# Integral Question

#### eddybob123

##### Active member
Find the exact value of the following integral:
$$\int^{\pi /4}_{-\pi /4 }\arccos(x)\sec(x)\;dx$$

#### Opalg

##### MHB Oldtimer
Staff member
Find the exact value of the following integral:
$$\int^{\pi /4}_{-\pi /4 }\arccos(x)\sec(x)\;dx$$
Since $\sec(-x) = \sec(x)$, and $\arccos(-x) = \pi - \arccos(x)$ (for $|x| < 1$), it follows that $$\displaystyle \int_{-\pi/4}^0 \arccos(x)\sec(x)\,dx = \int_0^{\pi/4} (\pi - \arccos(x))\sec(x)\,dx.$$ Hence $$\displaystyle \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4}\arccos(x)\sec(x)\,dx = \pi\int_0^{\pi/4} \sec(x)\,dx = \pi\Bigl[\ln|\sec(x) + \tan(x)|\Bigr]_0^{\pi/4} = \pi\ln(\sqrt2+1).$$

Last edited:

#### eddybob123

##### Active member
Since $\sec(-x) = \sec(x)$, and $\arccos(-x) = \pi - \arccos(x)$ (for $|x| < 1$), it follows that $$\displaystyle \int_{-\pi/4}^0 \arccos(x)\sec(x)\,dx = \int_0^{\pi/4} (\pi - \arccos(x))\sec(x)\,dx.$$ Hence $$\displaystyle \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4}\arccos(x)\sec(x)\,dx = \pi\int_0^{\pi/4} \sec(x)\,dx = \pi\Bigl[\ln|\sec(x) + \tan(x)|\Bigr]_0^{\pi/4} = \pi\ln(\sqrt2+1).$$
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