The Weierstrass substitution , named after German mathematician Karl Weierstrass \(\left({1815 - 1897}\right),\) is used for converting rational expressions of trigonometric functions into algebraic rational functions, which may be easier to integrate.
This method of integration is also called the tangent half-angle substitution as it implies the following half-angle identities:
where \(t = \tan \frac{x}{2}\) or \(x = 2\arctan t.\)
The differential \(dx\) is determined as follows:
\[dx = d\left( {2\arctan t} \right) = \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
Any rational expression of trigonometric functions can be always reduced to integrating a rational function by making the Weierstrass substitution.
The Weierstrass substitution is very useful for integrals involving a simple rational expression in \(\sin x\) and/or \(\cos x\) in the denominator.
To calculate an integral of the form \(\int {R\left( {\sin x} \right)\cos x\,dx} ,\) where \(R\) is a rational function, use the substitution \(t = \sin x.\)
Similarly, to calculate an integral of the form \(\int {R\left( {\cos x} \right)\sin x\,dx} ,\) where \(R\) is a rational function, use the substitution \(t = \cos x.\)
If an integrand is a function of only \(\tan x,\) the substitution \(t = \tan x\) converts this integral into integral of a rational function.
To calculate an integral of the form \(\int {R\left( {\sin x} \right)\cos x\,dx} ,\) where both functions \(\sin x\) and \(\cos x\) have even powers, use the substitution \(t = \tan x\) and the formulas
\[{\cos ^2}x = \frac{1}{{1 + {{\tan }^2}x}} = \frac{1}{{1 + {t^2}}},\;\;\;{\sin ^2}x = \frac{{{{\tan }^2}x}}{{1 + {{\tan }^2}x}} = \frac{{{t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
Solved Problems
Click or tap a problem to see the solution.
Example 1
Evaluate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \sin x}}}.\]
Example 2
Evaluate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{3 - 2\sin x}}}.\]
Example 3
Calculate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \cos \frac{x}{2}}}}.\]
Example 4
Evaluate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \cos 2x}}}.\]
Example 5
Compute the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{4 + 5\cos \frac{x}{2}}}}.\]
Example 6
Find the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sin x + \cos x}}}.\]
Example 7
Find the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sin x + \cos x + 1}}}.\]
Example 8
Evaluate \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sec x + 1}}}.\]
Example 1.
Evaluate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \sin x}}}.\]
Solution.
We use the universal trigonometric substitution:
\[t = \tan \frac{x}{2},\;\; \Rightarrow x = 2\arctan t,\;\;\; dx = \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
Since \(\sin x = {\frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}}},\) we have
\[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \sin x}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{1 + \frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = \int {\frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2} + 2t}}} = \int {\frac{{2dt}}{{{{\left( {t + 1} \right)}^2}}}} = - \frac{2}{{t + 1}} + C = - \frac{2}{{\tan \frac{x}{2} + 1}} + C.\]
Example 2.
Evaluate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{3 - 2\sin x}}}.\]
Solution.
Using the Weierstrass substitution
\[x = \arctan t,\;\; \sin x = \frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\;\; dx = \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\]
we can rewrite the integral in the form
\[I = \int {\frac{{dx}}{{3 - 2\sin x}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{3 - 2 \cdot \frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = \int {\frac{{2dt}}{{3 + 3{t^2} - 4t}}} = \int {\frac{{2dt}}{{3\left( {{t^2} - \frac{4}{3}t + 1} \right)}}} = \frac{2}{3}\int {\frac{{dt}}{{{t^2} - \frac{4}{3}t + 1}}} .\]
Complete the square in the denominator:
\[{t^2} - \frac{4}{3}t + 1 = {t^2} - \frac{4}{3}t + {\left( {\frac{2}{3}} \right)^2} - {\left( {\frac{2}{3}} \right)^2} + 1 = {\left( {t - \frac{2}{3}} \right)^2} - \frac{4}{9} + 1 = {\left( {t - \frac{2}{3}} \right)^2} + \frac{5}{9} = {\left( {t - \frac{2}{3}} \right)^2} + {\left( {\frac{{\sqrt 5 }}{3}} \right)^2}.\]
Changing \(u = t - \frac{2}{3},\) \(du = dt\) gives the final answer:
\[I = \frac{2}{3}\int {\frac{{dt}}{{{{\left( {t - \frac{2}{3}} \right)}^2} + {{\left( {\frac{{\sqrt 5 }}{3}} \right)}^2}}}} = \frac{2}{3}\int {\frac{{du}}{{{u^2} + {{\left( {\frac{{\sqrt 5 }}{3}} \right)}^2}}}} = \frac{2}{3} \cdot \frac{1}{{\frac{{\sqrt 5 }}{3}}}\arctan \frac{u}{{\frac{{\sqrt 5 }}{3}}} + C = \frac{2}{{\sqrt 5 }}\arctan \frac{{3\left( {t - \frac{2}{3}} \right)}}{{\sqrt 5 }} + C = \frac{2}{{\sqrt 5 }}\arctan \frac{{3t - 2}}{{\sqrt 5 }} + C = \frac{2}{{\sqrt 5 }}\arctan \left( {\frac{{3\tan \frac{x}{2} - 2}}{{\sqrt 5 }}} \right) + C.\]
Example 3.
Calculate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \cos \frac{x}{2}}}}.\]
Solution.
Make the universal trigonometric substitution:
\[t = \tan \frac{x}{4},\;\; \Rightarrow d\left( {\frac{x}{2}} \right) = \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\;\; \Rightarrow \cos \frac{x}{2} = \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
Then the integral becomes
\[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \cos \frac{x}{2}}}} = \int {\frac{{d\left( {\frac{x}{2}} \right)}}{{1 + \cos \frac{x}{2}}}} = 2\int {\frac{{\frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{1 + \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = 4\int {\frac{{dt}}{{1 + \cancel{t^2} + 1 - \cancel{t^2}}}} = 2\int {dt} = 2t + C = 2\tan \frac{x}{4} + C.\]
Example 4.
Evaluate the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \cos 2x}}}.\]
Solution.
Using the substitution
\[t = \tan x,\;\; \Rightarrow x = \arctan t,\;\; \Rightarrow dx = \frac{{dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\;\; \Rightarrow \cos 2x = \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\]
we can easily find the integral:we can easily find the integral:
\[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{1 + \cos 2x}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{1 + \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = \int {\frac{{dt}}{{1 + \cancel{t^2} + 1 - \cancel{t^2}}}} = \int {\frac{{dt}}{2}} = \frac{t}{2} + C = \frac{1}{2}\tan x + C.\]
Example 5.
Compute the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{4 + 5\cos \frac{x}{2}}}}.\]
Solution.
To simplify the integral, we use the Weierstrass substitution:
\[t = \tan \frac{x}{4},\;\; \Rightarrow x = 4\arctan t,\;\; dx = \frac{{4dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\;\; \cos \frac{x}{2} = \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
The integral becomes
\[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{4 + 5\cos \frac{x}{2}}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{4dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{4 + 5 \cdot \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = \int {\frac{{4dt}}{{4\left( {1 + {t^2}} \right) + 5\left( {1 - {t^2}} \right)}}} = 4\int {\frac{{dt}}{{4 + 4{t^2} + 5 - 5{t^2}}}} = 4\int {\frac{{dt}}{{{3^2} - {t^2}}}} = 4 \cdot \frac{1}{{2 \cdot 3}}\ln \left| {\frac{{3 + t}}{{3 - t}}} \right| + C = \frac{2}{3}\ln \left| {\frac{{3 + \tan \frac{x}{4}}}{{3 - \tan \frac{x}{4}}}} \right| + C.\]
Example 6.
Find the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sin x + \cos x}}}.\]
Solution.
As in the previous examples, we will use the universal trigonometric substitution:
\[t = \tan \frac{x}{2},\;\; \Rightarrow x = 2\arctan t,\;\;\; dx = \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
Since \(\sin x = {\frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}}},\) \(\cos x = {\frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}},\) we can write:
\[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sin x + \cos x}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{\frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}} + \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = \int {\frac{{2dt}}{{2t + 1 - {t^2}}}} = 2\int {\frac{{dt}}{{1 - \left( {{t^2} - 2t} \right)}}} = 2\int {\frac{{dt}}{{1 - \left( {{t^2} - 2t + 1 - 1} \right)}}} = 2\int {\frac{{dt}}{{2 - {{\left( {t - 1} \right)}^2}}}} = 2\int {\frac{{d\left( {t - 1} \right)}}{{{{\left( {\sqrt 2 } \right)}^2} - {{\left( {t - 1} \right)}^2}}}} = 2 \cdot \frac{1}{{2\sqrt 2 }}\ln \left| {\frac{{\sqrt 2 + \left( {t - 1} \right)}}{{\sqrt 2 - \left( {t - 1} \right)}}} \right| + C = \frac{1}{{\sqrt 2 }}\ln \left| {\frac{{\sqrt 2 - 1 + \tan \frac{x}{2}}}{{\sqrt 2 + 1 - \tan \frac{x}{2}}}} \right| + C.\]
Example 7.
Find the integral \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sin x + \cos x + 1}}}.\]
Solution.
Making the \({\tan \frac{x}{2}}\) substitution, we have
\[t = \tan \frac{x}{2},\;\; \Rightarrow x = 2\arctan t,\;\; dx = \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\;\; \sin x = \frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}},\;\; \cos x = \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
Then the integral in \(t-\)terms is written as
\[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sin x + \cos x + 1}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{\frac{{2t}}{{1 + {t^2}}} + \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}} + 1}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{\frac{{2t + 1 - {t^2} + 1 + {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = \int {\frac{{2dt}}{{2t + 2}}} = \int {\frac{{dt}}{{t + 1}}} = \ln \left| {t + 1} \right| + C = \ln \left| {\tan \frac{x}{2} + 1} \right| + C.\]
Example 8.
Evaluate \[\int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sec x + 1}}}.\]
Solution.
We can write the integral in form:
\[I = \int {\frac{{dx}}{{\sec x + 1}}} = \int {\frac{{dx}}{{\frac{1}{{\cos x}} + 1}}} = \int {\frac{{\cos xdx}}{{1 + \cos x}}} .\]
Use the universal trigonometric substitution:
\[t = \tan \frac{x}{2},\;\; \Rightarrow x = 2\arctan t,\;\;\; dx = \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}.\]
This leads to the following result:
\[I = \int {\frac{{\cos xdx}}{{1 + \cos x}}} = \int {\frac{{\frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}} \cdot \frac{{2dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}{{1 + \frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = 2\int {\frac{{\frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{{{\left( {1 + {t^2}} \right)}^2}}}dt}}{{\frac{{1 + {t^2} + 1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}}}} = \int {\frac{{1 - {t^2}}}{{1 + {t^2}}}dt} = - \int {\frac{{1 + {t^2} - 2}}{{1 + {t^2}}}dt} = - \int {1dt} + 2\int {\frac{{dt}}{{1 + {t^2}}}} = - t + 2\arctan t + C = - \tan \frac{x}{2} + 2\arctan \left( {\tan \frac{x}{2}} \right) + C = x - \tan \frac{x}{2} + C.\]
