Integral Calculus

Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 2

Integration by parts: The theory aspects

What you need to know already: What you can learn here:
⮞ What an indefinite integral is. The product ⮞ How the product rule leads to a method that
rule of differentiation. can potentially simplify many integrals.

The basic formulae of integration (addition, power, exponential etc.) were By integrating both sides of the equation we obtain:
obtained by simply reversing the corresponding elementary rules of differentiation.
The method of integration by substitution was obtained by reversing the chain rule. fg   fg  ' dx   f ' g  fg ' dx   f ' g dx   fg ' dx
We shall now try to obtain a useful method of integration by reversing the product
rule. By rearranging the equality between the left and right end of this equation
we obtain the claimed equation:
fg   f ' g dx   fg ' dx  fg   fg ' dx   f ' g dx
Technical fact   f ' g dx  fg   fg ' dx
If an indefinite integral can be written in the form:


So what?
f ' x  g  x  dx I agree that this formula looks rather uninspiring, since:
⮞ It does not provide an immediate integration formula.
then it is equivalent to the expression: ⮞ It simply changes our task from finding one integral to finding another.
 f  x g  x 
 f  x g ' x dx . But this is only the formula behind the method, not the method itself. I hope
the method will be more exciting for you.
You made a fuss in the sections on differential calculus about distinguishing
between a rule and a method. I see that word, method, again: should we be
careful about that here too?
Proof
Of course! When you are dealing with a subject as technical as calculus, words
The product rule is given by the formula: play a big role and you must make sure to use the proper word at every step.
 fg '  f ' g  fg ' As you now look at the method of substitution, ask yourself why it is a method.

Integral Calculus Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 2: Integration by parts: the theory aspects Page 1
 The formula behind the method can be presented in different ways. Here are
some of them and you may find even more in other places. Learn to recognize any
Strategy for integration by parts of them as being an integration by parts formula and use whichever you find most
convenient for you.
Assume that a given integrand can be written as the
product of two functions, one of which appears to be
the derivative of another recognizable function:
Knot on your finger
 f '(x)g(x) dx
Then, in order to integrate it: The following are common and equivalent ways to
denote the formula to be used in integration by parts:
1. Compute the derivative g  x  of g  x  .
2. Compute an antiderivative f  x of f  x  .
⮞  f '(x)g(x) dx  f (x) g(x)   f (x)g '(x) dx
This is the classical form

 f ' g dx  f g   fg ' dx
3. Apply the formula : ⮞
f '(x)g(x) dx  f (x) g(x)   f (x)g '(x) dx This is the short version of the classical form

If the new integral is simpler than the original one, ⮞  g(x) df (x)  f (x) g(x)   f (x) dg(x)
compute it, so as to obtain the indefinite integral of This form uses the definition of differential as
the original integrand. df (x)  f '(x)dx

⮞ u dv  uv  v du
This is just the basic method, but it turns out that it can be implemented in
several situations and in different ways. We shall see these variations in the next few This is the shortest form, useful for
sections, so no examples for now, but don’t panic: several are coming. Instead I memorizing.
suggest that you go over this method in its current theoretical version and make sure
to be comfortable with it.

Integral Calculus Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 2: Integration by parts: the theory aspects Page 2
 Summary
⮞ The method of integration by parts uses the product rule of differentiation to change a given integral into a different, and hopefully easier one.
⮞ Several notations are used commonly to represent this method and you can use any of them, but make sure to be clear on what it means.

Integral Calculus Chapter 2: Integration methods Section 2: Integration by parts: the theory aspects Page 3