Find the integral of sin^2(X)

As soon as you see a question asking you to integrate the square of sin, cos or tan, your first approach should be to use trigonometric identities and double angle formulas.

For sin2(X), we will use the cos double angle formula:
cos(2X) = 1 - 2sin2(X)

The above formula can be rearranged to make sin2(X) the subject:
sin2(X) = 1/2(1 - cos(2X))

You can now rewrite the integration: 
∫sin2(X)dX = ∫1/2(1 - cos(2X))dX

Because 1/2 is a constant, we can remove it from the integration to make the calculation simpler. We are now integrating:
1/2 x ∫(1 - cos(2X)) dX = 1/2 x (X - 1/2sin(2X)) + C

It is very important that as this is not a definite integral, we must add the constant C at the end of the integration.

Simplifying the above equation gives us a final answer:
∫sin2(X) dX = 1/2X - 1/4sin(2X) + C

KF
Answered by Kyna F. Maths tutor

469610 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Find all solutions to the equation 8sin^2(theta) - 4 = 0 in the interval 2(pi) < (theta) < 4(pi)


Integrate 1/x


How to solve a quadratic equation?


A school has 1200 pupils. 575 of these pupils are girls. 2/5 of the girls like sports. 3/5 of the boys like sport. Work out the total number of pupils in the school who like sport.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning