Topic 4
Integration by Parts
Integration by parts is the product rule run backwards: . Choose to be the factor that gets simpler when you differentiate it: a power of , a , or an . Let be the rest.
5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.
1Integrate x times an exponential or trig function using integration by parts
e.g. “Evaluate , or ”
Integrate x times an exponential or trig function using integration by parts
e.g. “Evaluate , or ”- 1Let be the polynomial and the rest
Differentiating lowers its power, and , , are easy to integrate.
- 2Find and
. No is needed here.
- 3Apply
For a definite integral: .
- 4Repeat on the new integral until no power of is left
Each round lowers the power by one, so takes two rounds. Make the same kind of choice each time.
- 5Collect terms; add or plug in the limits
Remember: The polynomial is u: it shrinks every round.
See it in a problem4 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Let be the polynomial and the rest
, .
- 2Find and
, .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Repeat on the new integral until no power of is left
No is left: . One round is enough.
- 5Collect terms; add or plug in the limits
.
Evaluate .
- 1Let be the polynomial and the rest
, .
- 2Find and
, .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Repeat on the new integral until no power of is left
. No left.
- 5Collect terms; add or plug in the limits
, so the total is .
Evaluate .
- 1Let be the polynomial and the rest
, .
- 2Find and
, .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Repeat on the new integral until no power of is left
Again with , : .
- 5Collect terms; add or plug in the limits
.
Evaluate .
- 1Let be the polynomial and the rest
First , so , : . Now , .
- 2Find and
, .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Repeat on the new integral until no power of is left
. No left.
- 5Collect terms; add or plug in the limits
.
Common mistakes4
- Choosing or : the new integral gets harder, not easier.
- Sign slips: , and the minus in applies to the whole integral.
- Forgetting the chain-rule factor: , not .
- In a definite integral, putting limits on but not on .
2Integrate log x or arctan x using integration by parts
e.g. “Evaluate , or : a single function you cannot integrate directly”
Integrate log x or arctan x using integration by parts
e.g. “Evaluate , or : a single function you cannot integrate directly”- 1Let be the or inverse trig factor
Their derivatives are simple: , , . Everything else is . If nothing is left, .
- 2Find and
- 3Apply
- 4Simplify and integrate it
With it is usually a power of . With alone, substitute . With a power of in front, divide first: .
Remember: In parts, logs and inverse trig are u.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Let be the or inverse trig factor
, .
- 2Find and
, .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Simplify and integrate it
. Total: .
Evaluate .
- 1Let be the or inverse trig factor
, .
- 2Find and
, .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Simplify and integrate it
, : . Total: .
Evaluate .
- 1Let be the or inverse trig factor
, .
- 2Find and
, .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Simplify and integrate it
and . Total: .
Common mistakes3
- Choosing : you would need , the very thing you are trying to find.
- Forgetting the chain rule in : .
- Simplifying wrong: , not .
3Integrate e^x sin x by parts twice and solve for the integral
e.g. “Evaluate or ”
Integrate e^x sin x by parts twice and solve for the integral
e.g. “Evaluate or ”- 1Call the integral ; let be the trig factor
Either choice works, but keep the same kind in round two, or round two undoes round one.
- 2Integrate by parts once
- 3Integrate the new integral by parts, same choice of
- 4Spot again and solve for it
Move the terms to one side and divide. Then add , or plug in the limits.
Remember: Twice around the loop, then solve.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Call the integral ; let be the trig factor
. , , so , .
- 2Integrate by parts once
.
- 3Integrate the new integral by parts, same choice of
, : .
- 4Spot again and solve for it
, so . Divide by and add .
Evaluate .
- 1Call the integral ; let be the trig factor
. , , so , .
- 2Integrate by parts once
.
- 3Integrate the new integral by parts, same choice of
: .
- 4Spot again and solve for it
, so and .
Evaluate .
- 1Call the integral ; let be the trig factor
. , , so , .
- 2Integrate by parts once
.
- 3Integrate the new integral by parts, same choice of
, : .
- 4Spot again and solve for it
, so . Divide by and add .
Common mistakes3
- Switching roles in round two ( after ): you get , true but useless.
- Losing a sign when is used twice in a row.
- Forgetting the factor from the inside: .
4Derive and use a reduction formula with integration by parts
e.g. “Derive the reduction formula …”
Derive and use a reduction formula with integration by parts
e.g. “Derive the reduction formula …”- 1Name ; split off a piece to be
: . : , . : .
- 2Integrate by parts once, keeping general
- 3Rewrite what is left as or
Use if needed. If appears on both sides, solve for it.
- 4Step down from to or
In a definite integral the term often vanishes at both limits.
Remember: One round of parts, keep n, step down.
See it in a problem2 worked examples
Show that , then compute .
- 1Name ; split off a piece to be
. , .
- 2Integrate by parts once, keeping general
, : .
- 3Rewrite what is left as or
The cancels: .
- 4Step down from to or
Let . Since for , , with : , , .
Show that for , then compute .
- 1Name ; split off a piece to be
. , .
- 2Integrate by parts once, keeping general
, : .
- 3Rewrite what is left as or
The bracket is . With : , so .
- 4Step down from to or
, so .
Common mistakes3
- Plugging in a number for too early. The must work for every .
- Forgetting to solve for when it also appears on the right side.
- Stopping at the wrong base case: with even ends at , odd at .
5Evaluate an integral of f'' from given values using integration by parts
e.g. “Let and Calculate or over an interval”
Evaluate an integral of f'' from given values using integration by parts
e.g. “Let and Calculate or over an interval”- 1Substitute first if has an inside
For : , , . Change the limits too.
- 2Let be the power of and
Then .
- 3Apply
The leftover , by the Fundamental Theorem.
- 4Plug in the given values
Remember: f'' integrates to f', and f' integrates to f.
See it in a problem2 worked examples
Suppose , and . Calculate .
- 1Substitute first if has an inside
Nothing to substitute: the argument of is just .
- 2Let be the power of and
, , so , .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Plug in the given values
.
Suppose , , and . Calculate .
- 1Substitute first if has an inside
, , and is : .
- 2Let be the power of and
, , so , .
- 3Apply
.
- 4Plug in the given values
.
Common mistakes3
- Changing variables but keeping the old limits: from to is from to .
- Dropping the lower-limit term of when the lower limit is not .
- Writing : integrating gives .
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