What am I doing wrong with this simple integration?

Sin^{2}(2x)In summary, the integral is equal to (2x-sin2x)/16 and the mistake was made due to being rusty with integration techniques after a period of time. The mistake was corrected when realizing the difference of two squares in the integration process.
  • #1
Turion
145
2

Homework Statement



$$\int { { sin }^{ 2 }x{ cos }^{ 2 }xdx }$$

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



$$\int { { sin }^{ 2 }x{ cos }^{ 2 }xdx } \\ =\frac { 1 }{ 4 } \int { (1-cos2x)(1+cos2x)dx } \\ =\frac { 1 }{ 4 } \int { -{ cos }^{ 2 }x+1dx } \\ =\frac { x }{ 4 } -\frac { 1 }{ 8 } \int { cos2x+1 } dx\\ =\frac { x }{ 4 } -\frac { 1 }{ 8 } [\frac { sin2x }{ 2 } +x]\\ =\frac { 2x-sin2x }{ 16 }$$

It's incredibly frustrating to do so many stupid mistakes on such simple integration. I can't believe how weak I've gotten at doing integrals after only 4 months...

Edit: never mind. I got it. I put x instead of 2x on line 3. Really dumb mistakes but I keep making them from a result of being so rusty.
 
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  • #2
Hi Turion! :smile:

Even quicker would have been sin2xcos2x = (1/4)sin22x = … ? :wink:
 
  • #3
I think the problem is in the difference of two squares
[itex](1-Cos(2x))(1+Cos(2x)) = 1-Cos^{2}(2x)[/itex]
 

FAQ: What am I doing wrong with this simple integration?

Why am I getting an incorrect result when trying to integrate?

There could be several reasons for this, such as a mistake in the integration formula or an error in the bounds of integration. Double check your work and make sure all variables and constants are correctly accounted for.

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The complexity of the function being integrated and the limits of integration can greatly impact the time it takes to compute an integral. Additionally, the accuracy of your computer's hardware and software can also play a role. Consider using more efficient integration methods or optimizing your code for faster computation.

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