Q.Integrate the following function: sin3xcos3x
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Sine Double Angle Integration
Sine Double Angle Integration — From Intuition to Formula
Suppose you want the area under sin(2x) from x=0 to π/2. This graph oscillates twice as fast as a regular sine wave, completing a cycle in π units instead of 2π — the "double angle" inside compresses the wave horizontally.
The catch: you can't integrate sin(2x) the same way as sinx. Differentiating cos(2x) gives −2sin(2x) — not −sin(2x) — so the antiderivative needs a factor to compensate for that extra 2.
The Precise Statement
∫sin(ax)dx=−a1cos(ax)+C
For a=2:
∫sin(2x)dx=−21cos(2x)+C
This is the sine double angle integration formula — a direct application of the reverse chain rule.
Why It Works
Differentiate the right-hand side:
dxd[−21cos(2x)+C]=−21⋅(−sin(2x))⋅2=sin(2x)
The −21 cancels the −2 from the chain rule, leaving exactly sin(2x).
A common mistake is writing ∫sin(2x)dx=−cos(2x)+C. Differentiating −cos(2x) gives 2sin(2x), not sin(2x). Always check by differentiating your answer.
Definite Integrals
∫absin(2x)dx=[−21cos(2x)]ab=−21[cos(2b)−cos(2a)]
Example: ∫0π/2sin(2x)dx=−21[cos(π)−cos(0)]=−21[(−1)−1]=1.
The General Pattern
∫sin(kx)dx=−k1cos(kx)+C
The k in the denominator is the "compensation factor" for the chain rule, working for any constant k=0. …
Write everything with the double angle: sinxcosx=21sin2x.
sin3xcos3x=(sinxcosx)3=(21sin2x)3=81sin32x.
For ∫sin32xdx, write sin32x=(1−cos22x)sin2x and let u=cos2x, du=−2sin2xdx:
∫sin32xdx=−21∫(1−u2)du=−21(u−3u3)=−21cos2x+61cos32x.
Multiply by 81: …
Since sin3xcos3x=81sin32x, integrating gives −161cos2x+481cos32x+C.
Compress with the double angle
Both factors share the same power, so group them: sin3xcos3x=(sinxcosx)3. Using sinxcosx=21sin2x,
sin3xcos3x=(21sin2x)3=81sin32x,
so ∫sin3xcos3xdx=81∫sin32xdx.
Odd power of sine: save one factor
sin32x=sin22x⋅sin2x=(1−cos22x)sin2x. The spare sin2x is perfect for the substitution u=cos2x, since du=−2sin2xdx, i.e. sin2xdx=−21du:
∫sin32xdx=∫(1−u2)(−21du)=−21(u−3u3)+C1=−21cos2x+61cos32x+C1.
Restore the 81
∫sin3xcos3xdx=81(−21cos2x+61cos32x)+C=−161cos2x+481cos32x+C. …
Method: Equal odd powers of sin and cos — compress with the double angle
For sinmxcosnx where both powers are equal and odd, group them as (sinxcosx)m, use sinxcosx=21sin2x, then handle the resulting odd power of sin2x by the save-one-factor substitution.
Steps
Step 1: Group the equal powers.
sin3xcos3x=(sinxcosx)3
Step 2: Collapse with the double-angle identity.
sinxcosx=21sin2x ⇒ (sinxcosx)3=81sin32x
Step 3: Integrate the odd power of sin2x by substitution. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Trying the power rule on sin3xcos3x as if it were a simple power.
Why it's wrong: neither sinx nor cosx has its derivative sitting alone as a factor of the whole product, so no single-step substitution or power rule applies. Correct approach: compress via (sinxcosx)3=81sin32x, then substitute u=cos2x.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the −2 in du=−2sin2xdx when substituting. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 22 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-AN1 markMCQQ.∫sin4xcos4xdx= (A) 1281(−2sin3xcosx−3sinxcosx+3)+c (B) 2561(−2sin32xcos2x−3sin2xcos2x+6x)+c (C) 1281(2sin3xcosx−3sinxcosx+3x)+c (D) 2561(3sin3xcosx−2sinxcosx+2)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests reduction of sin4xcos4x via the double-angle substitution sinxcosx=21sin2x; the answer is (B).
Concept and Intuition
Products of even powers of sinx,cosx are attacked by writing sinxcosx=21sin2x first, which collapses the problem to a single power of sin(2x), and then a standard power-reduction formula finishes it.
Step-by-Step Solution
- sin4xcos4x=(sinxcosx)4=(2sin2x)4=161sin4(2x).
- Use sin4u=83−21cos2u+81cos4u with u=2x: sin4(2x)=83−21cos4x+81cos8x.
- So the integrand is 161(83−21cos4x+81cos8x). Integrating term by term:
∫sin4xcos4xdx=161(83x−8sin4x+64sin8x)+c=1283x−128sin4x+1024sin8x+c.
- Convert to functions of 2x: sin4x=2sin2xcos2x, and sin8x=2sin4xcos4x=4sin2xcos2x(1−2sin22x)=4sin2xcos2x−8sin3(2x)cos2x. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.∫1−x21+x2dx= (A) 23Sin−1x−2x1−x2+c (B) 23Sin−1x+2x1−x2+c (C) 43Sin−1x−2x21−x2+c (D) 32Sin−1x+2x21−x2+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewriting 1+x2 as 2−(1−x2) turns an awkward integral into a difference of two standard forms, giving 23sin−1x−2x1−x2+c.
Concept and Intuition
The integrand mixes 1 and x2 with a 1−x2 denominator. The trick is to notice that 1−x2 itself appears under the root, so rewriting the numerator in terms of (1−x2) converts the whole integral into two textbook-standard integrals: ∫1−x2dx=sin−1x and ∫1−x2dx=2x1−x2+21sin−1x.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write 1+x2=2−(1−x2).
- So ∫1−x21+x2dx=∫1−x22dx−∫1−x21−x2dx=2∫1−x2dx−∫1−x2dx.
- Use the standard results: ∫1−x2dx=sin−1x+c1 and ∫1−x2dx=2x1−x2+21sin−1x+c2. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.∫cos2x+sin2x+2sin2xdx= (A) −1+tanx1+c (B) −1+tanxtanx+c (C) −cotx+c (D) −tanx+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key trick is recognising that cos2x+2sin2x≡1, collapsing the denominator to 1+sin2x=(sinx+cosx)2, after which a tanx substitution finishes it. Answer: −1+tanx1+c.
Concept and Intuition
Many trig-integral MCQs hide a simplification of the denominator using a double-angle identity. Spotting cos2x=1−2sin2x instantly cancels the 2sin2x term here, and then 1+sin2x is a perfect square (sinx+cosx)2 — a very standard identity worth memorising.
Step-by-Step Solution
- cos2x+sin2x+2sin2x=(cos2x+2sin2x)+sin2x=1+sin2x (using cos2x=1−2sin2x).
- 1+sin2x=1+2sinxcosx=(sinx+cosx)2. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.∫π/4π/3sin2xcosx−sinxdx= (A) 21log[3(3+22)(2−3)] (B) 21log[3(3−22)(2+3)] (C) log[3(3−22)(2−3)] (D) log[3(3+22)(2−3)]
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests splitting a trig rational integrand using sin2x=2sinxcosx into standard csc/sec integrals; the answer is (A).
Concept and Intuition
Whenever you see sin2x in a denominator paired with cosx−sinx in the numerator, it is almost always meant to be split via the double-angle identity into two elementary reciprocal-trig integrals, each of which has a well-known logarithmic antiderivative.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write sin2x=2sinxcosx, so
sin2xcosx−sinx=2sinxcosxcosx−sinx=21(sinx1−cosx1)=21(cscx−secx).
- Use the standard antiderivatives ∫cscxdx=−log∣cscx+cotx∣ and ∫secxdx=log∣secx+tanx∣. So
∫21(cscx−secx)dx=−21log[(cscx+cotx)(secx+tanx)]+C.
- At x=π/3: cscx+cotx=32+31=3, and secx+tanx=2+3. Product =3(2+3)=23+3.
- At x=π/4: cscx+cotx=2+1, and secx+tanx=2+1. Product =(2+1)2=3+22.
- So the definite integral =−21[log(23+3)−log(3+22)]=21log23+33+22. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.∫sin2x+3cosx−3sin2xdx= (A) 2logcosx−1cosx−2+c (B) log((cosx−1)4(cosx−2)2)+c (C) log(∣cosx−1∣(cosx−2)2)+c (D) log((cosx−1)2(cosx−2)4)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factor the denominator using sin2x=1−cos2x, substitute u=cosx, and resolve the rational integrand by partial fractions. Answer: log((cosx−1)2(cosx−2)4)+c.
Concept and Intuition
The presence of sin2xdx=2sinxcosxdx alongside a denominator built purely from cosx (after using the Pythagorean identity) signals the substitution u=cosx: then du=−sinxdx turns the whole thing into a rational function of u, solvable by partial fractions.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Rewrite the denominator: sin2x+3cosx−3=(1−cos2x)+3cosx−3=−cos2x+3cosx−2=−(cos2x−3cosx+2).
- Factor the quadratic: cos2x−3cosx+2=(cosx−1)(cosx−2). So the denominator is −(cosx−1)(cosx−2).
- Let u=cosx⇒du=−sinxdx. Also sin2x=2sinxcosx=2usinx.
- Rewrite the integral:
∫−(u−1)(u−2)2usinxdx.
Since du=−sinxdx⇒sinxdx=−du:
∫−(u−1)(u−2)2u⋅(−du)=∫(u−1)(u−2)2udu.
- Partial fractions: (u−1)(u−2)2u=u−1A+u−2B. Then 2u=A(u−2)+B(u−1). At u=1: 2=−A⇒A=−2. At u=2: 4=B⇒B=4.
- Integrate: ∫(u−1−2+u−24)du=−2log∣u−1∣+4log∣u−2∣+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-FN1 markMCQQ.∫0π(cos2(83π−4x)−cos2(811π+4x))dx= (A) 1/2 (B) 22 (C) 2 (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The difference of squared cosines collapses via a product-to-sum identity to 22sin(x/2), which integrates to 2 over [0,π].
Concept and Intuition
cos2A−cos2B always simplifies to −sin(A+B)sin(A−B) (from the double-angle formula cos2θ=21+cos2θ and the sum-to-product identity for cosines). Applying this collapses the two ugly-looking angle expressions into a single simple sine of x/2.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let A=83π−4x, B=811π+4x.
- cos2A−cos2B=21+cos2A−21+cos2B=2cos2A−cos2B=−sin(A+B)sin(A−B) (using cosP−cosQ=−2sin2P+Qsin2P−Q with P=2A,Q=2B).
- A+B=83π+811π=814π=47π; the x terms cancel.
- A−B=83π−811π−4x−4x=−π−2x.
- So integrand =−sin(47π)sin(−π−2x). Now sin(7π/4)=−22 and sin(−π−x/2)=−sin(π+x/2)=−(−sin(x/2))=sin(x/2). …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.∫0π/2sinxsin6xdx= (A) 1526 (B) 15256 (C) 1564 (D) 1517
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expanding sin6x/sinx as a sum of cosines (a Chebyshev-type identity) and integrating term by term gives 26/15.
Concept and Intuition
Ratios like sin(nθ)/sinθ are polynomials in cosθ (Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind), and can always be rewritten as a finite sum of cosines of multiples of θ. This makes the integral trivial term by term, instead of trying to integrate the ratio directly.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Claim: sin6θ=sinθ[2cos5θ+2cos3θ+2cosθ]. Verify using the product-to-sum identity 2sinθcoskθ=sin(k+1)θ−sin(k−1)θ: taking k=5,3,1 gives (sin6θ−sin4θ)+(sin4θ−sin2θ)+(sin2θ−sin0)=sin6θ — the sum telescopes perfectly.
- So sinxsin6x=2cos5x+2cos3x+2cosx.
- Integrate: ∫0π/22cos5xdx=[52sin5x]0π/2=52sin25π=52(1)=52. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-FN1 markMCQQ.∫−ππ/2sinx⋅sin2(cosx)dx= (A) 41−sin2 (B) −(41+sin2) (C) 4sin2−2 (D) −(42+sin2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
A substitution u=cosx turns sinxsin2(cosx) into a plain sin2u integral over [−1,0]; the value works out to 4sin2−2.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever an integrand contains sinx⋅f(cosx), the derivative of cosx (which is −sinx) is already sitting there — that's the signal to substitute u=cosx. It converts a trig-of-trig integral into an ordinary polynomial-in-sinu integral.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=cosx⇒du=−sinxdx, i.e. sinxdx=−du.
- Limits: at x=−π, u=cos(−π)=−1; at x=π/2, u=cos(π/2)=0.
- I=∫−ππ/2sinxsin2(cosx)dx=∫u=−10sin2u⋅(−du)=−∫−10sin2udu.
- Use sin2u=21−cos2u, so ∫sin2udu=2u−4sin2u.
- Evaluate: at u=0 this is 0; at u=−1 this is −21−4sin(−2)=−21+4sin2. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-20-FN1 markMCQQ.∫1+cosαsinαdα= (A) −22cos(2α)+c (B) 22cos(2α)+c (C) 2cos(2α)+c (D) −2cos(2α)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests a simple substitution followed by the half-angle identity 1+cosα=2cos2(α/2). Answer: −22cos(α/2)+c.
Concept and Intuition
When the integrand contains sinα alongside a function of cosα, substituting u=1+cosα turns it into an elementary power-rule integral; the half-angle identity then lets us re-express the result in the compact closed form matching the options.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=1+cosα, so du=−sinαdα, i.e. sinαdα=−du.
- The integral becomes ∫u−du=−∫u−1/2du=−2u1/2+c=−21+cosα+c.
- Use the half-angle identity: 1+cosα=2cos2(2α), so 1+cosα=2cos(2α). …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-FN1 markMCQQ.If ∫cosx−cosαsin2α−sin2xdx=f(x)+Ax+B and B∈R, then (A) f(x)=2sinx, A=cosα (B) f(x)=2sinx, A=2cosα (C) f(x)=sinx, A=cosα (D) f(x)=sinx, A=2cosα
›Reveal solutionSolution
The fraction cosx−cosαsin2α−sin2x simplifies via standard trig identities to the constant-plus-cosine expression cosx+cosα, which integrates trivially.
Concept and Intuition
Two very standard identities do all the work: sin2A−sin2B=sin(A+B)sin(A−B) and cosB−cosA=2sin2A+Bsin2A−B. Expressing both the numerator and denominator this way lets most factors cancel, leaving a simple product-to-sum term.
Step-by-Step Solution
- sin2α−sin2x=sin(α+x)sin(α−x).
- Write sin(α+x)=2sin2α+xcos2α+x and sin(α−x)=2sin2α−xcos2α−x, so the numerator becomes 4sin2α+xcos2α+xsin2α−xcos2α−x.
- cosx−cosα=−2sin2x+αsin2x−α=2sin2α+xsin2α−x (flipping the sign of the second sine turns sin2x−α=−sin2α−x).
- Dividing: 2sin2α+xsin2α−x4sin2α+xcos2α+xsin2α−xcos2α−x=2cos2α+xcos2α−x. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫cot2x−tan2xcos8x+1dx=Acos8x+c, then A= (A) −161 (B) 161 (C) −81 (D) 81
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplifying the trigonometric expression using double-angle identities collapses the integrand to 21sin8x, whose antiderivative directly gives A=−161.
Concept and Intuition
This problem looks intimidating because of the cot2x−tan2x combination, but that combination has a clean double-angle identity: cotθ−tanθ=2cot2θ. Combined with 1+cos8x=2cos24x, nearly everything cancels, leaving a single simple sine term to integrate.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Simplify the denominator: cot2x−tan2x=sin2xcos2x−cos2xsin2x=sin2xcos2xcos22x−sin22x=21sin4xcos4x=2cot4x.
- Simplify the numerator: cos8x+1=2cos24x (using cos2θ=2cos2θ−1 with θ=4x).
- So the integrand is 2cot4x2cos24x=cos24x⋅tan4x=cos4xsin4x.
- Use sinθcosθ=21sin2θ: cos4xsin4x=21sin8x. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫2sin2x+sin2xdx=21log∣f(x)∣+c and f(4π)=21, then f(x)= (A) 1+sinxsinx (B) 1+cosxcosx (C) 1+tanxtanx (D) 1+cotxcotx
›Reveal solutionSolution
Dividing the denominator by cos2x turns this into a rational integral in t=tanx; partial fractions give f(x)=1+tanxtanx, matching the given boundary condition at x=π/4.
Concept and Intuition
2sin2x+sin2x factors as 2sinx(sinx+cosx). Multiplying through by sec2x/sec2x converts everything into functions of tanx alone, since sinx(sinx+cosx)sec2x=tan2x+tanx — a purely algebraic (polynomial) expression in t=tanx, letting us integrate as a simple rational function.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write 2sin2x+sin2x=2sin2x+2sinxcosx=2sinx(sinx+cosx).
- Multiply numerator and denominator by sec2x: since sinx(sinx+cosx)sec2x=cos2xsin2x+cos2xsinxcosx=tan2x+tanx, we get
∫2sinx(sinx+cosx)dx=∫2(tan2x+tanx)sec2xdx.
- Let t=tanx, dt=sec2xdx: the integral becomes 21∫t(t+1)dt.
- Partial fractions: t(t+1)1=t1−t+11. …
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