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

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

How would I differentiate something in the form of (ax+b)^n


Find dy/dx, given that y=(3x+1)/(2x+1)


The point A lies on the curve with equation y=x^0.5. The tangent to this curve at A is parallel to the line 3y-2x=1 . Find an equation of this tangent at A. [5 marks]


A particle of mass M is being suspended by two ropes from a horizontal ceiling. Rope A has a tension of 15N at 30 deg and rope B has a tension of xN at 45 deg, find M assuming the particle remains stationary.