Integration that leads

to logarithm functions
1 1
The derivative of ln x is . As a consequence, if we reverse the process, the integral of is
x x
ln x + c . In this unit we generalise this result and see how a wide variety of integrals result in
logarithm functions.

In order to master the techniques explained here it is vital that you undertake plenty of practice
exercises so that they become second nature.

After reading this text, and/or viewing the video tutorial on this topic, you should be able to:

• recognise integrals in which the numerator is the derivative of the denominator.

• rewrite integrals in alternative forms so that the numerator becomes the derivative of the
denominator.

• recognise integrals which can lead to logarithm functions.

Contents
1. Introduction 2
2. Some examples 3

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1. Introduction
dy 1
We already know that when we differentiate y = ln x we find = . We also know that if we
dx x
dy f
(x)
have y = ln f (x) and we differentiate it we find = .
dx f (x)
The point is that if we recognise that the function we are trying to integrate is the derivative of
another function, we can simply reverse the process. So if the function we are trying to integrate
is a quotient, and if the numerator is the derivative of the denominator, then the integral will
involve a logarithm:

dy f
(x)
if y = ln f (x) so that =
dx f (x)
and, reversing the process,

f
(x)
dx = ln(f (x)) + c.
f (x)

This procedure works if the function f (x) is positive, because then we can take its logarithm.
What happens if the function is negative? In that case, −f (x) is positive, so that we can take
the logarithm of −f (x). Then:

dy −f
(x) f
(x)
if y = ln(−f (x)) so that = =
dx −f (x) f (x)

and, reversing the process,

f
(x)
dx = ln(−f (x)) + c
f (x)
when the function is negative.

We can combine both these results by using the modulus function. Then we can use the formula
in both cases, or when the function takes both positive and negative values (or when we don’t
know).

Key Point
To integrate a quotient when the numerator is the derivative of the denominator, we use



f (x)
dx = ln |f (x)| + c.
f (x)

mathtutor project: 2
July 21, 2004
2. Some examples
Example


Find tan x dx.

sin x
Recall that we can rewrite tan x as . Observe that the derivative of cos x is − sin x, so that
cos x
the numerator is very nearly the derivative of the denominator. We make it so by rewriting
sin x − sin x
as − and the integral becomes
cos x cos x

sin x
tan x dx = dx
cos x


− sin x
= − dx
cos x
= − ln | cos x| + c.

This result can be written in the alternative form ln | sec x| + c.

Example


x
Find dx.
1 + x2
The derivative of the denominator is 2x. Note that the numerator is not quite the derivative of
x 1 2x
the denominator, but we can make it so by rewriting as · . Then
1+x 2 2 1 + x2



x 1 2x
dx = dx
1+x 2 2 1 + x2
1
= ln |1 + x2 | + c.
2
Example


1
Find dx.
x ln |x|
1
Remember that the derivative of ln |x| is . So we rewrite the integrand slightly differently:
x
1 1/x
= . Now the numerator is the derivative of the denominator. So
x ln |x| ln |x|



1 1/x
dx = dx
x ln |x| ln |x|
= ln |ln |x|| + c.

3 mathtutor project:
July 21, 2004
Example


x cos x + sin x
Find dx.
x sin x
First of all think about what we would obtain if we differentiated the denominator: let’s do this
first. If y = x sin x, then using the product rule of differentiation,
dy
= x cos x + sin x.
dx
So we see that in the integral we are trying to find, the numerator is the derivative of the
denominator.
So

x cos x + sin x
dx = ln |x sin x| + c.
x sin x
Exercises

1. Determine each of the following integrals

3 x e2x
a) dx b) dx c) dx
2 + 3x 1 + 2x2 e2x + 1




e2x x−3
d) dx e) cot x dx f) dx
e2x − 1 x−2 + 4



f
2. For each of the following integrals, use the result = ln |f |+c to determine the integral.
f
Then repeat the integral, using algebra to simplify the integrand before integration. Check
that the two answers obtained are the same.




3x2 cos xesinx 4x−5
a) dx b) dx c) dx
x3 esin x x−4

−1/2

−5/2
x 5e5x x
d) dx e) dx f) dx
2x 1/2 e5x x−3/2
Answers

1. 1   1  2x 
a) ln |2 + 3x| + c b) ln 1 + 2x2  + c c) ln e + 1 + c
4 2
1  2x 
 1  
d) ln e − 1 + c e) ln |sin x| + c f) − ln x−2 + 4 + c
2 2
 3  sin x 
2. a) ln x  + c = 3 ln |x| + c b) ln e  + c = sin x + c
    1
c) − ln x−4  + c = 4 ln |x| + c d) ln x1/2  + c = ln |x| + c
2
 5x  2  −3/2 
e) ln e  + c = 5x + c f) − ln x  + c = ln |x| + c
3

mathtutor project: 4
July 21, 2004