Analyzing the Setup
Imagine you are standing on the edge of a vast, symmetric landscape, looking at the integral:
I=∫−ππ1+cos2y2y(1+siny)dy
At first glance, this expression might seem intimidating, a tangled mess of trigonometric functions and variables. But in the world of JEE Advanced, complexity is often just a mask for elegance.
Our journey begins with a simple, strategic decision: splitting the integral. By distributing the 2y in the numerator, we transform one daunting task into two distinct, manageable ones:
I=∫−ππ1+cos2y2ydy+∫−ππ1+cos2y2ysinydy
Phase 1
The Power of Parity
Now, we look at the first term, g(y)=1+cos2y2y. Whenever you encounter limits from −π to π, your mathematical intuition should immediately scream: "Check for symmetry!"
If we replace y with −y, the denominator remains unchanged because cos2(−y)=cos2y. However, the numerator becomes −2y. Thus, g(−y)=−g(y).
This is the definition of an odd function. Geometrically, the area on the left side of the y-axis is the exact negative of the area on the right. When integrated over a symmetric interval, they cancel out to zero. Just like that, the first half of our problem vanishes into thin air!
Phase 2
The King's Gambit
We are left with the second integral, h(y)=1+cos2y2ysiny. Testing for symmetry again, we find that:
h(−y)=1+cos2(−y)2(−y)sin(−y)=1+cos2y2ysiny=h(y)
This is an even function! For even functions, the area from −π to π is simply twice the area from 0 to π. Our integral simplifies to:
Now, we face the final boss: the y in the numerator. This is where we invoke the King's Property: ∫0af(y)dy=∫0af(a−y)dy. By replacing y with π−y, we get:
I=4∫0π1+cos2(π−y)(π−y)sin(π−y)dy
Since sin(π−y)=siny and cos2(π−y)=cos2y, the integral becomes:
I=4∫0π1+cos2y(π−y)sinydy
Phase 3
The Final Descent
When we add our original integral I to this new form, the magic happens. The ysiny terms cancel out, leaving us with:
Dividing by two, we get:
This is a classic substitution problem. Let t=cosy, so dt=−sinydy. Changing the limits from [0,π] to [1,−1], we obtain:
Flipping the limits to remove the negative sign, we have:
The integral of 1+t21 is tan−1t. Evaluating this from −1 to 1, we get:
tan−1(1)−tan−1(−1)=4π−(−4π)=2π
Finally, I=2π⋅2π=π2. We have arrived at the destination: π2. It is a beautiful, clean result that rewards our patience and our mastery of symmetry.