Topic 3

Integration by Substitution

Substitution is the chain rule run backwards. If the is f(g(x)) g′(x)f(g(x))\,g'(x), set u=g(x)u = g(x) and du=g′(x) dxdu = g'(x)\,dx. Then it becomes ∫f(u) du\displaystyle\int f(u)\,du. Rewrite everything in uu: the dxdx, every leftover xx, and for a definite integral, the limits.

4 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.

1

Integrate using u-substitution

e.g. “Evaluate ∫x3(x4+2)5 dx\displaystyle\int x^3(x^4 + 2)^5\,dx: a function of an inside, times the inside's derivative”
  1. 1
    Choose uu: an inside whose derivative also appears

    Usually the inside of a power, root, exponential or log, or a whole denominator.

  2. 2
    Find du=u′(x) dxdu = u'(x)\,dx; solve for what you have

    If du=4x3 dxdu = 4x^3\,dx but only x3 dxx^3\,dx appears, use x3 dx=14 dux^3\,dx = \tfrac{1}{4}\,du.

  3. 3
    Rewrite the whole integral in uu, with no xx left
  4. 4
    Integrate in uu
  5. 5
    Substitute back u=g(x)u = g(x) and add +C+C

Remember: Inside, du, swap, integrate, swap back.

See it in a problem4 worked examples

Evaluate ∫x3(x4+2)5 dx\displaystyle\int x^3(x^4 + 2)^5\,dx.

  1. 1
    Choose uu: an inside whose derivative also appears

    u=x4+2u = x^4 + 2.

  2. 2
    Find du=u′(x) dxdu = u'(x)\,dx; solve for what you have

    du=4x3 dxdu = 4x^3\,dx, so x3 dx=14 dux^3\,dx = \tfrac{1}{4}\,du.

  3. 3
    Rewrite the whole integral in uu, with no xx left

    ∫14u5 du\displaystyle\int \tfrac{1}{4}u^5\,du.

  4. 4
    Integrate in uu

    u624\dfrac{u^6}{24}.

  5. 5
    Substitute back u=g(x)u = g(x) and add +C+C

    (x4+2)624+C\dfrac{(x^4 + 2)^6}{24} + C.

Answer:

(x4+2)624+C\dfrac{(x^4 + 2)^6}{24} + C

Common mistakes3
  • Not converting dxdx: ∫(3x+1)4 dx≠∫u4 du\displaystyle\int (3x + 1)^4\,dx \neq \int u^4\,du. Since du=3 dxdu = 3\,dx, it is 13∫u4 du\tfrac{1}{3}\displaystyle\int u^4\,du.
  • Leaving an xx inside a uu-integral. If one is stuck there, write it in terms of uu or pick a different uu.
  • Forgetting to substitute back, or the +C+C.
2

Evaluate a definite integral by substitution, changing the limits

e.g. “Use substitution to evaluate ∫ab… dx\displaystyle\int_a^b \dots\,dx”
  1. 1
    Choose uu and find dudu
  2. 2
    Change the limits: x=ax = a gives u(a)u(a), x=bx = b gives u(b)u(b)
  3. 3
    Rewrite the integral entirely in uu, with the new limits
  4. 4
    Integrate and evaluate at the uu-limits

    No need to substitute back.

Remember: New variable, new limits.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate ∫01x2x3+1 dx\displaystyle\int_0^1 \frac{x^2}{x^3 + 1}\,dx.

  1. 1
    Choose uu and find dudu

    u=x3+1u = x^3 + 1,  du=3x2 dx\ du = 3x^2\,dx.

  2. 2
    Change the limits: x=ax = a gives u(a)u(a), x=bx = b gives u(b)u(b)

    x=0⇒u=1x = 0 \Rightarrow u = 1;  x=1⇒u=2\ x = 1 \Rightarrow u = 2.

  3. 3
    Rewrite the integral entirely in uu, with the new limits

    13∫12duu\dfrac{1}{3}\displaystyle\int_1^2 \frac{du}{u}.

  4. 4
    Integrate and evaluate at the uu-limits

    13[log⁡u]12=13log⁡2\dfrac{1}{3}\left[\log u\right]_1^2 = \dfrac{1}{3}\log 2.

Answer:

13log⁡2\dfrac{1}{3}\log 2

Common mistakes3
  • Keeping the xx-limits on a uu-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 xx and using the uu-limits.
3

Choose a substitution when it is not obvious

e.g. “It may not be obvious which substitution will work”
  1. 1
    Rewrite: sin over cos, split a fraction, or spot a square

    tan⁡x=sin⁡xcos⁡x\tan x = \dfrac{\sin x}{\cos x};  x4=(x2)2\ x^4 = (x^2)^2; multiplying top and bottom by exe^{x} can help too.

  2. 2
    Try uu = the inside, and find dudu
  3. 3
    Write any leftover xx in terms of uu

    From u=x+1u = x + 1,  x=u−1\ x = u - 1.

  4. 4
    Integrate, then substitute back

Remember: Rewrite, guess u, fix the leftover x.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate ∫xx+1 dx\displaystyle\int x\sqrt{x + 1}\,dx.

  1. 1
    Rewrite: sin over cos, split a fraction, or spot a square

    Nothing to rewrite.

  2. 2
    Try uu = the inside, and find dudu

    u=x+1u = x + 1,  du=dx\ du = dx.

  3. 3
    Write any leftover xx in terms of uu

    x=u−1x = u - 1:  ∫(u−1)u1/2 du=∫(u3/2−u1/2) du\ \displaystyle\int (u - 1)u^{1/2}\,du = \int \left(u^{3/2} - u^{1/2}\right)\,du.

  4. 4
    Integrate, then substitute back

    25u5/2−23u3/2=25(x+1)5/2−23(x+1)3/2+C\dfrac{2}{5}u^{5/2} - \dfrac{2}{3}u^{3/2} = \dfrac{2}{5}(x + 1)^{5/2} - \dfrac{2}{3}(x + 1)^{3/2} + C.

Answer:

25(x+1)5/2−23(x+1)3/2+C\dfrac{2}{5}(x + 1)^{5/2} - \dfrac{2}{3}(x + 1)^{3/2} + C

Common mistakes2
  • Giving up after one failed uu. A wrong guess usually shows which uu to try next.
  • Writing ∫tan⁡x dx=sec⁡2x\displaystyle\int \tan x\,dx = \sec^2 x. That is the derivative, not the integral.
4

Use substitution on an integral of an unknown function

e.g. “Let ff be any function with ∫abf(t) dt=…\displaystyle\int_a^b f(t)\,dt = \dots. Calculate ∫…f(g(x))… dx\displaystyle\int \dots f(g(x))\dots\,dx”
  1. 1
    Set uu = the inside of ff
  2. 2
    Find dudu and the new limits
  3. 3
    Rewrite the whole integral in uu

    Usually only a constant times f(u) duf(u)\,du is left.

  4. 4
    Plug in the given value, if there is one

    The letter does not matter: ∫09f(u) du=∫09f(t) dt\int_0^9 f(u)\,du = \int_0^9 f(t)\,dt.

Remember: u is the inside of f.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Suppose ∫09f(t) dt=6\displaystyle\int_0^9 f(t)\,dt = 6. Calculate ∫03x f(x2) dx\displaystyle\int_0^3 x\,f(x^2)\,dx.

  1. 1
    Set uu = the inside of ff

    u=x2u = x^2.

  2. 2
    Find dudu and the new limits

    du=2x dxdu = 2x\,dx;  x=0⇒u=0\ x = 0 \Rightarrow u = 0,  x=3⇒u=9\ x = 3 \Rightarrow u = 9.

  3. 3
    Rewrite the whole integral in uu

    12∫09f(u) du\dfrac{1}{2}\displaystyle\int_0^9 f(u)\,du.

  4. 4
    Plug in the given value, if there is one

    12⋅6=3\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot 6 = 3.

Answer:

33

Common mistakes2
  • Trying to find ff. You cannot, and you do not need to.
  • Forgetting to change the limits, so they no longer match the given integral.

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