Integrate the expression cos^2(x).

This is a common question in C4 and the trick used to solve it is often used in sub-sections to full questions.

To solve it, we must simplify the expression in terms of cos(2x) using two trigonometric identities: "cos(2x) = cos2x - sin2x" and "sin2x + cos2x = 1". The result of these two expressions gives us "cos2x = 0.5cos(2x) + 0.5". We can now obtain the final solution by integrating this expression knowing that cos(x) integrates to sin(x), giving "0.25sin(2x) + 0.5x + c". The c term, representing a constant, is essential in the answer as we have not defined the integral between any limits.

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Answered by Rohan T. Maths tutor

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