Evaluating $~\int_0^\pi\frac{\sin^{m-1}x}{(2+\cos x)^m}~dx$

218 Views Asked by At

How to find the following definite integral:

$$\int_0^{\pi}\frac{\sin^{m-1}x}{(2+\cos x)^m}dx$$

I have done up to:

$$\int_0^{\pi}\frac{\sin^{m-1}x}{(2+\cos x)^m}dx=\int_0^{\pi}\frac{2^{m-1}\sin^{m-1}x/2~\cos^{m-1}x/2}{(3-2\sin^2x/2)^m}dx$$

Now, substituting $\sin^2x/2=z$, we have:

$$\int_0^1\frac{2^{m-1}z^{m/2-1}~(1-z)^{m/2-1}}{(3-2z)^m}dz$$

The numerator comes in the form of the beta integral... but what to do with the denominator ?

Help needed. Thank you !

1

There are 1 best solutions below

1
On

The defined integral can be expressed thanks to the Incomplete Beta function (given by Lucian) or Gauss hypergeometric function. In case of integer $m$, an explicit form with Gamma function can be derived, which reduces to factorials if $m$ is even :

enter image description here