Section 4.6 Integration by Substitution
Section 4.6 Integration by Substitution
Section 4.6 Integration by Substitution
R
Example Calculate 2x 1 + x2 dx
Comparing with the formula we derived above here f 0 (x) = x and
3/2
g(x) = 1 + x2 (note g 0 (x) = 2x). Since anti derivative of x is x3/2 + C, so
f (x) = 32 x3/2 + C. Then by the formula we have
Z p 2
2x 1 + x2 dx = f (g(x)) + C = (1 + x2 )3/2 + C
3
Example 1-Revisited Like in the chain rule, we will recognize 1+x2 as the
inner-function and we will define u = 1 + x2 . Then recall the definition of
differentials from Section 3.1 If y = f (x), the differential of y is dy = f 0 (x)dx
We will use this recall here for u = 1+x2 and get du = 2x dx. (A side remark
here: Until now, we have only thought of the dx in the integrand as a place
holder. Now, think of it as a differential.)
Z p Z p
2x 1 + x2 dx = 1 + x2 (2x dx)
Z
= u du
2
= u3/2 + C (go back to your original variable)
3
2
= (1 + x2 )3/2 + C
3
2
Caution Note that after the substitution you have NO xs left inside the
integral. The new variable on the right hand side is u.
R
Example Find x3 cos(x4 + 2) dx
Z Z
x3 cos(x4 + 2) dx = cos(x4 + 2)x3 dx
Z
1
= cos u du
4
Z
1
= cos u du
4
1
= sin u + C( go back to your original variable )
4
1
= sin(x4 + 2) + C
4
R
Example Calculate e5x dx
R 4x
Example Find x2 +4
dx
d
Note that this is almost a logarithmic derivative (recall dx ln(f (x)) =
0
f (x) 2 1
f (x) ). So with this inspiration use u = x +4, then du = 2x dx or 2 du = x dx
Z Z
4x x
2
dx = 4 dx
x +4 +4 x2
Z
1 1
=4 du
u 2
Z
4 1
= du
2 u
= 2 ln |u| + C( go back to your original variable )
= 2 ln |x2 + 4| + C
Before evaluating the integral lets take a little stop here and look closer
what is going on geometrically in this substitution
3
3 2
1
2
Out[12]= Out[29]=
1
1 9
The substitution transformed area in the first figure to the area in the second
one. The equality of the above two integrals says the area has not changed
but the substitution only turned our integral into an integral easier to eval-
uate using Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.Now lets go and calculate the
integral
Z 4 Z
1 9
2x + 1 dx = u du
0 2 1
1 2 3/2 9
=F T C u
2 3 1
1 2 3/2 2 3/2
= (9) (1)
2 3 3
1 2 26
= 18 =
2 3 3
Re ln x
Example Find 1 x dx
Here it is not easy to determine what the inner function is. Your thinking
process should go asking questions such as: Do we know the anti derivative
of ln x or any function whose derivative is ln x? Since the answer is No to
these questions try using ln x as your u. Let u = ln x then du = x1 dx. Also
for x = 1 u = ln 1 = 0 and x = e u = ln e = 1
Z e Z e
ln x 1
dx = ln x dx
1 x 1 x
Z 1 Z 1
= u du = u du
0 0
1
u2 1
= =
2 0 2
Graphically you can see below that the area is transformed by our substi-
tution into a triangular area on the second figure much easier to calculate
even without calculating an integral.
1
Out[8]= Out[14]=
1
1 0 1
6
R 3
Example Calculate 8 x 1 x dx
If you use the mnemonic it suggests that we use for u = 1x, the expression
inside the square root expression. Then differential gives us du = dx or
du = dx. So re-writing our integral with this substitution gives
Z 3 Z 4
x 1 x dx = x u( du)
8 9
Houston we got a problem? We have said before that after the substitution
we want NO x left overs inside the new one. We wanted to see the new
variable u only.Yet the integral on the right hand side has x in it! Question
is how do we turn x into a u? For this you need to use your substitution
u = 1 x, and solve it for x, x = 1 u. Then replace x with this expression
on the right hand side integral above
Z 3 Z 4
x 1 x dx = (u 1) u( du)
8 9
Z 9
= (u1/2 u3/2 ) du
4
2 3/2 2 5/2 9 1076
= u u =
3 5 4 15