# Integration of $\int \frac{2\sin x + \cos x}{\sin x + 2\cos x} dx$

How can I integrate this by changing variable?

$$\int \frac{2\sin x + \cos x}{\sin x + 2\cos x} dx$$

Thanks.

Let $a$ be such that $(2a)^2+a^2=1$. Let $\theta$ be such that $\cos(\theta)=a$ and $\sin(\theta)=2a$. Then you have

\begin{align} \int \frac{2\sin x + \cos x}{\sin x + 2\cos x} dx &=\int \frac{2a\sin x + a\cos x}{a\sin x + 2a\cos x} dx\\ &=\int \frac{\sin(\theta)\sin x + \cos(\theta)\cos x}{\cos(\theta)\sin x + \sin(\theta)\cos x} dx\\ &=\int \frac{\cos(x-\theta)}{\sin(x+\theta)} dx\\ &=\int \frac{\cos(u-2\theta)}{\sin(u)} du\\ &=\int \frac{\cos(u)\cos(2\theta)+\sin(u)\sin(2\theta)}{\sin(u)} du\\ &=\int \left(\cot(u)\cos(2\theta)+\sin(2\theta)\right) du\\ \end{align}

And it should be easy from here.

Notice that in this case by doing some rearrangement $$\frac{p(x)}{q(x)}=A\frac{q(x)}{q(x)}+B\frac{q'(x)}{q(x)}$$ \begin{align} \int\frac{2\sin x + \cos x}{\sin x + 2\cos x}dx&=-\frac{3}{5}\int\frac{\cos x-2\sin x}{\sin x + 2\cos x}dx+\frac{4}{5}\int\frac{\sin x+2\cos x}{\sin x + 2\cos x}dx\\ \end{align}

$$\int\frac{2\sin x + \cos x}{\sin x + 2\cos x}dx=\frac{1}{5}\left(4x-3\log(\sin x+2\cos x)\right)+C$$

Let $u(x)=\log(\sin x + 2\cos x)$, then $(\sin x + 2\cos x)'=\cos x-2\sin x$ hence $$u'(x)=\frac{\cos x-2\sin x}{\sin x + 2\cos x}.$$ More generally, for every $(a,b)$, $$(au(x)+bx)'=\frac{(a+2b)\cos x+(b-2a)\sin x}{\sin x + 2\cos x}$$ Solving for $(a+2b,b-2a)=(1,2)$ yields $(a,b)=(-\frac35,\frac45)$ hence $$\int \frac{2\sin x + \cos x}{\sin x + 2\cos x}\,\mathrm dx=-\frac35u(x)+\frac45x+C=-\frac35\log(\sin x + 2\cos x)+\frac45x+C.$$

You should use this one : $t=\tan(\frac{x}{2})$

You'll need to remember that $\sin(x)=\frac{2t}{1+t^2}$ and $\cos(x)=\frac{1-t^2}{1+t^2}$

• And the formula for $dx$, too... – Thomas Andrews Nov 3 '14 at 16:30
• "You should use" Not necessarily. – Did Nov 8 '14 at 10:17
• Of course, it is never necessary to use a given substitution. It's only an advice, or I would have written "must". – Pierre Alvarez Nov 8 '14 at 10:32
• "Of course", "should" claims a superiority of the method suggested over all the others, and, in the present case, I object to it ("could" would be allright). – Did Nov 8 '14 at 14:33

HINT: Express sin and cos in terms of tan (x/2)