I have to evaluate this indefinite integral $$\int \frac{\tan^4 \theta\, d \theta}{1-\tan^2 \theta}$$ I tried it as follows $$I=\int\frac{(\sec^2 \theta-1)\tan^2 \theta\, d \theta}{1-\tan^2 \theta}=\int\frac{\sec^2 \theta \tan^2 \theta\, d \theta}{1-\tan^2 \theta}-\int\frac{\tan^2 \theta \,d \theta}{1-\tan^2 \theta}$$ First part of integration can be easily solved by substitution but how to solve the second part? Help to solve it by other method if you have. Thanks!
4 Answers
Hint:
Use the substitution $u=\tan\theta$, $\;\mathrm d\mkern1.5mu u=(1+u^2)\mkern1.5mu\mathrm d\mkern1mu\theta$. You'll get the integral of the rational function: $$\int\frac{u^4}{1-u^4}\,=\int\frac{u^4}{(1-u)(1+u)(1+u^2)}\,\mathrm d\mkern1mu u$$ Then, decomposition into partial fractions and back to $\theta$.
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2$\begingroup$ @Harish Chandra Rajpoot: Thank you for the correction of the lapsus. $\endgroup$– BernardMay 22, 2015 at 22:40
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$\begingroup$ yes you are right. It needs re-editing! $\endgroup$ May 22, 2015 at 22:44
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$\begingroup$ @Harish Chandra Rajpoot: finally there was no error in my initial post. I was suggested a correction that I accepted. Only some details were missing. $\endgroup$– BernardMay 22, 2015 at 22:49
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1$\begingroup$ Thanks, @Sebastiano! Note I just applied Bioche's rules for this substitution $\endgroup$– BernardNov 5, 2021 at 21:02
Here is another way to proceed:
$\displaystyle\int\frac{\tan^4\theta}{1-\tan^2\theta}d\theta=\int\frac{\tan^4\theta-1}{1-\tan^2\theta}d\theta+\int\frac{1}{1-\tan^2\theta}d\theta=-\int(\tan^2\theta+1)d\theta+\int\frac{\cos^2\theta}{\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta}d\theta$
$=\displaystyle-\int\sec^2\theta \;d\theta+\int\frac{\frac{1}{2}(1+\cos 2\theta)}{\cos 2\theta}d\theta= -\tan\theta+\int\left(\frac{1}{2}\sec2\theta+\frac{1}{2}\right)d\theta$
$=\displaystyle-\tan\theta+\frac{1}{4}\ln\big|\sec2\theta+\tan2\theta\big|+\frac{1}{2}\theta+C$
Hint: (This expands the hint of @Bernard... it was what I needed to make it work.)
Note that $\frac{1}{1-\tan^{2}(\theta)}=\frac{1+\tan^{2}(\theta)}{(1-\tan^{2}(\theta))(1+\tan^{2}(\theta))}=\frac{\sec^{2}(\theta)}{1-\tan^{4}(\theta)}$.
So using the suggested substitution $u=\tan(\theta)$ gives you
$$\int \frac{\tan^{4}\theta}{1-\tan^{2}\theta}d\theta= \int \frac{u^{4}}{1-u^4}du=\int -1 + \frac{1}{1-u^4}du.$$
Then, $(1-u^4)=(1-u)(1+u)(1+u^2)$ and can be finished with partial fractions.
HINT: Multiply the numerator and denominator by $\cos^2(\theta)$. Rewrite $\cos^2(\theta) - \sin^2(\theta)$ as $\cos(2\theta)$ and $\sin^2(\theta)$ in terms of $\cos(2\theta)$. We know how to integrate $\sec(2\theta)$.
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$\begingroup$ It took me a few moments to guess how you wanted to rewrite $\sin^2 \theta.$ OP might need a hint about that, too. $\endgroup$– David KMay 22, 2015 at 22:18
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$\begingroup$ Yeah fair point - there's so much you could do. But having said that if there's a cos(2x) in the denominator...I guess when you 'see it' it seems so obvious (especially when the result immediately follows)! $\endgroup$ May 23, 2015 at 1:36
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