Integration using Wallis formula

The Wallis formula is named after an English mathematician John Wallis (1616-1703), who
is most famous for his work on a method of interpolation which expanded on Cavalieri’s
method of indivisibles. The Wallis formula is a mathematical expression that provides a
formulaic representation for the values of the constant 𝜋 (pi), the wallis formula provides a
method to get the approximate value of 𝜋 by considering the ratio of certain products of
even and odd numbers. And as the approximation becomes increasingly accurate so as the
𝑛 increases.

The main purpose of Wallis formula is to integrate powers and product of sine and
cosine and to recall and apply the different trigonometric identities in transforming powers
of sine and cosine, the Wallis formula is also used to shorten the solution when finding the
anti-derivative of sine and cosine powers.

Formula:
(𝑚−1)‼ (𝑛−1)‼
If at least one of the power is an odd number. (𝑚+𝑛)‼

𝜋 (𝑚−1)‼ (𝑛−1)‼
And if both powers are even use this formula. ⋅ (𝑚+𝑛)‼
2

Where !! means double factorial.

Common errors:

• Misunderstanding the applicability of the Wallis formula: The Wallis formula

• Incorrect product expansion: The Wallis formula relies on expanding the product
of all factors from 1 to (n-1) and (n+1). Any mistakes in carrying out this
multiplication can lead to a wrong expression for the integral's value.
 • Sign errors: Pay attention to signs when expanding the product and manipulating
the resulting expression. A misplaced negative sign can significantly alter the final
answer.

• Confusion with other infinite products: The Wallis formula involves a finite
product, not an infinite product. Don't confuse it with infinite product
representations of other mathematical constants.

• Limited scope: The Wallis formula offers a solution for a specific type of integral. If
you encounter a definite integral that doesn't fit this mold, you'll need to resort to
other integration techniques.

It's important to note that the Wallis formula is more of a theoretical tool and not as
commonly used for solving everyday integration problems. However, understanding the
potential pitfalls mentioned above can be helpful if you encounter it in your studies.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS

Easy
𝝅
1. ∫𝟎𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟖 𝒙𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟒 𝒙 𝒅𝒙

𝝅
2. ∫𝟎𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟓 𝒙𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟔 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
 𝝅
3. ∫𝟎𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟑 𝒙𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟓 𝒙 𝒅𝒙

𝝅
4. ∫𝟎 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒙 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟕 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟐

𝝅
5. ∫𝟎 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟒 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟐
Average
𝝅
6. ∫𝟎𝟐 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟔 𝒙 𝒅𝒙

𝝅
7. ∫𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟗 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟐

𝝅
8. ∫𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟖 𝟑𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝟔

Difficult
𝝅
9. ∫𝟎𝟒 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝒚𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝟐𝒚 𝒅𝒚
 𝟑 𝟕
10. ∫𝟎 𝒙𝟐 (𝟗 − 𝒙𝟐 )𝟐 𝒅𝒙
 𝟐
1. ∫𝟏 (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑) 𝒅𝒙
2 2
= 2 ∫ 𝑥𝑑𝑥 − 3 ∫ 𝑑𝑥
1 1
𝑥2 2 2
= 2 ( ) | − 3𝑥|
2 1 1
2 2
= 𝑥 2 | − 3𝑥|
1 1
[(2 2) (12 )]
= − − [(3)(2) − (3)(1)]
= [4 − 1] − [6 − 3]
=3−3
=0

𝟏
2. ∫𝟐 (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑)𝒅𝒙
1 1
= 2 ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 − 3 ∫ 𝑑𝑥
2 2
𝑥2 1 1
= 2 ( ) | − (3𝑥)|
2 2 2
1 1
= 𝑥 2 | − (3𝑥)|
2 2
= [(12 ) − (22 )] − [(3)(1) − (3)(2)]
= [1 − 4] − [3 − 6]
= −3 + 3
=0

𝟏 𝒅𝒙
3. ∫−𝟏 (𝒙−𝟐)𝟐
1
= ∫ (𝑥 − 2)2 𝑑𝑥
−1
(𝑥 − 2)−1 1
= |
−1 −1
1 1
= − |
𝑥 − 2 −1
1 1
= (− ) − (− )
1−2 −1 − 2
1 1
= (− ) − (− )
−1 −3
1 2
=1− =
3 3
Type equation here.
 𝝅
4. ∫𝟎𝟒 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝟐𝒙 𝒅𝒙
𝜋
1
= − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝑥 |4
2 0
1 𝜋 1
= − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 [(2) ( )] + 𝑐𝑜𝑠[(2)(0)]
2 4 2
1 𝜋 1
= − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( ) + 𝑐𝑜𝑠(0)
2 2 2
1 1
= − (0) + (1)
2 2
1
=0+
2
1
=
2

𝟓
5. ∫𝟐 𝟖𝒅𝒙
5
= 8𝑥]
2
= [8(5)] − [8(2)]
= 40 − 16
=2

𝝅
6. ∫𝟎 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟑 𝜽 𝒅𝜽
𝜋
= ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃
0
𝜋
= ∫ (1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃)𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃
0
𝜋 𝜋
= ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃 − ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃
0 0
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑑𝑢 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑛 =2
𝑛+1 =3
𝜋 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 𝜋
= (𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃) | − ( )|
0 3 0
(𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜋)3 (𝑠𝑖𝑛0)3
= [𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜋) − 𝑠𝑖𝑛(0)] − [ − ]
3 3
=0
 √𝟕
7. ∫𝟎 𝒙𝟑 √𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 𝐝𝐱
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = 1 + 𝑥 2
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑑𝑢 = 2𝑥𝑑𝑥
1 √7 1
= ∫ (1 + 𝑥 2 )3+1 ∙ 2𝑥𝑑𝑥
2 0
4 √7
2 )3
1 (1 + 𝑥
= [ ]
2 4
3 0

1 3 4 √7
= [ (1 + 𝑥 2 )3 ]
2 4 0
4
1 3 3 2 3 4
= [ (1 + (√7) ) − (1 + 02 )3 ]
2 4 4
1 3 3 4 3 4
= [ (2 )3 − (1)3 ]
2 4 4
1 12 3
= ( − )
2 1 4
1 48 − 3
= ( )
2 4
1 45
= ( )
2 4
45 5
= or 5
8 8
Type equation here.
𝟒 𝟖
8. ∫−𝟑 𝒙𝟑 𝒅𝒙
4
= ∫ 8𝑥 −3 𝑑𝑥
−3
−2
8𝑥 4 −4 4
= ] = 2]
−2 −3 𝑥 −3
−4 −4 −1 4
= ( 2)−( 2
)= +
4 (−3) 4 9
−1 (9) 4 (4)
= +
4 (9) 9 (4)
−9 16
= +
36 36
7
=
36
 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 𝒆𝟐𝒙
9. ∫𝟎 𝒅𝒙
√𝟏+𝒆𝒙
𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒚 = √𝟏 + 𝒆𝒙
𝒚 𝟐 = 𝟏 + 𝒆𝒙
𝒆𝒙 = 𝒚 𝟐 − 𝟏
𝒆𝒙 𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐𝒚 𝒅𝒚
𝐥𝐧 𝟐 𝒙 𝒙
𝒆 𝒆 𝒅𝒙
= ∫
𝟎 √ 𝟏 + 𝒆𝒙
𝐥𝐧 𝟐 (𝒚𝟐
− 𝟏)(𝟐𝒚𝒅𝒚)
= ∫
𝟎 𝒚
𝐥𝐧 𝟐
= ∫ (𝟐𝒚𝟐 𝒅𝒚 − 𝟐) 𝒅𝒚
𝟎
𝐥𝐧 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝟐
𝟐
= 𝟐∫ 𝒚 𝒅𝒚 − 𝟐 ∫ 𝒅𝒚
𝒐 𝟎
𝒚𝟑 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝟐
= 𝟐( )| − (𝟐𝒚)|
𝟑 𝟎 𝟎
𝟑
(√𝟏 + 𝒆𝒙 ) 𝐥𝐧 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 𝟐
=𝟐 | − 𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝒆𝒙 )|
𝟑 𝟎 𝟎
𝟑
𝟑
𝟐 (√𝟏 + 𝒆𝐥𝐧 𝟐 ) 𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝒆𝟎 )
[ − ] − [𝟐 (√𝟏 + 𝒆𝐥𝐧 𝟐 − 𝟐√𝟏 + 𝒆𝟎 )]
𝟑 𝟑
𝟑 𝟑
𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝟐) 𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝟏)
= [ − ] − [𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝟐 − 𝟐 √𝟏 + 𝟏)]
𝟑 𝟑
𝟑 𝟑
𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝟐) 𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝟏)
= [ − ] − [𝟐(√𝟏 + 𝟐 − 𝟐√𝟏 + 𝟏)]
𝟑 𝟑
𝟑 𝟑
𝟐(√𝟑) 𝟐(√𝟐)
= [ − ] − [𝟐√𝟑 + 𝟐√𝟐]
𝟑 𝟑
𝟐√𝟐
= ≈ 𝟎. 𝟗𝟒
𝟑

𝝅
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒙 𝒅𝒙
10. ∫𝟎
𝟐
𝟏+𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒙

𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑥
𝑑𝑢 = −𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 𝑑𝑥
− 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 𝑑𝑥
 𝜋
= − (ln|1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥|) | 2
0
𝜋
= − ln |1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( )| + ln|1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠(0)|
2
= − ln|1 + 0| + ln|1 + 1|
= − ln|1| + ln|2|
= ln 2 ≈ 0.69