# Integrate $\sin x/(1+\sin x)$, how to?

How can I integrate $\displaystyle\int{\dfrac{\sin x}{1+\sin x}}dx$? I have already tried by applying different trigonometric results.

If we write the expression in the following way: $$\frac{\sin x}{1+ \sin x} = \frac{\sin x(1 - \sin x)}{(1+\sin x)(1 - \sin x)} = \frac{\sin x - (\sin x)^2}{1 - (\sin x)^2} = \frac{\sin x - (\sin x)^2}{(\cos x)^2} \\= \frac{\sin x}{(\cos x)^2} - (\tan x)^2$$ Do you see how we can integrate these two terms?

• I think the final terms are getting harder to integrate. ;-) Jan 8, 2014 at 15:18
• $\sin x/ (\cos x)^2$ can be integrated by a simple substitution, and $(\tan x)^2$ can be integrated by writing $(\tan x)^2 = [ (\tan x)^2 + 1] - 1$. I think this is a good way to do it if one doesn't know about the Weierstrass substitution Jan 8, 2014 at 15:21
• I see. Thanks :-) Jan 8, 2014 at 15:21
• the result is secx - tanx + x . actually the question was a definite integral with upperlimit Pi/2 so i cannot apply on this result due to presence of secx. works fine with this link what is wrong!!!! Jan 8, 2014 at 15:46
• $\sec x - \tan x = (1- \sin x)/(\cos x)$. This is a 0/0-expression when $x = \pi/2$, so you can evaluate it as a limit by using L'hôpital's rule for instance. Jan 8, 2014 at 15:54

Hint:

Write $\frac{\sin{x}}{1+\sin{x}}$ as $$\frac{\sin{x}}{1+\sin{x}}= \frac{1+\sin{x}-1}{1+\sin{x}} =1 -\frac{1}{1+\sin{x}}$$

Now subsitute $u=\tan{\frac{x}{2}}$

With this substitution the integral will simplify to

$$\int dx - \int\frac{2}{u^2+2u+1}\,du$$