# Integrating $\int\frac{1}{cos(\theta)}d\theta$ by following certain steps

$\int\frac{1}{\cos\theta}d\theta$

So I have this integral here and the solution manual wants the solving to follow a specific level of steps. This integral is okay on it's own but I'm having trouble doing it the way the solutions have suggested. And I'd like to know how it's done.

1. Write it as $\int\frac{\cos\theta}{\cos^2\theta}d\theta$

2. Make the substitution $u = \sin\theta$

3. Use partial fractions to complete the integration

4. Multiply a fraction in your answer your answer top and bottom by $1+sin\theta$

5. Show that $\tan^2\theta+1 = \frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}$

6. Hence write your answer without using any trig functions except tan.

This confuses me because I'm not sure how to follow this step process. I believe the answer without the tan only restriction to be $log(\tan(θ) + \sec(θ)) + C$. But I could be wrong in my substitution methods.

I think it should be $$\int\frac{1}{\cos{x}}dx=\int\frac{\cos{x}}{\cos^2x}dx=\int\frac{1}{1-\sin^2x}d(\sin{x})=$$ $$=\frac{1}{2}\int\left(\frac{1}{1-\sin{x}}+\frac{1}{1+\sin{x}}\right)d(\sin{x})=$$ $$=\frac{1}{2}\ln\frac{1+\sin{x}}{1-\sin{x}}+C=\ln\sqrt{\frac{1+\sin{x}}{1-\sin{x}}}+C=$$ $$=\ln\sqrt{\frac{1-\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{2}+x\right)}{1+\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{2}+x\right)}}+C=\ln\sqrt{\tan^2\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{x}{2}\right)}+C=\ln\left|\tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{x}{2}\right)\right|+C.$$

$1+\tan^2\theta=\frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}$, but here is useless I think.

• Hi this is beautifully set out I was just wondering how the book could ask to only express the final answer in tan? I'm not sure how that works. Considering I couldn't do it and your answer is in sine too. Weird ask hmm. – 99 Fishing Sep 19 '17 at 5:36
• @99 Fishing I added something. See now. – Michael Rozenberg Sep 19 '17 at 5:43
• ah I see the tan^2 transformation thank you. I wish I had this intuition, comes with practice I guess and keeping at it I guess! – 99 Fishing Sep 19 '17 at 5:48
• @99 Fishing Good luck! – Michael Rozenberg Sep 19 '17 at 5:49