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Worked Examples · Example 29

Q.Evaluate ∫−π/4π/4sin⁡2x dx\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \sin^2 x\, dx

Telangana TsbieTextbookSubjective· 3mImportance★★★★★est
Appeared in past exams:GUJCET 2022· Set 08· 1mexact
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✓ Free question

The integral ∫−π/4π/4sin⁡2x dx\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \sin^2 x\, dx is solved by using the identity sin⁡2x=1−cos⁡2x2\sin^2 x = \frac{1-\cos 2x}{2}, then integrating term by term. The result is π4−12\frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{1}{2}.

This problem is a classic example of evaluating a definite integral of a squared trigonometric function. The direct approach — integrating sin⁡2x\sin^2 x as is — is messy because the antiderivative isn't immediately obvious. Instead, we use a power-reduction identity to rewrite the integrand into a sum of simpler terms.

The key insight: sin⁡2x\sin^2 x oscillates between 0 and 1, and its average value over a full period is 1/21/2. The identity sin⁡2x=1−cos⁡2x2\sin^2 x = \frac{1-\cos 2x}{2} converts the squared sine into a constant plus a cosine wave with double frequency. Integrating a constant is trivial, and integrating cos⁡2x\cos 2x is straightforward. The limits are symmetric about zero, which also simplifies things slightly, but the method works for any limits.

Let’s work through it step by step.

  1. Apply the power-reduction identity. We rewrite the integrand using the standard identity:

sin⁡2x=1−cos⁡2x2.\sin^2 x = \frac{1 - \cos 2x}{2}.

This is derived from the double-angle formula cos⁡2x=1−2sin⁡2x\cos 2x = 1 - 2\sin^2 x.

The integral becomes:

∫−π/4π/4sin⁡2x dx=∫−π/4π/41−cos⁡2x2 dx.\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \sin^2 x\, dx = \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \frac{1 - \cos 2x}{2}\, dx.

  1. Split the integral into two simpler ones. The constant factor 1/21/2 can be pulled out, and the difference inside the integral splits:

=12∫−π/4π/41 dx−12∫−π/4π/4cos⁡2x dx.= \frac{1}{2} \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} 1\, dx - \frac{1}{2} \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \cos 2x\, dx.

  1. Evaluate the first integral. The integral of 11 over an interval is just the length of the interval:

∫−π/4π/41 dx=π4−(−π4)=π2.\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} 1\, dx = \frac{\pi}{4} - \left(-\frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \frac{\pi}{2}.

So the first term is:

12⋅π2=π4.\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{\pi}{2} = \frac{\pi}{4}.

  1. Evaluate the second integral. The antiderivative of cos⁡2x\cos 2x is sin⁡2x2\frac{\sin 2x}{2}. Thus:

∫−π/4π/4cos⁡2x dx=[sin⁡2x2]−π/4π/4.\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \cos 2x\, dx = \left[ \frac{\sin 2x}{2} \right]_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4}.

Compute at the upper limit: sin⁡(2⋅π4)=sin⁡(π2)=1\sin\left(2 \cdot \frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \sin\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right) = 1.

At the lower limit: sin⁡(2⋅−π4)=sin⁡(−π2)=−1\sin\left(2 \cdot -\frac{\pi}{4}\right) = \sin\left(-\frac{\pi}{2}\right) = -1.

So:

12−−12=12+12=1.\frac{1}{2} - \frac{-1}{2} = \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = 1.

Therefore:

∫−π/4π/4cos⁡2x dx=1.\int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \cos 2x\, dx = 1.

Tip

Because cos⁡2x\cos 2x is an even function? Actually, cos⁡2x\cos 2x is even, but the integral from −a-a to aa of an even function is 2∫0af(x) dx2\int_0^a f(x)\,dx. Here, that would give 2⋅sin⁡(π/2)2=12 \cdot \frac{\sin(\pi/2)}{2} = 1, same result. But note: the antiderivative method is foolproof.

  1. Combine the results. The second term in step 2 is −12⋅1=−12-\frac{1}{2} \cdot 1 = -\frac{1}{2}. Adding the first term:

π4−12.\frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{1}{2}.

Watch out

A common mistake is forgetting the factor 1/21/2 from the identity, or mis-evaluating sin⁡2x\sin 2x at the limits — especially the sign at the lower limit. Always double-check: sin⁡(−θ)=−sin⁡θ\sin(-\theta) = -\sin\theta, so sin⁡(−π/2)=−1\sin(-\pi/2) = -1.

✓Final answer

The value of the integral is π4−12\boxed{\frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{1}{2}}.

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