Cos^2(x) Integral: Get Help Solving

  • Thread starter Thread starter iRaid
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integral
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
5 replies · 4K views
iRaid
Messages
558
Reaction score
8

Homework Statement


[itex]\int cos^{2}x dx[/itex]

I know that

[itex]cos^{2}x = \frac{1+cos2x}{2}[/itex]

but I don't see how that helps me.
Can someone help walk me through it..

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution

 
Physics news on Phys.org
Well, that leaves you with:
[tex]\int \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}cos(2x)dx[/tex]

Which you can break up into two integrals:
[tex]\int \frac{1}{2}dx + \int \frac{1}{2}cos(2x)dx[/tex]

The first one should be no problem. Isn't there some sort of substitution you can make for the second one?
 
u=2x du=(1/2)dx
(1/2)∫cosudu
=(1/4)sin2x

So then..
x/2 + (1/4)sin2x
but that's not the answer..
 
Last edited:
iRaid said:
u=2x du=(1/2)dx
(1/2)∫cosudu
=(1/4)sin2x

So then..
x/2 + (1/4)sin2x
but that's not the answer..

I think it is the correct answer. You should probably put a +C on it. Is that the problem?
 
Dick said:
I think it is the correct answer. You should probably put a +C on it. Is that the problem?

Oh nevermind was looking at the wrong answer. Thanks for the help.