June 12, 2019 MAT136 – Week 3 Justin Ko

1 Integration By Substitution (Change of Variables)

We can think of integration by substitution as the counterpart of the chain rule for differentiation.
Suppose that g(x) is a differentiable function and f is continuous on the range of g. Integration by
substitution is given by the following formulas:

Indefinite Integral Version:

Z Z
f (g(x))g 0 (x) dx = f (u) du where u = g(x).

Definite Integral Version:

Z b Z g(b)
f (g(x))g 0 (x) dx = f (u) du where u = g(x).
a g(a)

1.1 Example Problems

Strategy: The idea is to make the integral easier to compute by doing a change of variables.
1. Start by guessing what the appropriate change of variable u = g(x) should be. Usually you
choose u to be the function that is “inside” the function.
2. Differentiate both sides of u = g(x) to conclude du = g 0 (x)dx. If we have a definite integral, use
the fact that x = a → u = g(a) and x = b → u = g(b) to also change the bounds of integration.

3. Rewrite the integral by replacing all instances of x with the new variable and compute the integral
or definite integral.
4. If you computed the indefinite integral, then make sure to write your final answer back in terms
of the original variables.

Problem 1. (?) Find Z

tan(x) dx.

Solution 1.

Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = cos(x),

du
= − sin(x) ⇒ du = − sin(x) dx.
dx
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,
Z Z Z
sin(x) 1
tan(x) dx = dx = − du = − ln |u| + C = − ln | cos(x)| + C.
cos(x) u

Problem 2. (?) Find

Z 1
x2
xe− 2 dx.
0

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Solution 2.
2
Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = − x2 ,

du 1
= −x ⇒ du = −x dx, x = 0 → u = 0, x=1→u=− .
dx 2
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,
Z Z − 12 u=− 12
−x2 1
xe dx = − eu du = −eu  = −e− 2 + 1.
2

0 u=0

Remark: Instead of changing the bounds of integration, we can first find the indefinite integral,
Z
x2 x2
xe− 2 dx = −e− 2 ,

then use the fundamental theorem of calculus to conclude

Z 1
x2 x2 x=1
 1
xe− 2 dx = −e− 2  = −e− 2 + 1.
0 x=0

Problem 3. (?) Find

ex − e−x
Z Z
tanh(x) dx = dx.
ex + e−x

Solution 3.

Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = ex + e−x ,

du
= ex − e−x ⇒ du = (ex − e−x ) dx.
dx
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,

e − e−x
Z x Z
du
dx = = ln |u| + C
ex + e−x u
= ln |ex + e−x | + C. u = ex + e−x

Since ex + e−x > 0, we can remove the absolute values if we wish giving the final answer
Z
tanh(x) dx = ln(ex + e−x ) + C.

Remark: We can use the fact ex + e−x = 2 cosh(x) to conclude that

ln(ex + e−x ) + C = ln(2 cosh(x)) + C = ln(cosh(x)) + ln(2) + C = ln(cosh(x)) + D.

| {z }
D

This form of the indefinite integral may be easier to remember since it mirrors the fact that
Z
tan(x) dx = − ln | cos(x)| + C.

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Problem 4. (?) Evaluate

Z 1 p
x 1 − x2 dx.
0

Solution 4.

Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = 1 − x2 ,

du 1
= −2x ⇒ du = −2x dx ⇒ − du = xdx, x = 0 → u = 1, x = 1 → u = 0.
dx 2
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,
Z 1 p
1 0√
Z
1 2 3 u=0 1
x 1 − x2 dx = − u du = − · u 2  = .
0 2 1 2 3 u=1 3
Remark: Instead of changing the bounds of integration, we can first find the indefinite integral,
Z p
1 3
x 1 − x2 dx = − (1 − x2 ) 2 ,
2
then use the fundamental theorem of calculus to conclude
Z 1 p
1 3 x=1 1

x 1 − x2 dx = − (1 − x2 ) 2  = .
0 2 x=0 3

Problem 5. (??) Find Z

1
√ dx.
1+ x

Solution 5.
√
Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = x,
du 1 √
= √ ⇒ 2 xdu = dx ⇒ 2u du = dx.
dx 2 x
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,
Z Z
1 2u
√ dx = du.
1+ x 1+u
This integral is a bit tricky to compute, so we have to use algebra to simplify it first. Using long
division to first simplify the integrand, we get
Z Z Z
2u u 1
du = 2 du = 2 1 − du
1+u 1+u 1+u
= 2u − 2 ln |1 + u| + C
√ √ √
= 2 x − 2 ln |1 + x| + C. u = x.

Alternative Solution: We can also do a change of variables by writing x as a function of u.

Step 1: We can also do the change of variables x = u2 ,

dx
= 2u ⇒ dx = 2u du.
du

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Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,
Z Z Z
1 2u 2u
√ dx = √ du = du.
1+ x 1+ u 2 1+u

The computation is now identical to the case above.

Problem 6. (??) Find Z

sec(x) dx.

Solution 6. We first do a trick by multiplying the numerator and denominator by sec(x) + tan(x),

sec2 (x) + sec(x) tan(x)

Z Z Z
sec(x)(sec(x) + tan(x))
sec(x) dx = dx = dx.
sec(x) + tan(x) sec(x) + tan(x)

Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = sec(x) + tan(x),

du
= sec(x) tan(x) + sec2 (x) ⇒ du = (sec(x) tan(x) + sec2 (x)) dx.
dx
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,

sec2 (x) + sec(x) tan(x))

Z Z Z
1
sec(x) dx = dx = du
sec(x) + tan(x) u
= ln |u| + C
= ln | sec(x) + tan(x)| + C. u = sec(x) + tan(x)

Problem 7. (??) Find Z Z

2
sech(x) dx = dx.
ex + e−x

Solution 7.

Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = ex ,

du 1 1
= ex ⇒ dx = x du ⇒ dx = du.
dx e u
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,
Z Z Z
2 2
sech(x) dx = dx = du
ex + e−x u(u + u−1 )
Z
2
= 2
du
u +1
= 2 tan−1 (u) + C
= 2 tan−1 (ex ) + C. u = ex

Alternative Solution: We first do a trick by multiplying the numerator and denominator by ex ,

2ex
Z Z Z
2
sech(x) dx = x −x
dx = 2x
dx.
e +e e +1

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Step 1: We will use the change of variables u = ex ,

du
= ex ⇒ du = ex dx.
dx
Step 2: We can now evaluate the integral under this change of variables,
2ex
Z Z Z
2
sech(x) dx = dx = du
e2x + 1 u2 + 1
= 2 tan−1 (u) + C
= 2 tan−1 (ex ) + C. u = ex

1.1.1 Proofs of the Symmetry Properties of Integration

Problem 1. (? ? ?) Suppose that f (−x) = f (x). Prove that
Z a Z a
f (x) dx = 2 f (x) dx.
−a 0

Solution 1. By the properties of definite integrals, we have

Z a Z 0 Z a Z −a Z a
f (x) dx = f (x) dx + f (x) dx = − f (x) dx + f (x) dx.
−a −a 0 0 0

Using the change of variables u = −x on the first integral, for even function f ,
Z −a Z a
f (x) dx = − f (−u) du u = −x, du = −dx, x = 0 → u = 0, x = −a → u = a
0
Z0 a
=− f (u) du f (−x) = f (x)
0
Z a
=− f (x) dx.
0

This computation implies

Z a Z −a Z a Z a Z a Z a
f (x) dx = − f (x) dx + f (x) dx = f (x) dx + f (x) dx = 2 f (x) dx.
−a 0 0 0 0 0

Problem 2. (? ? ?) Suppose that f (−x) = −f (x). Prove that

Z a
f (x) dx = 0.
−a

Solution 2. By the properties of definite integrals, we have

Z a Z 0 Z a Z −a Z a
f (x) dx = f (x) dx + f (x) dx = − f (x) dx + f (x) dx.
−a −a 0 0 0

Using the change of variables u = −x on the first integral, for odd functions f ,
Z −a Z a
f (x) dx = − f (−u) du u = −x, du = −dx, x = 0 → u = 0, x = −a → u = a
0 0
Z a
= f (u) du f (−x) = −f (x)
0
Z a
= f (x) dx.
0

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This computation implies

Z a Z −a Z a Z a Z a
f (x) dx = − f (x) dx + f (x) dx = − f (x) dx + f (x) dx = 0.
−a 0 0 0 0

Problem 3. (??) Suppose f (x) is even (f (−x) = f (x)). Show that the function
Z x
F (x) = f (t) dt
0
is an odd function.

Solution 3. It suffices to show F (−x) = −F (x). Using the change of variables u = −t,
du = −dt, t = 0 → u = 0, t = −x → u = x
we have
Z −x Z x
F (−x) = f (t) dt = − f (−u) du
0 0
Z x
=− f (u) du f (−u) = f (u)
0
= −F (x).

Problem 4. (??) Suppose f (x) is odd (f (−x) = −f (x)). Show that the function
Z x
F (x) = f (t) dt
a
is an even function.

Solution 4. It suffices to show F (−x) = F (x). Using the change of variables u = −t,
du = −dt, t = a → u = −a, t = −x → u = x
we have
Z −x Z x Z x
F (−x) = f (t) dt = − f (−u) du = f (u) du. f (−u) = −f (u)
a −a −a

It may appear that the last term is not of the same form as the term F (x) because the lower bounds of
integration are different. However, we can split the region of integration and use a change of variables
to conclude that
Z x Z 0 Z x
f (u) du = f (u) du + f (u) du
−a −a 0
Z 0 Z x Z 0 Z 0
=− f (−ũ) dũ + f (u) du ũ = −u, dũ = −du, du → dũ
a 0 −a a
Z 0 Z x
= f (ũ) dũ + f (u) du f (−u) = −f (u)
a 0
Z x
= f (t) dt = F (x).
a
Remark: If we use the result from Problem 2 on Page 5, then we have the shorter proof,
Z −x Z x Z x Z a Z x
F (−x) = f (t) dt = − f (−u) du = f (u) du = f (u) du + f (u) du = F (x).
a −a −a −a a
| {z }
=0

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2 Integration By Parts
We can think of integration by substitution as the counterpart of the product rule for differentiation.
Suppose that u(x) and v(x) are continuously differentiable functions. Integration by parts is given by
the following formulas:

Indefinite Integral Version:

Z Z
u(x)v 0 (x) dx = u(x)v(x) − u0 (x)v(x) dx.

Definite Integral Version:

Z b x=b Z b
u(x)v 0 (x) dx = u(x)v(x) − u0 (x)v(x) dx.

a x=a a

2.1 Tabular Method

We will introduce a method to bookkeep multiple integration by parts steps simultaneously. This is
called the tabular method for integration by parts. You pick a term to differentiate and a term to
integrate then repeat the operation until the product of the terms in the last entry of the table is easy
to integrate.

The integral can be recovered by multiplying diagonally across the rows of the table adding up all
terms with alternating signs. The last term in the table is integrated across.

u(x)v 000 (x) dx by parts can be encoded by the table

R
For example, the formula to integrate

± D I

+ u v 000
+

− u0 v 00
−

+ u00 v0
+

u000
R
− R v
−

which gives us the formula

Z Z
u(x)v 000 (x) dx = u(x)v 00 (x) − u0 (x)v 0 (x) + u00 (x)v(x) − u000 (x)v(x) dx.

2.2 Example Problems

Problem 1. (?) Find Z
xex dx.

Solution 1.

Step 1: Draw the table

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± D I

+ x ex
− 1 ex
ex
R
+ 0

Step 2: From the table, we have Z

xex dx = xex − ex + C.

Problem 2. (??) Find Z

x6 ex dx.

Solution 2.

Step 1: Draw the table

± D I

+ x6 ex
− 6x5 ex
+ 30x4 ex
− 120x3 ex
+ 360x2 ex
− 720x ex
+ 720 ex
ex
R
− 0

Step 2: From the table, we have

Z
x6 ex dx = x6 ex − 6x5 ex + 30x4 ex − 120x2 ex − 720xex + 720ex + C.

Problem 3. (??) Find Z

x4 sin x dx.

Solution 3.

Step 1: Draw the table

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± D I

+ x4 sin x
− 4x3 − cos x
2
+ 12x − sin x
− 24x cos x
+ 24 sin x
R
− 0 − cos x
Step 2: From the table, we have
Z
x4 sin x dx = −x4 cos x + 4x3 sin x + 12x2 cos x − 24x sin x − 24 cos x + C.

Problem 4. (??) Find Z

ex sin x dx.

Solution 4.

Step 1: Draw the table

± D I

+ sin x ex
− cos x ex
ex
R
+ − sin x
Step 2: From the table, we have
Z Z
ex sin x dx = ex sin x − ex cos x − ex sin x dx + D.

Moving all the ex sin x dx to one side and simplifying, we can conclude
R
Z Z
x x x 1 1
2 e sin x dx = e sin x − e cos x + D =⇒ ex sin x dx = ex sin x − ex cos x + C.
2 2

Problem 5. (? ? ?) Find Z
xex cos(x) dx.

Solution 5.

Step 1: Draw the table

± D I

+ x cos x ex
− cos x − x sin x ex
ex
R
+ −2 sin x − x cos x

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Step 2: From the table, we have

Z Z Z
xex cos x dx = xex cos x − ex cos x + xex sin x − 2 ex sin x dx − xex cos x dx.

Moving all the xex cos x dx to one side and simplifying, we can conclude
R
Z Z
2 xe cos x dx = xe cos x − e cos x + xe sin x − 2 ex sin x dx
x x x x

= xex cos x − ex cos x + xex sin x − ex sin x + ex cos x + C. Problem 4

Dividing both sides by 2, we can conclude
Z  
x 1 x x x
xe cos x dx = xe cos x + xe sin x − e sin x + C.
2

Problem 6. (?) Find Z

ln(x) dx.

Solution 6.

Step 1: Draw the table

± D I

+ ln(x) 1
1
R
− x x
Step 2: From the table, we have
Z Z
ln(x) dx = x ln(x) − 1 dx = x ln(x) − x + C.

Problem 7. (??) Evaluate

Z 2
x3 ln x dx.
1

Solution 7.

Step 1: Draw the table

± D I

+ ln x x3
1 1 4
R
− x 4x

Step 2: From the table, we have

Z Z
3 1 4 1 1 1
x ln x dx = x ln x − x3 dx = x4 ln x − x4 + C.
4 4 4 16
Step 3: We can now use the fundamental theorem of calculus to compute the definite integral,
Z 2
1 1 x=2 1 15
x3 ln x dx = x4 ln x − x4  = 4 ln 2 − 1 + = 4 ln 2 − .
1 4 16 x=1 16 16

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Problem 8. (? ? ?) Derive the reduction formula

n−1
Z Z
1
sinn (x) dx = − sinn−1 (x) cos(x) + sinn−2 (x) dx.
n n

Solution 8.

Step 1: Draw the table

± D I

+ sinn−1 (x) sin(x)

(n − 1) cos(x) sinn−2 (x)
R
− − cos(x)
Step 2: From the table, we have
Z Z
sinn (x) dx = − sinn−1 (x) cos(x) + (n − 1) cos2 (x) sinn−2 (x)
Z
n−1
= − sin (x) cos(x) + (n − 1) (1 − sin2 (x)) sinn−2 (x) sin2 (x) + cos2 (x) = 1
Z Z
= − sinn−1 (x) cos(x) + (n − 1) sinn−2 (x) dx − (n − 1) sinn (x) dx

sinn (x) dx terms to one side, we can conclude

R
Moving all the the
Z Z
n sinn (x) dx = − sinn−1 (x) cos(x) + (n − 1) sinn−2 (x) dx
n−1
Z Z
1
⇒ sinn (x) dx = − sinn−1 (x) cos(x) + sinn−2 (x) dx.
n n

Problem 9. (??) For x ∈ R, the error function is defined by

Z x
2 2
erf(x) = √ e−t dt.
π 0
Find Z
erf(x) dx.

Solution 9. We can integrate by parts,

± D I

+ erf(x) 1
d
R
− dx erf(x) x
2
Since d √2 e−x
dx erf(x) = π
by the fundamental theorem, we have
Z Z
2x 2
erf(x) dx = xerf(x) − √ e−x dx.
π
The second integral can be solved using the substitution u = −x2 , du = −2xdx which gives us
Z Z
1 1 2
erf(x) dx = xerf(x) + √ eu du = xerf(x) + √ · e−x + C.
π π
−x2
Remark: It is easy to check that the xerf(x) + e√π + C is an antiderivative by simply differentiating.

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