What is #intsin^2(x) dx#?

1 Answer
Dec 15, 2014

We can solve this by expressing #*sin ^2 (x)# in terms of a function in the first power.

From the equation:

# cos 2x = cos ^ 2 (x) - sin^2 (x)#

and the equation

#sin^2 (x) + cos^2 (x) = 1 #

#cos ^2 (x) = 1 - sin^2 (x)#

then. we substitute to the first equation

# cos 2x = 1 - sin^2 (x) - sin ^2(x)#

simplifying,

# sin ^2 (x) = (1 - cos 2x)/ 2 #

substitute to the original problem

# int [(1-cos 2x)/2]dx#

#(1/2)int(1 - cos 2x)dx#

#(1/2)[ intdx - intcos 2xdx#

#(1/2)[x - sin 2x*intd(2x)]#

# (1/2)[x - (sin 2x) * 2*1] #

# x/2 - sin 2x + c #