# Integration problem

• December 4th 2010, 09:19 PM
Glitch
Integration problem
The Question:

$\int {sec^4\theta \ d\theta}$

My Attempt:

$\int {sec^2\theta \ sec^2\theta \ d\theta}$

$\int {sec^2\theta(tan^2\theta + 1) \ d\theta}$

Let $u = tan\theta$
$du = sec^2\theta \ d\theta$

$\int {u^2 + 1 \ du}$

= $\frac{1}{3}u^3 + u$
= $\frac{1}{3}tan^3\theta + tan\theta$

However, according to Wolfram Alpha the solution is this.

What am I doing incorrectly? Thanks.
• December 4th 2010, 09:33 PM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by Glitch
The Question:

$\int {sec^4\theta \ d\theta}$

My Attempt:

$\int {sec^2\theta \ sec^2\theta \ d\theta}$

$\int {sec^2\theta(tan^2\theta + 1) \ d\theta}$

Let $u = tan\theta$
$du = sec^2\theta \ d\theta$

$\int {u^2 + 1 \ du}$

= $\frac{1}{3}u^3 + u$
= $\frac{1}{3}tan^3\theta + tan\theta$

However, according to Wolfram Alpha the solution is this.

What am I doing incorrectly? Thanks.

Nothing they are the same thing.

CB
• December 4th 2010, 09:35 PM
Glitch
Ahh. Thank you. :)