Trigonometric functions are fundamental in calculus, often appearing in integration and differentiation problems. They describe relationships in triangles and include functions like sine (\(\sin\)), cosine (\(\cos\)), and tangent (\(\tan\)). In this exercise, the trigonometric function used is the secant squared (\(\sec^2\)). Understanding the role of these functions in calculus is crucial because they commonly appear in problems involving waves, oscillations, and many physical phenomena.
The secant function is the reciprocal of the cosine function, given as:
- \(\sec(x) = \frac{1}{\cos(x)}\)
When squared, \(\sec^2(x)\) becomes particularly important because its integral leads us directly to the tangent function, which is seen in the formula used in this problem:
- \(\int \sec^2(ax)dx = \frac{1}{a} \tan (ax) + C\)
Knowing these relationships allows us to integrate naturally occurring trigonometric expressions with ease.