Integration by Parts for Cosine Squared: Is My Approach Correct?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the integration of the function $$\cos^2 x$$, specifically using integration by parts. Participants explore different approaches to solving the integral, including the use of trigonometric identities and integration techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents their approach using integration by parts, defining $$u = \cos^2 x$$ and deriving $$du$$, but expresses uncertainty about their progress.
  • Another participant suggests using the identity $$\cos^2 x = \frac{1 + \cos(2x)}{2}$$ as a simpler method to compute the integral, providing a complete solution based on this identity.
  • A third participant critiques the first participant's choice of $$u$$ and provides an alternative method for integration by parts, suggesting a different assignment for $$u$$ and $$v$$, leading to a more complex expression involving $$\sin(x)$$.
  • A later reply reiterates the use of the double angle identity for cosine as a more straightforward approach, while also detailing the steps taken in their integration process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the best approach to solve the integral. Participants present multiple methods, with some advocating for the use of trigonometric identities while others prefer integration by parts, leading to differing opinions on the most effective technique.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight potential limitations in their approaches, such as the complexity of integration by parts versus the simplicity of using trigonometric identities. There are also unresolved aspects regarding the handling of $$du$$ in the integration by parts method.

jamescv31
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Greetings :)

Well I wanted to seek help if my solution is on the right path, given as follows:

1) $$ \int cos ^2x dx $$

So my solution follows like this:

[math]
u = cos^2x [/math]
[math]du = 1/2 (1+cos(2x)) [/math]
[math]v = x[/math]
[math]dv = dx$$

but I've stuck when its in the $$u.v - \int v.du$$

$$cos^2 (x) - \int (x) (1+cos(2x)/2)$$

Is this a correct path?
 
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(Wave)It is known that :

$$\cos^2 x=\frac{1+ \cos{(2x)}}{2}$$

You can calculate easier the integral using the above equality.

$$\int \cos^2 x dx=\int \frac{1+ \cos{(2x)}}{2}dx =\int \frac{1}{2}dx+\int \frac{\cos(2x)}{2}dx= \frac{1}{2}x+ \frac{\sin(2x)}{4}+C$$
 
jamescv31 said:
1) $$ \int cos ^2x dx $$

So my solution follows like this:

[math]
u = cos^2x [/math]
[math]du = 1/2 (1+cos(2x)) [/math]
[math]v = x[/math]
[math]dv = dx[/math]
You have handled your u incorrectly.

If [math]u = cos^2(x)[/math] then [math]du = 2 \cdot cos(x) \cdot -sin(x)~dx[/math]

So your integration line reads:
[math]\int u~dv = u \cdot v - \int v~du[/math]

[math]\int cos^2(x)~dx = cos^2(x) \cdot x - \int x \cdot -2~sin(x)~cos(x)~dx[/math]
 
jamescv31 said:
Greetings :)

Well I wanted to seek help if my solution is on the right path, given as follows:

1) $$ \int cos ^2x dx $$

So my solution follows like this:

[math]
u = cos^2x [/math]
[math]du = 1/2 (1+cos(2x)) [/math]
[math]v = x[/math]
[math]dv = dx$$

but I've stuck when its in the $$u.v - \int v.du$$

$$cos^2 (x) - \int (x) (1+cos(2x)/2)$$

Is this a correct path?

If you really want to use integration by parts, you really should use $\displaystyle \begin{align*} u = \cos{(x)} \implies \mathrm{d}u = -\sin{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x \end{align*}$ and $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \mathrm{d}v = \cos{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x \implies v = \sin{(x)} \end{align*}$ to get

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int{\cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} - \int{ -\sin^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x } \\ \int{\cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} + \int{\sin^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} \\ \int{\cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} + \int{ 1 - \cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} \\ \int{\cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} + \int{1\,\mathrm{d}x} - \int{\cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} \\ 2\int{\cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} + x \\ \int{\cos^2{(x)}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \frac{1}{2}\sin{(x)}\cos{(x)} + \frac{1}{2}x \end{align*}$

with an integration constant on the end of course...

As you can see, this was the long way about it though, using the double angle identity for cosine would have made this a much easier problem...
 

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