1.3.

INTEGRATION OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

For this part of the topic, we will acquaint ourselves with the first six formulas for the
antiderivatives of trigonometric functions. These formulas in general, will just come from the
formulas of the derivatives of the six trigonometric functions. We will state first the formulas in
terms of theorems, and we will prove them one by one.

Theorem 6:  sin xdx = − cos x + C

Proof: Since the antiderivative of sin x is –cos x + C, we must show that the derivative of
–cos x + C is indeed, sin x

 D x (− cos x + C ) = D x (− cos x ) + Dx (C ) Recall: D x (cos x ) = − sin x

= −Dx (cos x ) + 0 = −(− sin x )

 D x (− cos x + C ) = sin x ▪

Note: The integral of the form sin x is NEGATIVE cos x + C, unlike its derivative which
has a positive sign, that is D x (sin x ) = cos x . We must not confuse ourselves with the
signs of the answers for the derivative and integral of sin x.

Theorem 7:  cos xdx = sin x + C

Proof: We must show that the derivative of sin x + C is cos x.

 D x (sin x + C ) = D x (sin x ) + D x (C ) Recall: D x (sin x ) = cos x

 Dx (sin x + C ) = cos x
▪

Note: In this case the integral of the form cos x is POSITIVE sin x + C, unlike its
derivative having a negative sign, that is D x (cos x ) = − sin x . We must not confuse
ourselves with the signs of the answers for the derivative and integral of cos x.

 sec xdx = tan x + C

2
Theorem 8:

Proof: The proof of this theorem is straightforward, since the derivative of tan x + C is
just sec2 x. ▪

MATH 20053 (CALCULUS 2) | Prepared by: Prof Randy Cham T. Alignay (PUPSRC) 1
Theorem 9:  csc 2 xdx = − cot x + C

Proof: To show that the derivative of –cot x + C is csc2 x,

 Dx (− cot x + C ) = Dx (− cot x ) + Dx (C ) Recall: Dx (cot x ) = − csc 2 x

(
= −Dx (cot x ) + 0 = − − csc 2 x )
 Dx (− cot x + C ) = csc 2 x ▪

Theorem 10:  tan x sec xdx = sec x + C

Proof: The proof of this theorem is straightforward, since the derivative of sec x + C is
just tan x sec x. ▪

Theorem 11:  cot x csc xdx = − csc x + C

Proof: To show that the derivative of –csc x + C is cot x csc x,

 D x (− csc x + C ) = D x (− csc x ) + D x (C ) Recall: D x (csc x ) = − cot x csc x

= −Dx (csc x ) + 0 = −(− cot x csc x )

 D x (− csc x + C ) = cot x csc x ▪

Let’s now summarize the six formulas that we had proven:

1. 4.

2. 5.

3. 6.

Note that these six formulas are just preliminary formulas for the integrals of trigonometric
functions. These are not yet complete and we will still encounter other formulas in our
succeeding discussions.

In the examples that will follow, we are to devise a way to use these formulas by possibly
using some trigonometric identities to execute the solution correctly. We can also use the
preliminary theorems in the previous topic if needed.

MATH 20053 (CALCULUS 2) | Prepared by: Prof Randy Cham T. Alignay (PUPSRC) 2
Recall: The Eight Fundamental Identities

1 1
Reciprocal Identities: = csc x ; = sin x (1)
sin x cscx

1 1
= sec x ; = cos x (2)
cos x secx

1 1
= cot x ; = tan x (3)
tan x cotx

sin x cos x
Quotient Identities: = tan x (4) = cot x (5)
cos x sin x

Pythagorean Identities: 1 − sin2 x = cos 2 x ; 1 − cos 2 x = sin2 x (6)

1 + tan 2 x = sec 2 x ; sec 2 x − 1 = tan 2 x (7)

1 + cot 2 x = csc 2 x ; csc 2 x − 1 = cot 2 x (8)

(
Example 1:  3 sec x tan x − 5 csc 2 x dx )
We can first use some preliminary theorems first before integrating the trigonometric
functions involved. Distributing the integration symbol and taking out constant multiples
first, we have:

  (3 sec x tan x − 5 csc x )dx =  3 sec x tan xdx −  5 csc xdx

2 2

= 3  sec x tan xdx − 5  csc 2 xdx

Noting that  sec x tan xdx = sec x + C and  csc 2 xdx = − cot x + C and just annexing +C
at the last term:

  (3 sec x tan x − 5 csc x )dx = 3(sec x ) − 5(− cot x ) + C

2

( )
  3 sec x tan x − 5 csc 2 x dx = 3 sec x + 5 cot x + C

WARNING: DO NOT FORGET TO ANNEX THE +C TERM IN YOUR FINAL ANSWER for all
indefinite integrals. Recall that the additional arbitrary constant is a very important concept
involving the antiderivatives of any functions.

MATH 20053 (CALCULUS 2) | Prepared by: Prof Randy Cham T. Alignay (PUPSRC) 3
 2 cot x − 3 sin 2 x
Example 2:  dx
sin x

Since the form of the expression that we will integrate (integrand) does not satisfy yet
any of the formulas that we have so far, we simplify the given first by dividing each term
of the numerator by sin x, and we have:

2 cot x − 3 sin 2 x  2 cot x 3 sin 2 x 

dx =   
2 cot x
 dx =   −  − 3 sin x dx
sin x  sin x sin x   sin x 

2 cot x cot x
= dx −  3 sin xdx = 2 dx − 3 sin xdx
sin x sin x

Note that the second term is now possible to integrate since we now have a ready-made
formula for it. For the first term, we must think of a way to use our available formulas, by
using some trigonometric identities. One way is by isolating sin x and use a reciprocal
identity, thus:

2 cot x − 3 sin 2 x  1  1
 dx = 2 cot x  dx − 3 sin xdx ; = csc x
sin x  sin x  sin x

= 2 cot x csc dx − 3  sin xdx = 2(− csc x ) − 3(− cos x ) + C

2 cot x − 3 sin 2 x
 dx = −2 csc x + 3 cos x + C
sin x

(
Example 3:  tan 2 x + cot 2 x + 4 dx )
For us to use the formulas that we know, we can transform the first two terms in terms of
their respective Pythagorean identities first:

  (tan )
x + cot 2 x + 4 dx =  (sec ) ( ) 
x − 1 + csc 2 x − 1 + 4 dx
2 2

=  (sec )
x + csc 2 x + 2 dx =  sec 2 xdx +  csc 2 xdx + 2 dx
2

( )
  tan 2 x + cot 2 x + 4 dx = tan x − cot x + 2 x + C

These examples will serve as model examples for now, wherein we will still encounter or use
these formulas as we proceed with the topics.

MATH 20053 (CALCULUS 2) | Prepared by: Prof Randy Cham T. Alignay (PUPSRC) 4
EXERCISE 1.3: Evaluate the following indefinite integrals.

sin x
1.  cos 2 x dx (Ans: sec x + C )

 (4 csc x cot x + 2 sec x )dx

2
2.

 (3 csc )
t − 5 sec t tan t dt
2
3.

3 tan  − 4 cos 2 
4.  d
cos 

dx
5.  1 − sin x (Ans: tan x + sec x + C )
Hint: multiply numerator and denominator by 1 + sin x

 (2 tan x − cot x ) dx
2
6. (Ans: 4 tan x − cot x − 9x + C )

MATH 20053 (CALCULUS 2) | Prepared by: Prof Randy Cham T. Alignay (PUPSRC) 5