Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial:

Integration by Parts
We will use the Product Rule for derivatives to derive a powerful integration formula:

• Start with (f (x)g(x))0 = f (x)g 0 (x) + f 0 (x)g(x).

Z Z
• Integrate both sides to get f (x)g(x) = f (x)g 0 (x) dx + f 0 (x)g(x) dx. (We need not
include a constant of integration on the left, since the integrals on the right will also
have integration constants.)
Z
• Solve for f (x)g 0 (x) dx, obtaining
Z Z
f (x)g 0 (x) dx = f (x)g(x) − f 0 (x)g(x) dx.

This formula frequently allows us to compute a difficult integral by computing a much simpler
integral. We often express the Integration by Parts formula as follows:

Let
u = f (x) dv = g 0 (x) dx
du = f 0 (x) dx v = g(x)
Then the formula becomes Z Z
u dv = uv − v du.
To integrate by parts, strategically choose u, dv and then apply the formula.

Example Z
Let’s evaluate xex dx.

Let
u=x dv = ex dx
du = dx v = ex
Then by integration by parts,
Z Z
x x
xe = xe − ex dx
= xex − ex + C.

A Faulty Choice A Reduction Formula

Integration by parts “works” on definite integrals as well:

Z b Z b
u dv = uv|ba − v du.
a a
Example
Z 1
We will evaluate arctan(x) dx.
0

Let
u = arctan(x) dv = dx
1
du = dx v=x
1 + x2
Then by integration by parts,
Z 1 Z 1
x
arctan(x) = x arctan(x)|10 − dx
0 0 1 + x2
1 1

= x arctan(x)|10
− ln(1 + x2 )
2 0
π 1
   
= −0 − ln(2) − 0
4 2
π √
= − ln( 2).
4

Sometimes it is necessary to integrate twice by parts in order to compute an integral:

Example Z
Let’s compute ex cos x dx.

Let
u = ex dv = cos x dx
du = ex dx v = sin x
Z Z
x x
Then e cos x dx = e sin x − ex sin x dx.

It is not clear yet that we’ve accomplished anything, but now let’s integrate the integral on
the right-hand side by parts:

Now let
u = ex dv = sin x dx
du = ex dx v = − cos x
Z Z
So ex sin x dx = −ex cos x + ex cos x dx.
Z Z
Substituting this into ex cos x dx = ex sin x − ex sin x dx,
Z  Z 
x x x x
e cos x dx = e sin x − −e cos x + e cos x dx
Z
= ex sin x + ex cos x − ex cos x dx.
 Z
The integal ex cos x dx appears on both sides on the equation, so we can solve for it:
Z
2 ex cos x dx = ex sin x + ex cos x.

Finally, Z
1 1
ex cos x dx = ex sin x + ex cos x + C.
2 2

Check by Differentiating

Key Concept

Z Z
u dv = uv − v du.

• Choose u, dv in such a way that:

1. u is easy to differentiate.
2. dv is easy to integrate.
Z Z
3. v du is easier to compute that u dv.

• Sometimes it is necessary to integrate by parts more than once.

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