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MTH 102 MTH 102 Past Questions Objective Question

Question

If I_n = ∫ cotⁿ x dx, the reduction formula for I_n is:
Options
A I_n = (cotⁿ⁺¹ x)/(n+1) - I_n-1
B I_n = -(cotⁿ⁻¹ x)/(n-1) - I_n-2
Correct Answer
C I_n = (cotⁿ⁻¹ x)/(n-1) - I_n-2
D I_n = (cotⁿ⁺¹ x)/(n+1) - I_n-2
Correct Answer

Option B is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

To derive the reduction formula for I_n = ∫ cotⁿ x dx, we use the identity cot² x = csc² x - 1.I_n = ∫ cotⁿ x dx = ∫ cotⁿ⁻² x * cot² x dx= ∫ cotⁿ⁻² x (csc² x - 1) dx= ∫ cotⁿ⁻² x csc² x dx - ∫ cotⁿ⁻² x dxThe second term is simply I_n-2.For the first term, let u = cot x. Then du = -csc² x dx, so csc² x dx = -du.∫ cotⁿ⁻² x csc² x dx = ∫ uⁿ⁻² (-du) = -∫ uⁿ⁻² du= - (uⁿ⁻¹)/(n-1) + C = - (cotⁿ⁻¹ x)/(n-1) + C (for n ≠ 1).Combining these results, I_n = - (cotⁿ⁻¹ x)/(n-1) - I_n-2.

Hint

Rewrite cotⁿ x as cotⁿ⁻² x * cot² x and use the identity cot² x = csc² x - 1. Then use u-substitution for the first resulting integral.

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