Q. \[ \int \cos\left(x^2\right)\,dx \]
Answer
We want \(\int \cos(x^2)\,dx\). This has no elementary antiderivative, so we express it using the Fresnel cosine integral.
\[
\cos(x^2)\ \text{integrates to}\ \int \cos(x^2)\,dx=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,C\!\left(\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\,x\right)+\text{constant},
\]
where
\[
C(t)=\int_{0}^{t}\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{2}u^2\right)\,du
\]
and thus the final result is:
\[
\boxed{\int \cos(x^2)\,dx=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,C\!\left(\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\,x\right)+\text{constant}.}
\]
Detailed Explanation
We want to evaluate the indefinite integral
\[
\int \cos(x^2)\,dx.
\]
Step 1: Recognize there is no simple elementary antiderivative.
The function \(\cos(x^2)\) has a quadratic inside the cosine. Integrals of the form \(\cos(ax^2)\) and \(\sin(ax^2)\) generally do not have antiderivatives expressible using elementary functions (polynomials, exponentials, logs, trig, and their combinations).
Step 2: Use the Fresnel cosine integral.
The standard special function used for this case is the Fresnel cosine integral, defined by
\[
C(u)=\int_{0}^{u} \cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\,t^2\right)\,dt.
\]
Step 3: Convert \(\cos(x^2)\) into \(\cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}t^2\right)\) by substitution.
We rewrite \(x^2\) as a constant times \(t^2\). Let
\[
u=\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\,x.
\]
Then
\[
x=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,u
\]
and
\[
dx=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,du.
\]
Now substitute into the integrand:
\[
\cos(x^2)=\cos\!\left(\left(\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,u\right)^2\right)
=\cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\,u^2\right).
\]
So the integral becomes
\[
\int \cos(x^2)\,dx
=\int \cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\,u^2\right)\left(\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,du\right)
=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\int \cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\,u^2\right)\,du.
\]
Step 4: Match the integral with the definition of \(C(u)\).
From the definition, we know that
\[
C(u)=\int_{0}^{u} \cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\,t^2\right)\,dt.
\]
Therefore an antiderivative of \(\cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\,u^2\right)\) is \(C(u)\), up to a constant. Concretely,
\[
\int \cos\!\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\,u^2\right)\,du = C(u)+\text{constant}.
\]
Thus
\[
\int \cos(x^2)\,dx
=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,C(u)+\text{constant}.
\]
Step 5: Substitute back \(u=\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\,x\).
\[
\int \cos(x^2)\,dx
=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,C\!\left(\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\,x\right)+C_0,
\]
where \(C_0\) is an arbitrary constant.
Final Answer:
\[
\boxed{\int \cos(x^2)\,dx=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}\,C\!\left(\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\,x\right)+C_0.}
\]
Graph
Calculus FAQ
Can I write \( \int \cos(x^2)\,dx \) using elementary functions?
What special function expresses \( \int \cos(x^2)\,dx \)?
How do I write \( \int \cos(x^2)\,dx \) via the complex error function?
What is \( \frac{d}{dx}\Big(C(x)\Big) \) for Fresnel’s \(C\)?
How can I check the Fresnel substitution for \( \int \cos(x^2)\,dx \)?
Is there a series approximation for \( \int \cos(x^2)\,dx \)?
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