TITLE: How to prove $\frac{1}{2n+2}<\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\tan^nx\,dx<\frac{1}{2n}$
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: How to prove $$\frac{1}{2n+2}<\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\tan^nx\,dx< \frac{1}{2n}$$
Set $A_n=\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\tan^nx\,dx$, then we have $A_n+A_{n+2}=\frac{1}{n+1}$ and we have $A_{n+2} < A_n$ ,so we can get $$\frac{1}{2n+2}< \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\tan^nx\,dx < \frac{1}{2n-2}$$
But how to show that$$\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{4}}\tan^nx\,dx < \frac{1}{2n}$$

REPLY [7 votes]: Change variable to $t = \tan x$, we have
$$I_n \stackrel{def}{=}\int_0^{\pi/4} \tan^n x dx = \int_0^1 \frac{t^n}{1+t^2} dt$$
Notice for $t \in (0,1)$, we have $\frac{1 + t^2}{2} < 1$. This implies
$$I_n > \int_0^1 \frac{t^n}{1+t^2}\cdot\frac{1+t^2}{2} dt = \frac12\int_0^1 t^n dt = \frac{1}{2(n+1)}$$
On the other direction, AM $\ge GM$ tell us $t = \sqrt{1 \cdot t^2} \le \frac{1+t^2}{2}$ and the inequality is strict when $t \ne 1$. This leads to
$$I_n = \int_0^1 \frac{t^{n-1}}{1+t^2} t dt < \int_0^1 \frac{t^{n-1}}{1+t^2}\cdot \frac{1+t^2}{2} dt = \frac12 \int_0^1 t^{n-1} dt = \frac{1}{2n}$$