3

Integration By Parts
Formula
udv = uv vdu
I. Guidelines for Selecting u and dv:
(There are always exceptions, but these are generally helpful.)

L-I-A-T-E Choose u to be the function that comes first in this list:

L: Logrithmic Function
I: Inverse Trig Function
A: Algebraic Function
T: Trig Function
E: Exponential Function

Example A: x 3 ln x dx

*Since lnx is a logarithmic function and x 3 is an algebraic

function, let:
u = lnx (L comes before A in LIATE)
3
dv = x dx
1
du = dx
x
x4
v = x dx =
3

x ln xdx = uv vdu
3

x4 x4 1
= (ln x)
4
4 x dx
x4 1 3
4
= (ln x) x dx
4
x4 1 x4
= (ln x) + C
4 4 4
x4 x4
= (ln x) + C ANSWER
4 16

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Example B: sin x ln(cos x) dx

u = ln(cosx) (Logarithmic Function)

dv = sinx dx (Trig Function [L comes before T in LIATE])
1
du = ( sin x) dx = tan x dx
cos x

v= sin x dx = cos x

sin x ln(cos x) dx = uv vdu

= (ln(cos x))( cos x) ( cos x)( tan x)dx
sin x
= cos x ln(cos x) (cos x) dx
cos x

= cos x ln(cos x) sin x dx

= cos x ln(cos x) + cos x + C ANSWER

Example C: sin 1 x dx

*At first it appears that integration by parts does not apply, but let:
u = sin 1 x (Inverse Trig Function)
dv = 1 dx (Algebraic Function)

1
du = dx
1 x2
v = 1dx = x

sin vdu
1
x dx = uv

1
= (sin 1 x)( x) x 1 x2
dx

1
= x sin 1 x (1 x 2 ) 1 / 2 (2 x) dx
2

1
= x sin 1 x + (1 x 2 )1 / 2 (2) + C
2

= x sin 1 x + 1 x2 + C ANSWER

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II. Alternative General Guidelines for Choosing u and dv:
A. Let dv be the most complicated portion of the integrand
that can be easily integrated.
B. Let u be that portion of the integrand whose derivative du is a
simpler function than u itself.

Example: x 4 x 2 dx
3

*Since both of these are algebraic functions, the LIATE Rule of

Thumb is not helpful. Applying Part (A) of the alternative
guidelines above, we see that x 4 x 2 is the most complicated part
of the integrand that can easily be integrated. Therefore:
dv = x 4 x 2 dx
u = x 2 (remaining factor in integrand)
du = 2 x dx

1
v= x 4 x 2 dx =
2 (2 x)(4 x 2 )1 / 2 dx

1 2 1
= (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2 = (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2
2 3 3

x 4 x 3 dx = uv vdu
3

1 1
= ( x 2 ) (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2 (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2 (2 x) dx
3 3

x2 1
= (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2 (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2 (2 x) dx
3 3
x2 1 2
= (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2 (4 x 2 ) 5 / 2 + C
3 3 5
x2 2
= (4 x 2 ) 3 / 2 (4 x 2 ) 5 / 2 + C Answer
3 15

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III. Using repeated Applications of Integration by Parts:

Sometimes integration by parts must be repeated to obtain an answer.

Note: DO NOT switch choices for u and dv in successive applications.

Example: x
2
sin x dx

u = x 2 (Algebraic Function)
dv = sin x dx (Trig Function)

du = 2 x dx

v = sin x dx = cos x

x sin x dx = uv vdu
2

= x 2 ( cos x) cos x 2 x dx

= x 2 cos x + 2 x cos x dx
Second application of integration by parts:

u = x (Algebraic function) (Making same choices for u and dv)

dv = cos x (Trig function)
du = dx
v = cos x dx = sin x

x sin x dx = x 2 cos x + 2 [uv vdu ]

2

= x 2 cos x + 2 [ x sin x sin x dx]

= x 2 cos x + 2 [ x sin x + cos x + c]

= x 2 cos x + 2 x sin x + 2 cos x + c Answer

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 Note: After each application of integration by parts, watch for the
appearance of a constant multiple of the original integral.

Example: e
x
cos x dx
u = cos x (Trig function)
dv = e x dx (Exponential function)

du = sin x dx

v = e x dx = e x

e cos x dx = uv vdu
x

= cos x e x e x ( sin x) dx

= cos x e x + e x sin x dx
Second application of integration by parts:

u = sin x (Trig function) (Making same choices for u and dv)

dv = e x dx (Exponential function)

du = cos x dx

v = e x dx = e x

e cos x dx = e x cos x + (uv vdu )

x

e cos x dx = e x cos x + sin x e x e x cos x dx

x

Note appearance of original integral on right side of equation. Move to left side
and solve for integral as follows:

2 e x cos x dx = e x cos x + e x sin x + C

1 x
e cos x dx = (e cos x + e x sin x) + C Answer
x

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Practice Problems:

1. 3x e x dx

ln x
2. x2
dx

3. x
2
cos x dx

4. x sin x cos x dx

cos
1
5. x dx

6. (ln x)
2
dx

7. x 9 x 2 dx
3

8. e
2x
sin x dx

9. x x 1 dx
2

1
10. x(ln x) 3
dx

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Solutions:
1. 3xe x 3e x + C u = 3x
dv = e x dx
ln x 1
2. +C u = ln x
x x
1
dv = dx
x2
3. x 2 sin x + 2 x cos x 2 sin x + C u = x2

dv = cos x dx

x cos 2 x sin 2 x sin 2 x

4. + +C note: = sin x cos x
4 8 2
u=x

dv = sin 2 x cos x dx

5. x cos 1 x 1 x2 + C u = cos 1 x

dv = dx

6. x(ln x) 2 2 x ln x + 2 x + C u = (ln x) 2

dv = dx
x2 2
7. (9 x 2 ) 3 / 2 (9 x 2 ) 5 / 2 + C u = x2
3 15

dv = (4 x 2 )1 / 2 x dx

2e 2 x sin x e 2 x cos x
8. +C u = sin x
5 5
dv = e 2 x dx
2 x 2 ( x 1) 3 / 2 8 x( x 1) 5 / 2 16( x 1) 7 / 2
9. + +C u = x2
3 15 105
dv = ( x 1)1 / 2 dx
1 1
10. +C u= = (ln x) 3
2(ln x) 2 (ln x) 3

1
dv = dx
x

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