Techniques of Integration

Mariam Mahmoud Hassan | 3F | Mathematics

 Table of contents:

Introduction: 2

Discussion: 3
A) Integration by parts 3
B) Integration of rational functions by partial fractions 4

Conclusion: 6

Reference 6

PAGE 1
Introduction
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus links the concepts of differentiating a function
with the concepts of integrating a function. The two operations are inverse of each other
apart from a constant value which depends on where one starts to compute area. We can
integrate a function if we know it's antiderivative, that is indefinite integration. We can
also develop techniques for using these basic integration formulas to obtain indefinite
integrals of more complicated functions, such as finding the integral of the product of two
functions by integration by parts, in addition to integrating rational functions by partial
fractions.

PAGE 2
How do I decide what is u and what is dv for integration by
parts?
Integration by parts can be viewed as the corresponding integral process for the product
rule in differentiation, just like how the Substitution Rule for integration corresponds to
the Chain Rule for differentiation
Where if f and g are differential functions then

∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔′ (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑔(𝑥)𝑓 ′ (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)

Which can be rearranged into the formula below (the formula for integration by parts)

∫ 𝑢 𝑑𝑣 = uv − ∫ 𝑣 du

Where u=f(x), v=g(x), du=f’(x)dx and dv=g’(x)dx

Now let us consider this example

Find ∫ 𝑥 sin(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥

Solution:

Suppose we choose f (x) = x and g’(x) = sin(x)

Then f’ (x) = 1 and g(x) = -cos(x)

Thus, using the Formula above we have ∫ 𝑥 sin(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) − ∫ 𝑔(𝑥)𝑓 ′ (𝑥)𝑑𝑥

= 𝑥 (−cos 𝑥) − ∫(−𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥)𝑑𝑥

= −𝑥 cos 𝑥 + ∫(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥)𝑑𝑥

= −𝑥 cos 𝑥 + sin 𝑥 + 𝐶

Our aim in using integration by parts is to obtain a simpler integral than the one
we started with. Thus, in the Example we started with ∫ 𝑥 sin(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 and expressed it in
terms of the simpler integral ∫(𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥)𝑑𝑥 . If we had instead chosen u= sin x and dv= x dx ,
𝑥2 𝑥2
then du= (cos x) dx and v= , so integration by parts gives ∫ 𝑥 sin(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = sin(𝑥) −
2 2
1
2
∫ 𝑥 2 cos(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥

Although this is true, ∫ 𝑥 2 cos(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 is a more difficult integral than the one we started
with.

PAGE 3
In general, when deciding on a choice for u and dv, we usually try to choose to u=f(x) be a
function that becomes simpler when differentiated as long as dv=g’(x) dx can be readily
integrated to give v.

Another trick that can be useful is to use an acronym called “LIATE”

Where you set u to be the first function you see on this list:
− Logarithm

− Inverse trigonometric function

− Algebraic function

− Trigonometric function

− Exponentials

HOW DO I ATTACK INTEGRALS OF RATIONAL FUNCTION? WHAT ARE THE

THREE INTEGRATION FORMULAS I SHOULD EXPECT?

To approach an integration problem of rational function we can express it as a sum of

simpler fractions, called partial fractions, that can be solved easily.
𝑓(𝑥)
For a rational function 𝑔(𝑥) where f and g are polynomials with degrees n and m
respectively.
Case 1:

If n<m and The denominator of g(x) is a product of distinct linear factors

This means that we can write 𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑎1𝑥 + 𝑏1 )(𝑎2𝑥 + 𝑏2 ) … (𝑎𝑚 𝑥 + 𝑏𝑚 ). In this case
the partial fraction theorem states that there exist constants A1, A2, … , Am such that
write
𝑓(𝑥) A1 A2 Am
𝑔(𝑥)
= 𝑎1𝑥+ 𝑏1 + 𝑎2𝑥+ 𝑏2
+⋯+ 𝑎m𝑥+ 𝑏m
(formula 1)

And the constants can be determined as in the following example

𝑥 2 +2𝑥−1
Evaluate ∫ 2𝑥3 +3𝑥2 −2𝑥 dx
- We factor the denominator as 2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 𝑥(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥 2 +2𝑥−1 A B C
- By substitution in formula 1 we should get 2𝑥 3 +3𝑥2 −2𝑥 = x + 2𝑥−1 + 𝑥+2
- To determine the values of A, B and C we multiply both sides of this equation by
the product of the denominators, 𝑥(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2) , obtaining
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1 = 𝐴(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2) + Bx(𝑥 + 2) + 𝐶𝑥(2𝑥 − 1)

PAGE 4
 - Expanding the right side of the Equation and writing it in the standard form for
polynomials, we get 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1 = (2A + B + 2C)𝑥 2 + (3A + 2B − C)x + 2𝐴
- The polynomials in The Equation are identical, so their coefficients must be equal.
The coefficient of 𝑥 2 on the right side, 2A + B + 2C , must equal the coefficient of
𝑥 2 on the left side-namely, 1. Likewise, the coefficients of x are equal and the
constant terms are equal.

This gives the following system of equations for A, B, and C :

2A + B + 2C = 1
3A + 2B − C = 2
−2𝐴 = −1
1 1 1
- solving we get 𝐴 = 2 , 𝐵 = 5 , 𝐶 = 10 and so,
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1 11 1 1 1 1
∫ 3 2
dx = ∫( + + )𝑑𝑥
2𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 2 𝑥 5 2𝑥 − 1 10 𝑥 + 2
1 1 1
= ln(𝑥) + ln(𝑥 − 1) + ln(𝑥 + 2) + 𝐾
2 10 10

Case 2:

if 𝑛 ≥ 𝑚 then we must take an additional step of dividing g(x) into f(x) (by long division)
until a remainder R(x) is obtained such that 𝑛 < 𝑚, in that case we will use the formula

𝑓(𝑥) 𝑅(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥) = = 𝑆(𝑥) +
𝑔(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)
(formula 2)
𝑥 3 +𝑥
Example find: ∫ 𝑥−1
Long division
3
𝑥 +𝑥 2
∫ dx = ∫(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 + ) dx 𝑥2 + 𝑥 + 2
𝑥−1 𝑥−1
𝑥 − 1) 𝑥 3 +𝑥
𝑥3 𝑥2 𝑥3 − 𝑥2
= + + 2𝑥 + 2 ln(𝑥 − 1) + 𝐶 𝑥2 + 𝑥
3 2
𝑥2 − 𝑥
2𝑥
2𝑥 − 2
2

PAGE 5
Conclusion
By understanding the essence of calculus and primarily The Fundamental Theorem of
Calculus, we can simplify complicated functions and deal with them as a simple integral
problems that we know how to resolve effortlessly.

Reference

- Rogawski, J. (2012, January 1). Calculus: Early Transcendentals.

- Why is the ILATE rule in integration necessary? Is it really necessary to use in
integration by parts? (n.d.). Quora. https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-ILATE-
rule-in-integration-necessary-Is-it-really-necessary-to-use-in-integration-by-parts

PAGE 6