# Homework Help: Find the Indefinate Intregral

1. Oct 7, 2011

### Windowmaker

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
integrate cos ^3(πx-1)

2. Relevant equations
1-sin^2(πx-1) = cos ^2 (πx-1)

3. The attempt at a solution

(1-sin^2(πx-1))cos(πx-1)

Let u = πx-1
1/ πdu = dx
1-sin^2(u )cos (u)

1/ π(X-1/3sin^3(u)

Basically I'm Confused on how to get past the trig identity part.

2. Oct 7, 2011

### Windowmaker

π is Suppose to be pi i guess..

3. Oct 7, 2011

you don't really need to do a substitution for the argument of the cosine function, just use the trig identity like you did, factoring out a cos(∏x-1) and then make the subsitution u = sin(∏x -1) and du = ∏cos(∏x-1)dx and you get:

∫cos(∏x-1)dx -1/∏∫u2du

4. Oct 7, 2011

### Windowmaker

I see the answer in my book, but I'm not entirely sure there are no cosines in the answer.

5. Oct 7, 2011

### Windowmaker

Wow, that was more simple than i thought. Thank you! Its amazing how much an actual person can be when compared to a Textbook!

6. Oct 7, 2011

### dextercioby

Don't forget the integration constant each time you don't have limits on the integral sign. Also the 'dx' if you're integrating wrt 'x' or 'du', if you're integrating wrt 'u', etc.

So that

∫ cos3(πx-1) dx = 'something(x)' + C

7. Oct 7, 2011

### LawrenceC

At the risk of stating the obvious, if the answer is not provided and you work an integral, take the derivative of your answer to check to see if you wind up with the integrand once again.