Techniques of Integration

Integration by Parts
Description
Integration by parts is a technique for simplifying integrals of the form
Z
f (x)g(x)dx

It is useful when f can be dierentiated repeatedly and g can be integrated repeatedly

without diculty.
Z
x cos x dx

Product Rule in Integral Form

If f and g are dierentiable functions of x, then
Z Z
0
f (x)g (x)dx = f (x)g(x) − f 0 (x)g(x)dx
Z Z
u dv = uv − v du

How is this derived?

Example
Find
Z
x cos x dx

A Useful Strategy
(LIATE) Logarithmic, Inverse trigonometric, Algebraic, Trigonometric, Exponential
You will often be successful if you take u to be the function whose category occurs
earlier in the list and take dv to be the rest of the integrand.
Example
Evaluate
Z
xex dx

1
Example
Evaluate
Z
x2 e−x dx

Evaluating Denite Integrals by Parts

#b
Z b Z b
0
f (x)g (x)dx = f (x)g(x) − f 0 (x)g(x)dx
a a
a

Example
Evaluate
Z 1
tan−1 xdx
0

Tabular Integration
Evaluate
Z
x2 ex dx

2
Tabular Integration
Evaluate
Z
x3 sin xdx

Trigonometric Integrals
Products of Powers of Sines and Cosines
Z
sinm x cosn xdx

Products of Powers of Sines and Cosines: Case 1

If m is odd, we write m as 2k + 1 and use the identity sin2 x = 1 − cos2 x to obtain

k
k
sinm x = sin2k+1 x = sin2 x sin x = 1 − cos2 x sin x

Then we combine the single sin x with dx in the integral and set sin xdx equal to
−d(cos x)
Products of Powers of SinesR and Cosines: Case 2
If m is even and n is odd in sinm x cosn xdx, we write n as 2k +1 and use the identity
cos2 x = 1 − sin2 x to obtain

k
k
cosn x = cos2k+1 x = cos2 x cos x = 1 − sin2 x cos x

We then combine the single cos x with dx and set cos xdx equal to d(sin x)
Products of Powers of Sines Rand Cosines: Case 3
If both m and n are even in sinm x cosn xdx, we substitute
1 − cos 2x 1 + cos 2x
sin2 x = , cos2 x =
2 2
to reduce the integrand to one in lower powers of cos 2x.
Example
Evaluate
Z
cos5 xdx

3
Example
Evaluate
Z
sin4 x cos5 xdx

Integration of Rational Functions by Partial Fractions

Here we show how to express a rational function (a quotient of polynomials) as a sum
of simpler fractions, called partial fractions, which are easily integrated.

5x − 3 2 3
= +
x2 − 2x − 3 x+1 x−3

5x − 3
Z Z Z
2 3
dx = dx + dx
(x + 1)(x − 3) x+1 x−3

= 2 ln |x + 1| + 3 ln |x − 3| + C

The method for rewriting rational functions as a sum of simpler fractions is called the
method of partial fractions.

5x − 3 A B
= +
x2 − 2x − 3 x+1 x−3
We call A and B undetermined coecients until proper values for them have been
found.
There is a theorem in advanced algebra which states that every proper rational func-
tion can be expressed as a sum
f (x)
= F1 (x) + F2 (x) + · · · + Fn (x)
g(x)

where F1 (x), F2 (x), . . . , Fn (x) are rational functions of the form

A Ax + B
or k
(ax + b)k (ax2 + bx + c)

in which the denominators are factors of g(x). The sum is called the partial fraction
decomposition of f (x)/g(x), and the terms are called partial fractions.
Method of Partial Fractions (f (x)/g(x) Proper ): Step 1
Let x − r be a linear factor of g(x). Suppose that (x − r)m is the highest power of x − r
that divides g(x). Then, to this factor, assign the sum of the m partial fractions:

A1 A2 Am
+ 2
+ ··· +
(x − r) (x − r) (x − r)m

Do this for each distinct linear factor of g(x).

Method of Partial Fractions (f (x)/g(x) Proper ): Step 2
Let x2 + px + q be an irreducible quadratic
n factor of g(x) so that x + px + q has
2

no real roots. Suppose that x + px + q is the highest power of this factor that
2

divides g(x). Then, to this factor, assign the sum of the n partial fractions:

B1 x + C 1 B2 x + C2 Bn x + C n
+ + ... + 2 n
(x2 + px + q) (x2 + px + q)2 (x + px + q)

Do this for each distinct quadratic factor of g(x).

Method of Partial Fractions (f (x)/g(x) Proper ): Step 3
Set the original fraction f (x)/g(x) equal to the sum of all these partial fractions. Clear
the resulting equation of fractions and arrange the terms in decreasing powers of x.
Method of Partial Fractions (f (x)/g(x) Proper ): Step 4
Equate the coecients of corresponding powers of x and solve the resulting equations
for the undetermined coecients.

4
Example
Use partial fractions to evaluate

x2 + 4x + 1
Z
dx
(x − 1)(x + 1)(x + 3)

Example
Use partial fractions to evaluate

2x3 − 4x2 − x − 3
Z
dx
x2 − 2x − 3

5
 Improper Integrals
Innite Limits of Integration
1. If f (x) is continuous on [a, ∞), then
Z ∞ Z b
f (x)dx = lim f (x)dx
a b→∞ a

2. If f (x) is continuous on (−∞, b], then

Z b Z b
f (x)dx = lim f (x)dx
−∞ a→−∞ a

3. If f (x) is continuous on (−∞, ∞), then

Z ∞ Z c Z ∞
f (x)dx = f (x)dx + f (x)dx
−∞ −∞ c

where c is any real number.

In each case, if the limit is nite we say that the improper integral converges and that
the limit is the value of the improper integral. If the limit fails to exist, the improper
integral diverges.
Example
Evalaute
Z +∞
dx
1 x3

Example
Is the area under the curve y = (ln x)/x2 from x = 1 to x = ∞ nite? If so, what is
its value?