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

www.rit.edu/asc Page 1 of 7
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

www.rit.edu/asc Page 2 of 7
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

www.rit.edu/asc Page 3 of 7
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

www.rit.edu/asc Page 4 of 7
 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

www.rit.edu/asc Page 5 of 7
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

www.rit.edu/asc Page 6 of 7
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

www.rit.edu/asc Page 7 of 7