Use integration by parts to prove the reduction formula ∫sinn(x) dx=−sinn−1(x)cos(x)n+n−1n∫sinn−2(x) dx
So I'm definitely on the right track because I'm very close to this result, and I also found an example of this exact question in one of my textbooks.
I made f(x)=sinn−1(x) and g'(x)=sin(x). And with that I got to the point of having
∫sinn(x) dx=−sinn−1(x)cos(x)+(n−1)∫cos2(x)sinn−2(x) dx
(sorry I haven't shown how I got to this stage, It's taking me way too long to write out these formulas, but the textbook done the same thing)
Then the textbook then uses the identity cos2(x)=1−sin2(x).
Which would give:
∫sinn(x) dx=−sinn−1(x)cos(x)+(n−1)∫(1−sin2(x))sinn−2(x) dx
And then I would have thought expanding that last integral would give
∫sinn(x) dx=−sinn−1(x)cos(x)+(n−1)∫sinn−2(x)−∫sinn(x))dx
However the textbook says you should get
∫sinn(x) dx=−sinn−1(x)cos(x)+(n−1)∫sinn−2(x)−(n−1)∫sinn(x))dx
Lots of information but essentially my question is just this, where did that extra (n-1) come from? I can't figure it out and its preventing me from finishing the question.
Thanks in advance :)
Answer
the n−1 term is multiplying everything against the integral on the right hand side; namely the term
(n−1)(∫(1−sin2(x))sinn−2(x)dx)
As such once multiplied out; the n−1 term appears agains the −∫sinn(x)dx term too.
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