How do you find the integral of #int (sin(pix))^2*(cos(pix))^5 dx#?

1 Answer
Oct 16, 2015

Add the form #int sin^m u cos^n u du# with at least one of #m, n# odd to your mathematical cookbook.

Explanation:

#int sin^m u cos^n u du# with at least one of #m, n# odd.
Integrate by substitution. Do this by pulling off one from the odd power, then convert the remaining even power to the other function. Integrate the resulting polynomial in #sinu# or #cosu# term by term.

#I = int sin^2pixcos^5 pix dx = int sin^2pixcos^4 pix (cos pix )dx #

# = int sin^2pix (underbrace(cos^2 pix)_"Replace")^2 (cos pix )dx #

# = int sin^2pix underbrace((1-sin^2 pix)^2)_"Expand" (cos pix )dx #

# = int sin^2pix (1-2sin^2 pix +sin^4 pix)(cos pix )dx #

# = int (sin^2pix -2sin^4 pix +sin^6 pix)(cos pix )dx #

Let #u = sinx# so #du = cosx dx# and the integral becomes

# = 1/pi int (u^2-2u^4+u^6)du #

Finishing is left to the student.