Periodic Function Integrals
Exploiting the periodicity of the absolute sine function, evaluate the definite integral of the absolute value of sine x taken over the interval from zero to two \pi.
Select the correct option:
Solution
4
Because the absolute sine function |\sin x| is periodic with period \pi rather than the usual 2\pi, the integral over [0, 2\pi] equals twice the integral over a single period [0, \pi]. The governing property is \int_0^{nT} f = n\int_0^T f for a function of period T, which lets us replace a wide integral by a multiple of one period. On [0, \pi] the ordinary sine is non-negative, so |\sin x| = \sin x and \int_0^\pi \sin x,dx = [-\cos x]_0^\pi = 2. Therefore the full integral equals 2\times 2 = 4. Option 0 wrongly applies signed cancellation, which the absolute value explicitly prevents by reflecting the negative arch upward. Option 2 covers only a single arch and forgets the second period. Option 2\pi confuses the interval length with the accumulated area. This periodicity reduction is a key time-saving property in JEE Advanced integration. As a final plausibility check, the integrand stays non-negative everywhere thanks to the absolute value, so the result must exceed the single-arch value 2, and 4 correctly reflects the two equal positive humps spanning the full interval.
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About This Question
- Subject
- mathematics
- Chapter
- integral calculus
- Topic
- periodic function integrals
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
4
Because the absolute sine function |\sin x| is periodic with period \pi rather than the usual 2\pi, the integral over [0, 2\pi] equals twice the integral over a single period [0, \pi]. The governing property is \int_0^{nT} f = n\int_0^T f for a function of period T, which lets us replace a wide integral by a multiple of one period. On [0, \pi] the ordinary sine is non-negative, so |\sin x| = \sin x and \int_0^\pi \sin x,dx = [-\cos x]_0^\pi = 2. Therefore the full integral equals 2\times 2 = 4. Option 0 wrongly applies signed cancellation, which the absolute value explicitly prevents by reflecting the negative arch upward. Option 2 covers only a single arch and forgets the second period. Option 2\pi confuses the interval length with the accumulated area. This periodicity reduction is a key time-saving property in JEE Advanced integration. As a final plausibility check, the integrand stays non-negative everywhere thanks to the absolute value, so the result must exceed the single-arch value 2, and 4 correctly reflects the two equal positive humps spanning the full interval.
This medium difficulty mathematics question is from the chapter integral calculus, covering the topic of periodic function integrals. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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