Question: Why is it that when we perform integration by parts, we do not need to write

the “+ c” arbitrary constant for the first term?

dv
I.e. ∫ uvdx = [vU ] − ∫ U dx
dx

instead of

∫ uvdx = [v(U + c)] − ... where ∫ udx = U + c

Ans: The arbitrary constant we can “absorb it” into the second term of the by parts , i.e.
dv dv
∫ U dx dx . Only after we evaluate “ ∫ U dx dx ” then we put an “overall” “+d” arbitrary
constant.

Proof:

Let f ( x ) be an integrable function, g ( x ) be a differentiable function.

with ∫ f ( x) dx = F ( x) + c .

Consider ∫ f ( x) g ( x)dx and we apply integration by parts.

∫ f ( x) g ( x)dx = ⎡⎣( F ( x) + c ) g ( x) ⎤⎦ − ∫ ( F ( x) + c ) g '( x)dx
= [ F ( x) g ( x) + cg ( x)] − ∫ F ( x) g '( x)dx − ∫ cg '( x)dx
= [ F ( x) g ( x) ] − ∫ F ( x) g '( x)dx + cg ( x) − ∫ cg '( x)dx

= [ F ( x) g ( x) ] − ∫ F ( x) g '( x)dx + cg ( x) − c[ g ( x) + d )]
= [ F ( x) g ( x) ] − ∫ F ( x) g '( x)dx + e

Therefore we get back the same form whether we put “ ⎡⎣( F ( x) + c ) g ( x) ⎤⎦ ” or

“ [ F ( x) g ( x ) ] ”

We may not see the reason why throught using specific examples as in the process of
simplifying the terms we have indirectly carried out “ cg ( x) − ∫ cg '( x)dx ”.