# Math Help - Problem on integration!! need answer for this.. pl reply how to solve

1. ## Problem on integration!! need answer for this.. pl reply how to solve

how to solve this?? ∫(cos4x-cos4α)/(cosx-cosα)dx. Also the limits are given to be 0 to Pi. Reply me the entire solution.. Its urgent pls

2. Originally Posted by kamaksh_ice
how to solve this?? ∫(cos4x-cos4α)/(cosx-cosα)dx. Also the limits are given to be 0 to Pi. Reply me the entire solution.. Its urgent pls
Is this
$\int_0^{\pi} \frac{cos^4(x) - cos^4(a)}{cos(x) - cos(a)} dx$
or
$\int_0^{\pi} \frac{cos(4x) - cos(4a)}{cos(x) - cos(a)} dx$

-Dan

3. ## Answer me pls

It is
$\int_0^{\pi} \frac{cos(4x) - cos(4a)}{cos(x) - cos(a)} dx$

4. Originally Posted by kamaksh_ice
It is
$\int_0^{\pi} \frac{cos(4x) - cos(4a)}{cos(x) - cos(a)} dx$
This problem boils down to a factoring problem:

$cos(4x) = 8cos^4(x) - 8cos^2(x) + 1$
$cos(4a) = 8cos^4(a) - 8cos^2(a) + 1$

So
$cos(4x) - cos(4a) = 8[cos^4(x) - cos^4(a)] - [cos^2(x) - cos^2(a)]$

$= 8[cos^2(x) - cos^2(a)][cos^2(x) + cos^2(a)]- 8[cos^2(x) - cos^2(a)]$

$= 8(cos(x) - cos(a))[cos(x) + cos(a)][cos^2(x) + cos^2(a)]$ $- 8(cos(x) - cos(a))[cos(x) + cos(a)]$

So
$\int_0^{\pi} \frac{cos(4x) - cos(4a)}{cos(x) - cos(a)} dx$ $= \int_0^{\pi} (8[cos(x) + cos(a)][cos^2(x) + cos^2(a)] - 8[cos(x) + cos(a)]) dx$

$= 8 \int_0^{\pi}(cos^3(x) + cos(a) \cdot cos^2(x) - cos(x) + (cos^2(a) - cos(a))) dx$

all of which are now (relatively) elementary integrals.

-Dan