MATH1530 Basic Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences Autumn 2023

Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration

Lecturer: Lily PAN

10.1 Antiderivatives

Definition 10.1.1. A function F (x) is called an antiderivative of f (x) if

F 0 (x) = f (x)

for every x in the domain of f (x).

Example 10.1.1.

1. F (x) = 31 x3 +5x+2 is an antiderivative of f (x) = x2 +5, since F 0 (x) = ( 31 x3 +5x+2)0 =

x2 + 5.

2. ex is an antiderivative of ex , since (ex )0 = ex .

Theorem 1 (Fundamental Property of Antiderivatives). If F (x) is an antiderivative of

f (x), then all antiderivative of f (x) can be written as

F (x) + C, C is an arbitrary constant.

Proof. 1. For any constant C,

(F (x) + C)0 = F 0 (x) = f (x),

so, F (x) + C is an antiderivative of f (x).

2. For any antiderivative G(x) with G0 (x) = f (x),

(G(x) − F (x))0 = f (x) − f (x) = 0,

then, G(x) − F (x) = C for some constant C.

Thus, the general antiderivative of f (x) is F (x) + C, C ∈ R.

10-1
Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-2

Definition 10.1.2. Indefinite integral of f (x) is the collection of all antiderivatives of f (x),
denoted by Z
f (x) dx,
Z
where is the integral symbol, f (x) is the integrand, and dx identifies x as the variable of
integration.

The process of finding all antiderivatives is called indefinite integration.

Remark. It is useful to remember that ifZ you have performed an indefinite integration
calculation that leads you to believe that f (x) dx = G(x) + C, then you can check your
calculation by differentiating G(x):
Z
If G0 (x) = f (x), then the integration f (x) dx = G(x) + C is correct, but if G0 (x) is
anything other than f (x), you’ve made a mistake.

Z
0
F (x) = f (x) ⇒ f (x) dx = F (x) + C

10.2 Basic integration formulas

The relationship between differentiation and antidifferentiation enables us to establish the

following integration rules by “reversing” analogous differentiation rules.

Theorem 2.

Z
1. k dx = kx + C for constant k.

xn+1
Z
2. xn dx = +C for all n 6= −1
n+1
Z
1
3. dx = ln |x| + C for all x 6= 0.
x
Z
ex dx = ex + C,
4. Z
ax dx = 1 x
ln a a +C a > 0, a 6= 1.
Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-3

Z Z
5. sin x dx = − cos x + C cos x dx = sin x + C

Theorem 3.
Z Z
1. kf (x) dx = k f (x) dx, (constant multiple rule)
Z Z Z
2. (f (x) ± g(x)) dx = f (x) dx ± g(x) dx, (sum/difference rule)

Caution: Both sides of the equality involve constant C.

Example 10.2.1.

1.
Z Z Z Z Z
5 3 2 5 3 2
(2x + 8x − 3x + 5) dx = 2 x dx + 8 x dx − 3 x dx + 5 dx (No need to add C)
 6  4  3
x x x
=2 +8 −3 + 5x+C (Add one C)
6 4 3
1
= x6 + 2x4 − x3 + 5x + C.
3

2.
x3 + 2x − 7
Z   Z  
2 7
dx = x +2− dx
x x
1
= x3 + 2x − 7 ln |x| + C.
3

3.
Z
t
√ Z
(3e + t) dt = (3et + t1/2 ) dt
1 3/2
= 3 et +


t +C
3/2
2
= 3et + t3/2 + C.
3

Exercise 10.2.1.
Z √
(x + x)(x + 1) 2 5 1 2 3
√ dx = x 2 + x2 + x 2 + x + C
x 5 2 3
Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-4

Example 10.2.2. Find the function f (x) whose tangent has slope 4x3 + 5 for each value of
x and whose graph passes through the point (1, 10).

Solution. The slope of the tangent at each point (x, f (x)) is the derivative f 0 (x). Thus,

f 0 (x) = 4x3 + 5

and so f (x) is the antiderivative

Z Z
0
f (x) dx = (4x3 + 5) dx = x4 + 5x + C.

To find C, use the fact that the graph of f passes through (1, 10). That is, substitute x = 1
and f (1) = 10 into the equation for f (x) and solve for C to get

10 = (1)4 + 5(1) + C or C = 4.

Thus, the desired function is f (x) = x4 + 5x + 4. 

10.3 Integration by Substitution

Motivation

Let f (x) = (x2 + 3x − 5)10 . We can compute f 0 (x) using the Chain Rule. It is:

f 0 (x) = 10(x2 + 3x − 5)9 · (2x + 3) = (20x + 30)(x2 + 3x − 5)9 .

Conversely, we have
Z
(20x + 30)(x2 + 3x − 5)9 dx = (x2 + 3x − 5)10 + C.

How would we obtain this indefinite integral without starting with f (x)?

Let u = x2 + 3x − 5. Thus
du
= 2x + 3, or du = (2x + 3)dx.
dx
Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-5

Therefore,
Z Z
2 9
(20x + 30)(x + 3x − 5) dx = 10(2x + 3)(x2 + 3x − 5)9 dx
Z
2
= 10(x 3x − 5})9 (2x + 3) dx
| + {z | {z }
u du
Z
= 10u9 du

= u10 + C (replace u with x2 + 3x − 5)

= (x2 + 3x − 5)10 + C

More generally, we have

Theorem 4 (Integration by Substitution).

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

Key idea: Make a guess u = g(x), realize the integrand as a product of f (u) and u0 (x).

Example 10.3.1. Z
(2x + 1)2023 dx.

Solution. Let u = g(x) = 2x + 1, f (u) = u2023 . Then du = 2dx.

Z Z
1
(2x + 1)2023 dx = (2x + 1)2023 · |{z}
2 dx
2 | {z }
f (g(x)) g 0 (x)
Z
1
= u2023 du
2
u2024
= +C
2 × 2024
(2x + 1)2024
= + C.
4048

Remark: usually, it is more convenient to write:

Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-6

Z Z
1 du 1
(2x + 1)2023 dx = u2023 du ( = 2 ⇒ dx = du)
2 dx 2
u2024
= +C
2 × 2024
(2x + 1)2024
= + C.
4048


Z
7
Example 10.3.2. Evaluate dx.
−3x + 1

du
Solution. Let u = −3x + 1, then = −3, dx = − 13 du.
dx

Z Z
7 7 du
dx =
−3x + 1 u −3
−7
Z
du
=
3 u
−7
= ln |u| + C
3
7
= − ln | − 3x + 1| + C.
3


√
Z
Example 10.3.3. Evaluate x x + 3 dx.

Solution. Let u = x + 3, then x = u − 3, dx = du, so,

√
Z Z
1
x x + 3 dx = (u − 3)u 2 du
Z
3 1

= u 2 − 3u 2 du
2 5 3
= u 2 − 2u 2 + C
5
2 5 3
= (x + 3) 2 − 2(x + 3) 2 + C.
5

Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-7

Exercise 10.3.1.

√
Z
2 3
1. 3x + 1 dx = (3x + 1) 2 + C
9
Z
1 1
2. dx = ln |ax + b| + C, where a 6= 0.
ax + b a
Z
1 1
3. x(x − 1)100 dx = (x − 1)102 + (x − 1)101 + C
102 101

Z
2 +5
Example 10.3.4. Evaluate xex dx

Solution. Let u = g(x) = x2 + 5, hence du = 2x dx.

1
du = 2x dx ⇒ du = x dx.
2
We can now substitute.
u
Z Z z }| {
2
xe x2 +5
dx = e +5x
x dx
|{z}
1
2
du
Z
1 u
= e du
2

1
= eu + C (now replace u with x2 + 5)
2
1 x2 +5
= e + C.
2

Remark: Sometimes, we even do not need to introduce the new variable u, just keep in mind
which part should be regarded as u = g(x).

Z Z
x2 +5 1 x2 +5
xe dx = e d(x2 + 5) (Regard u = x2 + 5)
2
1 2
= ex +5 + C.
2


Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-8

Z
1
Example 10.3.5. Evaluate dx
x ln x

Solution.
Z Z
1 1
dx = d(ln x)(Regard u = ln x)
x ln x ln x
Z
1
= du
u
= ln |u| + C
= ln | ln x| + C.

Remark: To avoid mistakes, we can take the derivative to verify our answer. 

Exercise 10.3.2.
Z
4 1 4
1. x3 ex dx = ex + C.
4
Z
3
p
2. 6x x2 + 3 dx = 2(x2 + 3) 2 + C.

√
Z
2 3
3. ex ex + 1 dx = (ex + 1) 2 + C.
3
Z
1
4. (2x − 1)(x2 − x)100 dx = (x2 − x)101 + C
101

10.4 Integration by Parts

Motivation

Let u(x) and v(x) be differentiable functions. By the product rule, we have

d dv du
(uv) = u +v
dx dx dx
or
dv d du
u = (uv) − v
dx dx dx

Integrating both sides with respect to x,

Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-9

Z Z Z
dv d du
u dx = (uv) dx − v dx
dx dxZ dx
du
= uv − v dx
dx
which is Z Z
dv du
u dx = uv − v dx
dx dx
or Z Z
u dv = uv − v du

Key Idea: Write the integrand as product of u(x) and v 0 (x), then integrate by parts.

Z
Example 10.4.1. Compute xex dx.

Solution. Z Z
xex dx = x dex (u = x, v = ex )
Z
= xex − ex dx
= xex − ex + C
Question: What happens if we let u = ex and v = 21 x2 ?
Z Z  
x x 1 2
xe dx = e d x
2Z
1 2 x 1 2 x
= x e − x de
2 Z 2
1 2 x 1 2 x
= x e − x e dx (More complicated!)
2 2


Example 10.4.2.
Z Z 
1 2 1
x ln x dx = ln x d x (u = ln x, v = x2 )
2Z 2
1 2 1 2
= x ln x − x d(ln x)
2 Z 2
1 2 1
= x ln x − x dx
2 2
1 2 1
= x ln x − x2 + C
2 4
Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-10

Z Z
Question: What happens if we let x ln x dx = x d(?)
v 0 (x) = ln x, not easy to find v!

Remark. Choose proper u and v such that:

Z
1. it’s easy to write the integral as u dv;

2. it simplifies the problem after integration by parts.

Exercise 10.4.1.
Z
1 1
1. x2 ln x dx = x3 ln x − x3 + C
3 9
Z
1 1
2. xax dx = xax − 2 ax + C, (a > 0, a 6= 1)
ln a ln a

Example 10.4.3.
Z Z
ln x dx = x ln x − x d(ln x) (u = ln x, v = x)
Z
= x ln x − 1 dx
= x ln x − x + C

Z
x
Exercise 10.4.2. loga x dx = x loga x − +C
ln a
ln x
Hint: either integration by parts directly, or use loga x = .
ln a

Example 10.4.4. (Integration by parts twice)

1. Z Z
2 x
x e dx = x2 dex
Z
= x e − ex dx2
2 x
Z
= x e − 2xex dx
2 x
Z
= x e − 2x dex
2 x
Z
= x e − 2(xe − ex dx)
2 x x

= x2 ex − 2(xex − ex + C)
= x2 ex − 2xex + 2ex + C 0
Chapter 10: Indefinite Integration 10-11

2. Z Z
2 2
ln x dx = x ln x − x d(ln2 x)
Z
1
= x ln2 x − x · 2 ln x · dx
Z x
2
= x ln x − 2 ln x dx
Z
2
= x ln x − 2x ln x + 2 x d(ln x)
= x ln2 x − 2x ln x + 2x + C

Z
Exercise 10.4.3. (x2 + 2x + 3)ex dx = (x2 + 3)ex + C.