# Math Error evaluating ${ \int \cot^3(ax) csc^2(ax)dx }$ [closed]

For a National Board Exam Review:

Evaluate:

$${ \int \cot^3(ax) csc^2(ax)dx }$$

$${ -\frac{1}{4a}cot^4ax +C }$$

Ok. I certainly know how to integrate it from scratch. What I'm doing is like the calculator/brute force method: You put some arbitrary limit say lower_limit = 0.5, upper_limit = 2.5, replace constants like here "a" with 1 or something. Then among the choices from the set evaluate it according to difference between the given limits.

This may seem unmathematical... and yes, it does not always work like in this case... but why do I prefer the calculator method?

1. National Board Exam for Mechanical Engineering is just too broad for us to memorize everything from Algebra to Power Plants. Review center told us that if given a really complex integral; don't try to integrate.

2. If given a complex integral, yes, it might actually take longer. But it gives you the right answer; and no memorizing. Best to play safe if you are going to spend precious time on it anyway. So just handle these types when you've done all the harder problems. Use it only when needed.

Ok so I do try to evaluate this using the limits and values given above... and I do get a math error. I think it has something to do with the cosecant function... If i try anything higher than 1... or like pi/4.

What should I do to get around this?

## closed as unclear what you're asking by Mark Viola, user91500, Dario, Claude Leibovici, Michael GaluzaAug 10 '15 at 11:53

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• It should work with the particular numbers mentioned in the post. Our interval should not contain any points where $\cot(ax)$ blows up. – André Nicolas Aug 10 '15 at 6:20
• To release the hold on this question, you should state how you evaluated the definite integral and the "math error" you got. – Rory Daulton Aug 10 '15 at 14:34
• @RoryDaulton the calculator (Casio FX 991ES Plus) doesnt state a specific kind of math error. it just says "math error". We're only allowed very very specific kind of calculators. I have a feeling this is one of the limitations of said calculator. – james Aug 11 '15 at 0:22
• Yes you should state how you integrated it because cot and csc are not found on that particular calculator. I use the same one. Check the manual or an older model manual to explain how you may need to break it up into parts so the neg portion of the curve will need to be -(integral) from high to low instead of (integral) low to high. You see because one has a pos val and the other has negative. It would be ((integral) low to high) + (-(integral) high to low) . . . – mchid Aug 24 '17 at 19:12
• I still haven't been able to do it correctly yet, however, you should be able to find instructions in this manual on page E22 of the document: support.casio.com/storage/en/manual/pdf/EN/004/… – mchid Aug 24 '17 at 19:15

As you can see, there is no error here. There would have been errors if I mis-typed the integral. One common error is forgetting the multiplication sign in the subexpression $a\cdot x$: without that sign, the calculator thinks you are trying to use the two-letter variable $ax$. Another common error is trying to exactly copy the math notation $\cot^3 a\cdot x$. The calculator requires parentheses around the argument $a\cdot x$, and it does not like the cube symbol just after the function name. It must be typed as $\cot(a\cdot x)^3$ (which is how I typed it) or as $(\cot(a\cdot x))^3$ (which is what the calculator converts it to).
The numeric check usually works, if you keep set the integral limits so the variable stays in the domain of the integrand. In your case the domain includes $(0,\pi)$, so your limits of $0.5$ and $2.5$ are just fine. A graphing calculator can be confused in some cases, so you should not completely trust it, but numeric checks like this are very useful. I emphasize such numeric checks in my calculus class. In fact, our textbook is titled Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic, and I do teach multiple approaches to solving problems, using them to check each other. I also give exercises that show that the calculator is not to be completely trusted: it can be fooled. Syntax and other details must also be carefully observed, of course. So the calculator is not perfect, but it is a useful tool.