# Integrals Involving sin(x) with Odd Power

 Tutorial to find integrals involving odd powers of sin(x). Exercises with answers are at the bottom of the page. In what follows, C is the constant of integration. Example 1: Evaluate the integral sin3(x) dx Solution to Example 1: The main idea is to rewrite the power of sin(x) as the product of a term with power 1 and a term with an even power. Example: sin3(x) = sin2(x) sin(x). Hence the given integral may be written as follows: sin3(x) dx = sin2(x) sin(x) dx = (1 - cos2(x)) sin(x) dx We now let u = cos(x), hence du/dx = -sin(x) or -du = sin(x)dx and substitute in the given intergral to obtain sin3(x) dx = - (1 - u2) du sin3(x) dx = (1/3) u3 - u + C Substitute u by cos(x) to obtain sin3(x) dx = (1/3)cos3(x) - cos(x) + C Example 2: Evaluate the integral sin5(x) dx Solution to Example 2: Rewrite sin5(x) as follows sin5(x) = sin4(x) sin(x). Hence the given integral may be written as follows: sin5(x) dx = sin4(x) sin(x) dx We now use the identity sin2(x) = 1 - cos2(x) to rewrite sin4(x) in terms of power of cos(x) and rewrite the given integral as follows: sin5(x) dx = (1 - cos2(x))2 sin(x) dx We now let u = cos(x), hence du/dx = -sin(x) or du = -sin(x)dx and substitute in the given intergral to obtain sin5(x) dx = - (1 - u2)2 du Expand and calculate the integral on the right sin5(x) dx = - (u4 - 2u2 + 1) du = -(1/5)u5 + (2/3)u3 - u + C and finally sin5(x) dx = -(1/5)cos5(x) + (2/3)cos3(x) - cos(x) + C Exercises: Evaluate the following integrals. 1. sin7(x)dx 2. sin9(x)dx Answers to Above Exercises 1. (1/7)cos7(x) - (3/5)cos5(x) + cos3(x) - cos(x) + C 2. -(1/9)cos9(x) + (4/7)cos7(x) - (6/5)cos5(x) + (4/3)cos3(x) - cos(x) + C More references on integrals and their applications in calculus.