III.

Power Rule of Integration

The power rule of integration is one of the rules of integration and that is used to find
the integral (in terms of a variable, say x) of powers of x. To apply the power rule of
integration, the exponent of x can be any number (positive, 0, or negative) just other
than -1.

Let us learn how to derive and apply the power rule of integration along with many
more examples.

What is the Power Rule of Integration?

The power rule of integration is used to integrate the functions with exponents. For
example, the integrals of x2, x1/2, x-2, etc can be found by using this rule. i.e., the
power rule of integration rule can be applied for:

 Polynomial functions (like x3, x2, etc)

 Radical functions (like √x, ∛x, etc) as they can be written as exponents
 Some type of rational functions that can be written in the exponent form (like
1/x2, 1/x3, etc)

The power rule says that: ∫ xn dx = (xn+1) / (n+1) + C (where n ≠ -1).

To apply this rule, we simply add "1" to the exponent and we divide the result by the
same exponent of the result. Finally, add C to the final result (the integration
constant). Here are some examples of this rule:

 ∫ x2 dx = x(2+1)/(2+1) + C = x3/3 + C
 ∫ x-2 dx = x(-2+1)/(-2+1) + C = -1/x + C
 ∫ √x dx = x(1/2+1)/(1/2+1) + C = x3/2/(3/2) + C = (2x3/2)/3 + C
Integrating Polynomials Using Power Rule
The power rule is meant for integrating exponents and polynomial involves exponents
of a variable. Hence, the power rule is applied to integrate polynomial functions. In
this process, we may have to apply the properties of integrals (like ∫ c f(x) dx = c ∫
f(x) dx). For example, f(x) = 2x2 - 3x is a polynomial function and we can apply the
power rule and properties of integrals as shown below to integrate this.

∫ (2x2 - 3x) dx = ∫ 2x2 dx - ∫ 3x dx (∵ ∫ (f(x) + g(x)) dx = ∫f(x) dx + ∫ g(x) dx)

= 2 ∫ x2 dx - 3 ∫ x1 dx (∵ ∫ c f(x) dx = c ∫ f(x) dx)
= 2 (x3/3) - 3 (x2/2) + C (by power rule of integration)
= (2x3)/3 - (3x2)/2 + C

Integrating Negative Exponents Using Power Rule

We have a property of negative exponents that says 1/am = a-m. This is the main
property that is used to integrate the reciprocal functions by converting them as
negative exponents. For example, ∫ 1/x2 dx = ∫ x-2 dx and by integrating this using
power rule, we get ∫ x-2 dx = (x-2+1)/(-2+1) + C = (x-1)/(-1) + C = -1/x + C. Here are
some more examples:

 ∫ 3x-4 dx = 3 ∫ x-4 dx = 3 (x-3/(-3)) + C = -1/x3 + C

 ∫ (5x-2)/3 dx = 3 ∫ x-2 dx = (5/3) (x-1/(-1)) + C = -5/(3x) + C

Note: We cannot integrate ∫ (1/x) dx using the power rule by writing it as ∫ x-1 dx.
Because, if we apply the power rule for this, we get x0/0 + C. But x0/0 is not defined.
So the power rule of integration cannot be applied just when the exponent is -
1. Note that ∫ (1/x) dx = ln x + C.

Integrating Radicals Using Power Rule

A radical is of the form n√x and this can be written as x1/n. This representation helps
to convert a radical into exponent form. Thus, it is possible to integrate radicals using
the power rule of integration. Here are some examples.

 ∫ √x dx = ∫ x1/2 dx = (x3/2) / (3/2) + C = (2 x3/2) / 3 + C

 ∫ ∛x dx = ∫ x1/3 dx = (x4/3) / (4/3) + C = (3 x4/3) / 4 + C

The General Power Rule

��+1
�� �� = +� (� ≠− 1)
�+1
Example: Evaluate the following integral
1
1. ���3 � cos � ��
Solution:
One option is to choose u= sin x, u = sin1/3 x or u= cos x

Therefore, let u = sin x, then finding the differential du = cos x dx

Substitute this to the given integral

1 1
���3 � cos � �� = �3 ��
1 4 4
+1
�3 �3 3�3
= 1 +� = 4 +� = +� substitute the value of u=sin x
+1 4
3 3

4
3���3 �
= 4
+�

���−1 4�
2. dx
1−16�2
Solution:
Let u = sin-1 4x

Then, using the derivative of inverse sine

4
du = ��
1−16�2

Dividing both sides by 4 so we can substitute into the given integral

1 1
du = ��
4 1−16�2

��
Now to complete the required substitution (u = sin-1 4x and the 4
expression.

���−1 4� 1
dx = 4 � �� simplifying
1−16�2

1 1 �2 �2
4
� �� = 4 2
+k = 8
+ � then substitute the value of u = sin-1 4x

2
���−1 4�
= +�
8
 3+ln 2� 3
3. �
dx

Solution: Let u = 3 + ln 2x

Expanding the logarithmic 3 + ln 2x = 3 + ln 2 + ln x

1
Derive the log � and the derivative of x is �

1
Then du= � ��

3+ln 2� 3
dx = �3 ��
�

�4
= 4
+ � substitute the value of u = 3 + ln 2x

3+ln 2� 4
= 4
+�

4. 2 1 − �−� �−� ��
Solution:
Let u = 1- e-x then take the derivative

��
��
= 0 − − �−� = �−�

Du = e-x dx

1
2 1 − �−� �−� �� = 2 ��� = 2 �2 ��

3
2
=2 3
�2 + � substitute the value of u = 1 – e –x

3
4
= 1 − �−� 2 +k
3

� 1−2 ln �
5. 1 �
��
−2
Solution: Let u = 1-2 ln x, then du = �
��

�=� �=�
� 1−2 ln � 1 �=� 1 �2 −�2
1
�� = −2 �=1
� �� =−2 =
� 2 �=1 4 �=1
 �
− 1−2 ln � 2 − 1−2(1) 2 − 1−0 2 − −1 2 − 1 2
= = − = − =0
4 1 4 4 4 4

Exercises: Evaluate the following integral

1. 2�3 + 1 ��

1
2. 4− dx
�2

4+2�
3. ��
�3

3�3 −1
4. ��
�2

33�
5. 2 4
��

Prepared by:

Benigno G. Ganalon