Integration techniques 2: simple

substitution

IB SL/HL

Adrian Sparrow

www.ibmaths.com
 Note
At the IB SL level substitution is used in very simple forms to allow to
integrate certain functions. More in depth substitutions are not
needed.
At IB HL it is more usual to find substitutions questions and these will
be dealt with with further slides.
 Substitution 1 - example

 sin 2
x cos x dx
Let u  sin x Choose your substitution.
du du
 cos x Calculate and then arrange
dx dx
 to have dx  .
du
dx  Substitute in youru and replace
cos x
du
 your dx.
 sin x cos xdx   u cos x cos x
2 2
Note at this stage your ingration
will look easier.
 sin 2
x cos x dx   u du
2
Cancel out.

u3 sin3 x  Now the integration is simple.

 c  c
3 3 Substitute youru in at the end.

 Substitution 2 - try these

1.  sin x cos xdx

3
2.   x sin xdx
cos 2

u  sin x u  cos x
du du
 cos x   sin x
dx dx
du  dx  
du
dx 
cos x sin x
du
3 3 du

 sin x cos xdx   u cos xcos x  cos x sin xdx    u sin xsin x
2 2

  x cos xdx 
sin 3
 du
u 3
  cos x sin x dx    u du
2 2

3
u4 u
 c   c
4 3
sin 4 x cos 3 x
 c   c
4 3
 Substitution 3 - another example

 2xx 1 dx
2 4

u  x 1 2
Choose your substitution.
du du du
 2x dx  Calculate and then arrange
dx 2x dx

du to have dx  .
 2xx  1 dx   2xu 2x
2 4 4

Substitute in youru and replace

your dx.
 2xx 1 dx   u du
4
2 4 
Note at this stage your ingration
u 5 will look easier.
 c
5 Cancel out.

  1 Now the integration is simple.

2 5
x 
 c Substitute youru in at the end.
5 
 Substitution 4 - try these

 3x 4  x  dx  xx  3 dx
3 3 5
1. 2
2. 2

u4x 3
u x 3 2

du du du du
 3x 2
dx   2  2x dx 
dx 3x dx 2x

1 du
 x x  3 dx  
5
2 3 du
 3x 4  x  dx    3x u 3x 2
3 3 2 5
2 xu
2 x
   5 1
 3x 4  x  dx    u du
2 3 3 3
 xx  3 dx  2
2
 u du5

6
u 4 u
 c   c
4 12
4x    3
6
3 4 2
 x
 c  c
4 12
 Questions and answers
Questions Hints Answers

1.  cos 5
x sin x dx u=cos x 
cos 6 x
c
 6

3x 1
2 5

 x 3x 1 dx
4
2. 2
u= 3x 1 2
c
  30

3.  sin 4
x cos x dx u=sin x sin x
c
5

 5

ln x  ln x 
2

4.   dx u=ln x c
 x   2

x  x  3
2 4

 2x  1x  u  x  x  3
3
c
2
5. 2
x
3 dx
 4