqrt[2 - Sin[2 t]], {t, 0, 2 Pi},
WorkingPrecision -> 20]

Out[67]= 8.7377525709848047416

In[68]:= N[4 (EllipticE[-2]), 20]

Out[68]= 8.7377525709848047416

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You can get the answer in terms of the complete elliptic integral of the second kind

$$4\,\sqrt {3}{\it EllipticE} \left( \frac{\,\sqrt {2}}{\sqrt {3}} \right) = 8.737752576\,.$$

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