Integration by parts is a technique for performing indefinite integration or definite integration by expanding the

differential of a product of functions and expressing the original integral in terms of a known integral . A single
integration by parts starts with

(1)

and integrates both sides,

(2)

Rearranging gives

(3)

For example, consider the integral and let

(4)
(5)

so integration by parts gives

(6)

(7)

where is a constant of integration.

The procedure does not always succeed, since some choices of may lead to more complicated integrals than the original. For
example, consider again the integral and let

(8)

giving

(9)

(10)

which is more difficult than the original (Apostol 1967, pp. 218-219).

Integration by parts may also fail because it leads back to the original integral. For example, consider and let

(11)

then

(12)

which is same integral as the original (Apostol 1967, p. 219).

The analogous procedure works for definite integration by parts, so

 (13)

where .

Integration by parts can also be applied times to :

(14)

Therefore,

(15)

But

(16)

(17)

so

(18)

Now consider this in the slightly different form . Integrate by parts a first time

(19)

so

(20)

Now integrate by parts a second time,

(21)

so

(22)

Repeating a third time,

 (23)

Therefore, after applications,

(24)

If (e.g., for an th degree polynomial), the last term is 0, so the sum terminates after terms and