CALCULUS II

Module for Finals, Second Semester SY 2021-2022 LESSON 2.8

2.8.ALGEBRAIC SUBSTITUTIONS

This substitution involves only algebraic terms. The algebraic substitution to be made
depends on the irrational integrand under consideration. In fact, no general rule can be given to
accomplish the rationalization of the integrand.

AS1. When the integrand contains fractional power of x only, use the substitution
𝑛
𝑧 = √𝑥 or 𝑧𝑛 = 𝑥
Where n is the largest common denominator of the fractional exponents of x.
𝑑𝑥
Example 1. Evaluate ∫ 3
√𝑥+ √𝑥
1 1
3 6
Solution: Since √𝑥 = 𝑥 2 and √𝑥 = 𝑥 3 then n=6 (LCD of 2 and 3). Hence, we let 𝑧 = √𝑥 or
3
𝑥 = 𝑧 6. Then = 6𝑧 5 𝑑𝑧, √𝑥 = 𝑧 3, and √𝑥 = 𝑧 2 . Thus
𝑑𝑥 6𝑧 5 𝑑𝑧
∫ 3 =∫
√𝑥+ √𝑥 𝑧 3 +𝑧 2
𝑧 5 𝑑𝑧
= 6∫ reduce by common factor
𝑧 3 +𝑧 2
𝑧 5 𝑑𝑧
= 6∫ 2
𝑧 (𝑧+1)
𝑧 3 𝑑𝑧
= 6∫ divide
(𝑧+1)
1
= 6 ∫ [𝑧 2 − 𝑧 + 1 − ] 𝑑𝑧
𝑧+1
𝑧3 𝑧2
= 6[ − + 𝑧 − ln|𝑧 + 1|] + 𝑐
3 2
6 3
Simplify then substitute = √𝑥 , √𝑥 = 𝑧 3, and √𝑥 = 𝑧 2
= 2𝑧 3 − 3𝑧 2 + 6𝑧 − 6 ln|𝑧 + 1| + 𝑐
3 6 6
= 2√𝑥 − 3 √𝑥 + 6 √𝑥 − 6 ln| √𝑥 + 1|

AS2. If the integrand contains fractional powers of a+bx only, use the substitution
𝑛
𝑧 = √𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 or 𝑧 𝑛 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥
where n is the least common denominator of the fractional exponents of a+bx
Example 2. Evaluate ∫(4𝑥 + 3)√1 + 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑧 2 −1
Solution: Let 𝑧 = √1 + 2𝑥 or 𝑧 2 = 1 + 2𝑥. Then from 𝑧 2 = 1 + 2𝑥, 𝑥 = and
2
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑧𝑑𝑧. Therefore,
𝑧 2 −1
∫(4𝑥 + 3)√1 + 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ [4 ( 2 ) + 3] 𝑧. 𝑧𝑑𝑧
= ∫(2𝑧 2 − 2 + 3)𝑧 2 𝑑𝑧
= ∫(2𝑧 4 + 𝑧 2 ) 𝑑𝑧
= ∫ 2𝑧 4 𝑑𝑧 + ∫ 𝑧 2 𝑑𝑧
2𝑧 5 𝑧3
= + +𝑐 substitute 𝑧 = √1 + 2𝑥
5 3
2(√1+2𝑥)5 (√ 1+2𝑥)3
= + +𝑐
5 3
3
(1+2𝑥)2 (12𝑥+11)
= +𝑐
15

𝑝
AS3. If the integrand contains the expression 𝑥 𝑚 (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 𝑛 )𝑞 where m,n,p and q are integers
𝑚+1
(n,q>0) and if = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 , use the substitution
𝑛
𝑞
𝑧 = √𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 𝑛 or 𝑧 𝑞 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 𝑛

Example 3. Evaluate∫ 𝑥 3 √1 + 4𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑚+1 3+1
Solution: Here we see that m=3 and n=2. Since = = 2 which is an integer, then let
𝑛 2
𝑧 = √1 + 4𝑥 2 or 𝑧2 = 1 + 4𝑥 2

√𝑧 2 −1 𝑧𝑑𝑧
Solving x, we get 𝑥= then, 𝑑𝑥 = , hence
2 2√𝑧 2 −1
3
√𝑧 2 −1 𝑧𝑑𝑧
∫ 𝑥 3 √1 + 4𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ ( 2
) 𝑧.
2√𝑧 2 −1

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CALCULUS II
Module for Finals, Second Semester SY 2021-2022 LESSON 2.8
3
(√𝑧 2 −1) 𝑧𝑑𝑧
=∫ 𝑧. 2
8 2√𝑧 −1
(√𝑧 2 −1)2 𝑧 2 𝑑𝑧
= ∫ 16
1
=
16
∫(𝑧 − 𝑧 2 )𝑑𝑧
4

1 𝑧5 𝑧3
= ( − )+𝑐
16 5 3
5 3
1 (√1+4𝑥 2 ) (√1+4𝑥 2 )
= [ − ]+𝑐 simplify
16 5 3
3
(1+4𝑥 2 )2 (6𝑥 2 −1)
= =𝑐
120

𝑝
AS4. If the integrand contains the expression 𝑥 𝑚 (𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 𝑛 )𝑞 where m,n,p and q are integers
𝑚+1 𝑝
(n,q>0) and if + = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 , use the substitution
𝑛 𝑞
𝑥𝑛𝑧𝑞 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 𝑛

𝑑𝑥
Example 4. Evaluate ∫ 3
𝑥 2 (1+𝑥 4 )4
3
1
Solution: If we write 3 = 𝑥 −2 (1 + 𝑥 4 )−4 then the right member of the equation
𝑥 2 (1+𝑥 4 )4
takes the form 𝑥 𝑛 𝑧 𝑞 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 𝑛 and we that m= -2, n= 4, p= -3 and q= 4.
𝑚+1 𝑝 −2+1 −3
Since + = + = −1 , are integer, then we let 𝑥 4 𝑧 4 = 1 + 𝑥 4
𝑛 𝑞 4 4
1 5
Solving for x, 𝑥 = (𝑧 4 − 1)− 4 and 𝑑𝑥 = −𝑧 3 (𝑧 4 − 1)− 4 𝑑𝑧. Therefore,
5
− 1
𝑑𝑥 −𝑧 3 (𝑧 4 −1) 4 𝑑𝑧
∫ 3 =∫ 1 2 3
; 𝑥 = (𝑧 4 − 1)− 4
𝑥 2 (1+𝑥 4 )4 −
((𝑧 4 −1) 4 ) (𝑥 4 𝑧 4 )4
5
−
−𝑧 3 (𝑧 4 −1) 4 𝑑𝑧
=∫ 1
−
(𝑧 4 −1) 2 𝑥 3 𝑧 3
5
−
−𝑧 3 (𝑧 4 −1) 4 𝑑𝑧
=∫ 1 1 3
− −
(𝑧 4 −1) 2 ((𝑧 4 −1) 4 ) 𝑧 3

= − ∫ 𝑑𝑧
= −𝑧 + 𝑐 from 𝑥 4 𝑧 4 = 1 + 𝑥 4 solve for z,
1
(1+𝑥 4 )4
=− +𝑐
𝑥
AS5. Reciprocal Substitution: Some integrals with irrational integrand may be evaluated
1
by letting 𝑥 =
𝑧
1
Example 5. Evaluate the integrand in example 4 by letting 𝑥 =
𝑧
1 1
Solution: Since 𝑥 = then 𝑑𝑥 = − 2 𝑑𝑧. Hence
𝑧 𝑧
1
𝑑𝑥 − 2 𝑑𝑧
𝑧
∫ 3 =∫ 3
𝑥 2 (1+𝑥 4 )4 1 2 1 4 4
(𝑧 ) [1+(𝑧 ) ]
1
− 2𝑑𝑧
𝑧
=∫ 3
1 1
[(1+ 4 )]4
𝑧2 𝑧
𝑑𝑧
= −∫ 3
𝑧4+1 4
( 4 )
𝑧
𝑑𝑧
= −∫ 3
(𝑧4 +1)4
𝑧3
(take the reciprocal of the denominator then proceed to multiplication)
𝑧 3 𝑑𝑧
= −∫ 3
(𝑧 4 +1)4
3
1
= − ∫(𝑧 4 + 1)−4 𝑧 3 𝑑𝑧 u=𝑧 4 + 1, du=4𝑧 3 𝑑𝑧, nf=
4

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CALCULUS II
Module for Finals, Second Semester SY 2021-2022 LESSON 2.8
1
1 (𝑧 4 +1)4
=− . 1 +𝑐
4
4
1
1
= −(𝑧 4 + 1)4 + 𝑐 but z=
𝑥
1
1 4
= −( 4 + 1) + 𝑐 simplify
𝑥
1
(1+𝑥 4 )4
=− +𝑐
𝑥
Note: The result agrees with our answer in example 4.
AS6. If the integrand contains the expression √𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑥 2 use the substitution
𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑥 2 = (𝑧 − 𝑥)2
AS7. If the integrand contains the expression √(𝑎 + 𝑥)(𝑏 − 𝑥) use the substitution
(𝑎 + 𝑥)(𝑏 − 𝑥) = (𝑎 + 𝑥)2 𝑧 2

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CALCULUS II
Module for Finals, Second Semester SY 2021-2022 LESSON 2.8

ASSIGNMENT 9. Solve the following in a clean sheet of paper. Take a clear picture then turn in
to our google classroom.10 points

1. Evaluate ∫ 𝑥(𝑥 + 4)1/3 𝑑𝑥

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