# Integral $\int_0^{\pi/4}\frac{dx}{{\sin 2x}\,(\tan^ax+\cot^ax)}=\frac{\pi}{8a}$

I am trying to prove this interesting integral$$\mathcal{I}:=\int_0^{\pi/4}\frac{dx}{{\sin 2x}\,(\tan^ax+\cot^ax)}=\frac{\pi}{8a},\qquad \mathcal{Re}(a)\neq 0.$$ This result is breath taking but I am more stumped than usual. It truly is magnificent. I am not sure how to approach this, note $\sin 2x=2\sin x \cos x$. I am not sure how to approach this because of the term $$(\tan^ax+\cot^ax)$$ in the denominator. I was trying to use the identity $$\tan \left(\frac{\pi}{2}-x\right)=\cot x$$ since this method solves a similar kind of integral but didn't get anywhere. A bad idea I tried was to try and differentiate with respect to a $$\frac{dI(a)}{da}=\int_0^{\pi/4}\partial_a \left(\frac{dx}{{\sin 2x}\,(\tan^ax+\cot^ax)}\right)=\int_0^{\pi/4} \frac{(\cot^a x \log(\cot x )+\log(\tan x ) \tan^a x)}{\sin 2x \, (\cot^a x+\tan^a x)^2}dx$$ which seems more complicated when I break it up into two integrals. How can we solve the integral? Thanks.

• This one just begs for a Weierstrass substitution. Also, $\cot=\dfrac1\tan$ May 23 '14 at 4:23

Rewrite: \begin{align} \int_0^{\Large\frac\pi4}\frac{dx}{{\sin 2x}\,(\tan^ax+\cot^ax)}&=\int_0^{\Large\frac\pi4}\frac{dx}{{2\sin x\cos x}\,\left(\tan^ax+\dfrac1{\tan^ax}\right)}\\ &=\frac12\int_0^{\Large\frac\pi4}\frac{\tan^ax\ dx}{{\tan x\cos^2x}\,\left(1+\tan^{2a}x\right)}\\ &=\frac12\int_0^{\Large\frac\pi4}\frac{\tan^{a-1}x\ d(\tan x)}{1+\tan^{2a}x}. \end{align} Now, let $\tan^a x=\tan\theta\;\Rightarrow\;a\tan^{a-1}x\ d(\tan x)=\sec^2\theta\ d\theta$. Then \begin{align} \frac12\int_{x=0}^{\Large\frac\pi4}\frac{\tan^{a-1}x\ d(\tan x)}{1+\tan^{2a}x}&=\frac1{2|a|}\int_{\theta=0}^{\Large\frac\pi4}\frac{\sec^2\theta\ d\theta}{1+\tan^{2}\theta}\\ &=\frac1{2|a|}\int_{\theta=0}^{\Large\frac\pi4}\ d\theta\\ &=\large\color{blue}{\frac{\pi}{8|a|}}. \end{align}

• @Integrals Jeff, why did you suspect your account would be suspended? Is it wrong if you ask lots of integral questions? I don't think so considering you're not a student which is fine to me asking too much as a curiousity. I have to admit, I learn a lot from your integral questions. So, I really hope the moderator will not suspend your account and keep posting integral questions! :) May 23 '14 at 9:07
• I made too many edits and posted too many problems, therefore flooded the main page. I didn't know this, I just post integrals because this is a math site. However the message was a "warning". People seem to be bothered by a lot of integrals, I have a lot of detail in every post so I am not sure what the issue is. May 24 '14 at 19:36
• by the way +1 This solution is excellent and complete! May 24 '14 at 19:38
• @Integrals There are some users that believe they are a sort of M.SE police officer. One of them make campaign to delete one of my answers. That answer took me several hours. It was a detailed solution of the $2D$-Laplace equation where I found a closed solutions in terms of $\left(r,\theta\right)\ \mbox{and}\ \left(x,y\right)$. It was something like a $2D$-Electrostatic problem. Other solutions were hints and answers with series. This user even criticizes how I write LaTeX. It's always around acting as a soldier. Unfortunately, I didn't keep a copy of it and it was lost forever. Jul 22 '14 at 4:36
• @Integrals I just see your new post. It's true: It looks like a 2-$D$ electrostatic problem. I'll think about it. Thanks. Aug 31 '14 at 20:21


Note that the integral depends obviously on $\ds{\large\verts{a}}$.

\begin{align} {\cal I}&=\half\ \overbrace{\int_{0}^{\pi/2}{\dd x \over \sin\pars{x} \bracks{\tan^{\verts{a}}\pars{x/2} + \cot^{\verts{a}}\pars{x/2}}}} ^{\ds{t \equiv \tan\pars{x \over 2}}} \\[3mm]&=\half\int_{0}^{1}{2\,\dd t/\pars{1 + t^{2}} \over \bracks{2t/\pars{1 + t^{2}}}\pars{t^{\verts{a}} + t^{-\verts{a}}}} =\half\ \overbrace{\int_{0}^{1} {t^{\verts{a} - 1} \over t^{2\verts{a}} + 1}\,\dd t} ^{\ds{t^{\verts{a}} \equiv x}\ \imp\ t = x^{1/\verts{a}}} \\[3mm]&=\half\int_{0}^{1}{ \pars{x^{1/\verts{a}}}^{\verts{a} - 1} \over x^{2} + 1}\,{1 \over \verts{a}}\,x^{1/\verts{a} - 1}\dd x ={1 \over 2\verts{a}}\ \overbrace{\int_{0}^{1}{\dd x \over x^{2} + 1}} ^{\ds{=\ {\pi \over 4}}} \end{align}

$$\color{#00f}{\large% {\cal I}\equiv\int_{0}^{\pi/4}{\dd x \over \sin\pars{2x}\bracks{\tan^{a}\pars{x} + \cot^{a}\pars{x}}}={\pi \over 8\verts{a}}}\,,\qquad\Re\pars{a} \not= 0$$

• I fix my answer, thanks for your concern Sir. Anyway +1. :) May 25 '14 at 4:03
• @Tunk-Fey Fine. Thanks a lot. May 25 '14 at 5:35

Start with $\tan x=t$ and then $t^a=\tan u$. You could have used them together but this looks better. All terms beautifully(as planned), cancel, giving : $$\int_0^{\dfrac {\pi}{4}}\dfrac{1}{2a}du$$

I have no idea how to do this one though.