Topic 3
Integration by Substitution
Substitution is the chain rule run backwards. If the is , set and . Then it becomes . Rewrite everything in : the , every leftover , and for a definite integral, the limits.
4 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.
1Integrate using u-substitution
e.g. “Evaluate : a function of an inside, times the inside's derivative”
Integrate using u-substitution
e.g. “Evaluate : a function of an inside, times the inside's derivative”- 1Choose : an inside whose derivative also appears
Usually the inside of a power, root, exponential or log, or a whole denominator.
- 2Find ; solve for what you have
If but only appears, use .
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in , with no left
- 4Integrate in
- 5Substitute back and add
Remember: Inside, du, swap, integrate, swap back.
See it in a problem4 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Choose : an inside whose derivative also appears
.
- 2Find ; solve for what you have
, so .
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in , with no left
.
- 4Integrate in
.
- 5Substitute back and add
.
Evaluate .
- 1Choose : an inside whose derivative also appears
.
- 2Find ; solve for what you have
: exactly what is there.
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in , with no left
.
- 4Integrate in
.
- 5Substitute back and add
.
Evaluate .
- 1Choose : an inside whose derivative also appears
, the whole denominator.
- 2Find ; solve for what you have
, so .
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in , with no left
.
- 4Integrate in
.
- 5Substitute back and add
. No absolute value is needed: .
Evaluate .
- 1Choose : an inside whose derivative also appears
.
- 2Find ; solve for what you have
, so .
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in , with no left
.
- 4Integrate in
.
- 5Substitute back and add
.
Common mistakes3
- Not converting : . Since , it is .
- Leaving an inside a -integral. If one is stuck there, write it in terms of or pick a different .
- Forgetting to substitute back, or the .
2Evaluate a definite integral by substitution, changing the limits
e.g. “Use substitution to evaluate ”
Evaluate a definite integral by substitution, changing the limits
e.g. “Use substitution to evaluate ”- 1Choose and find
- 2Change the limits: gives , gives
- 3Rewrite the integral entirely in , with the new limits
- 4Integrate and evaluate at the -limits
No need to substitute back.
Remember: New variable, new limits.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Choose and find
, .
- 2Change the limits: gives , gives
; .
- 3Rewrite the integral entirely in , with the new limits
.
- 4Integrate and evaluate at the -limits
.
Evaluate .
- 1Choose and find
, .
- 2Change the limits: gives , gives
; .
- 3Rewrite the integral entirely in , with the new limits
.
- 4Integrate and evaluate at the -limits
.
Evaluate .
- 1Choose and find
, .
- 2Change the limits: gives , gives
; .
- 3Rewrite the integral entirely in , with the new limits
.
- 4Integrate and evaluate at the -limits
.
Common mistakes3
- Keeping the -limits on a -integral. This is the most common mistake on this topic.
- Swapping new limits that come out "backwards" (bigger on the bottom) without changing the sign. Keep the order, or flip them and change the sign.
- Doing both: substituting back to and using the -limits.
3Choose a substitution when it is not obvious
e.g. “It may not be obvious which substitution will work”
Choose a substitution when it is not obvious
e.g. “It may not be obvious which substitution will work”- 1Rewrite: sin over cos, split a fraction, or spot a square
; ; multiplying top and bottom by can help too.
- 2Try = the inside, and find
- 3Write any leftover in terms of
From , .
- 4Integrate, then substitute back
Remember: Rewrite, guess u, fix the leftover x.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Rewrite: sin over cos, split a fraction, or spot a square
Nothing to rewrite.
- 2Try = the inside, and find
, .
- 3Write any leftover in terms of
: .
- 4Integrate, then substitute back
.
Evaluate .
- 1Rewrite: sin over cos, split a fraction, or spot a square
.
- 2Try = the inside, and find
, .
- 3Write any leftover in terms of
No leftover : .
- 4Integrate, then substitute back
.
, that is
Evaluate .
- 1Rewrite: sin over cos, split a fraction, or spot a square
, so the bottom is .
- 2Try = the inside, and find
, .
- 3Write any leftover in terms of
: .
- 4Integrate, then substitute back
.
Common mistakes2
- Giving up after one failed . A wrong guess usually shows which to try next.
- Writing . That is the derivative, not the integral.
4Use substitution on an integral of an unknown function
e.g. “Let be any function with . Calculate ”
Use substitution on an integral of an unknown function
e.g. “Let be any function with . Calculate ”- 1Set = the inside of
- 2Find and the new limits
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in
Usually only a constant times is left.
- 4Plug in the given value, if there is one
The letter does not matter: .
Remember: u is the inside of f.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Suppose . Calculate .
- 1Set = the inside of
.
- 2Find and the new limits
; , .
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in
.
- 4Plug in the given value, if there is one
.
Suppose . Calculate .
- 1Set = the inside of
.
- 2Find and the new limits
; , .
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in
.
- 4Plug in the given value, if there is one
.
What integral results when the substitution is applied to ?
- 1Set = the inside of
.
- 2Find and the new limits
; , .
- 3Rewrite the whole integral in
: .
- 4Plug in the given value, if there is one
No value given: this is the answer.
Common mistakes2
- Trying to find . You cannot, and you do not need to.
- Forgetting to change the limits, so they no longer match the given integral.
Need the formulas? Must memorize · Flashcards
