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Integral of cos^2(Φ) dΦ over interval 0 to 2π?

This is part of a bigger problem, but I hope you can please help me solve the integral of cos^2(Φ) dΦ, especially over the interval 0 to 2π. Thanks in advance!

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    the trick here is to use some trig substitutions

    start with:

    cos(2x)=cos^2(x)-sin^2(x)

    along with:

    cos^2(x)+sin^2(x)=1

    then we have that

    cos(2x)=cos^2(x)-[1-cos^2(x)]

    =2cos^2(x)-1

    which leads to:

    cos^2(x)=1/2[1-cos(2x)]

    integrating gives you:

    Integral[cos^2(x) dx]=1/2 Integral[1-cos(2x) dx]

    evaluating should give you the value pi

  • 1 decade ago

    Integral of cos^2(Φ) dΦ over interval 0 to 2π = (1/2)2π = π

    -------

    Ideas: cos^2(Φ) = (1/2)(1+cos2Φ), and the period of cos2Φ is π.

  • D G
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    use the fact that cos(2Φ) = 2cos^2(Φ) - 1

    So just replace:

    cos^2(Φ) = (cos(2Φ) + 1) / 2

    Integral of this is (1/2) [ (1/2)sin(2Φ) + Φ ]

    Just substitute 0 and 2π...

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