Integration by Substitution and Using Partial Fractions

Introduction

13.5

The rst technique described here involves making a substitution to simplify an integral. We let a new variable equal a complicated part of the function we are trying to integrate. Choosing the correct substitution often requires experience. This skill develops with practice. Often the technique of partial fractions can be used to write an algebraic fraction as the sum of simpler fractions. On occasions this means that we can then integrate a complicated algebraic fraction. We shall explore this approach in the second half of the section.

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be able to nd a number of simple denite and indenite integrals

Prerequisites
Before starting this Section you should . . .
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be able to use a table of integrals be familiar with the technique of expressing an algebraic fraction as the sum of its partial fractions make simple substitutions in order to nd denite and indenite integrals

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Learning Outcomes
On completion you should be able to . . .

understand the technique used for evaluating f (x) integrals of the form dx f (x) use partial fractions to express an algebraic fraction in a simpler form and integrate it
HELM (2008): Workbook 13: Integration

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1. Making a substitution
The technique described here involves making a substitution in order to simplify an integral. We let a new variable, u say, equal a more complicated part of the function we are trying to integrate. The choice of which substitution to make often relies upon experience: dont worry if at rst you cannot see an appropriate substitution. This skill develops with practice. However, it is not simply a matter of changing the variable - care must be taken with the dierential form dx as we shall see. The technique is illustrated in the following Example.

Example 19
Find (3x + 5)6 dx.

Solution First look at the function we are trying to integrate: (3x + 5)6 . It looks quite complicated to integrate. Suppose we introduce a new variable, u, such that u = 3x + 5. Doing this means that the function we must integrate becomes u6 . Would you not agree that this looks a much simpler function to integrate than (3x + 5)6 ? There is a slight complication however. The new function of u must be integrated with respect to u and not with respect to x. This means that we must take care of the term dx correctly. Long Method u = 3x + 5 so du = 3, dx u6 dx u6 or dx 1 = du 3

Let

I=

(3x + 5)6 dx = =

(substituting for 3x + 5)

dx du (to change from x to u) du dx 1 = u6 . du (substituting for ) 3 du 1 u7 = u6 dx = + constant 3 21 Short Method Let I= u = 3x + 5 so du = 3, dx 1 so dx = du 3 1 1 u7 u6 du = u6 . . du = + constant 3 3 21

(3x + 5)6 dx =

u6 dx =

To nish o we must rewrite this answer in terms of the original variable x and replace u by 3x + 5: (3x + 5)6 dx = (3x + 5)7 +c 21

HELM (2008): Section 13.5: Integration by Substitution and Using Partial Fractions

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In practice the short method is generally used but mathematicians dont like to separate the dx 1 from the du as in the statement dx = du as it is meaningless mathematically (but it works!). In 3 the future we will use the short method, with apologies to the mathematicians!

Task
By making the substitution u = sin x nd cos x sin2 x dx

You are given the substitution u = sin x. Find Your solution

du : dx

Answer du = cos x dx Now make the substitution, simplify the result, and nally perform the integration: Your solution

Answer cos x sin2 x dx simplies to u2 du. The nal answer is 1 3 sin x + c. 3

Exercise
Use suitable substitutions to nd (a) (4x + 1)7 dx (b) t2 sin(t3 + 1)dt (Hint: you need to simplify sin(t3 + 1))

Answer (4x + 1)8 (a) +c 32

(b)

cos(t3 + 1) +c 3

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HELM (2008): Workbook 13: Integration

2. Substitution and denite integration

If you are dealing with denite integrals (ones with limits of integration) you must be particularly careful when you substitute. Consider the following example.

Example 20
Find the denite integral
2

t sin(t2 )dt by making the substitution u = t2 .

Solution Note that if u = t2 then

t=3

du du = 2t so that dt = . We nd dt 2t du 1 t sin u = 2t 2
t=3

t=3

t sin(t )dt =
t=2 t=2

sin u du
t=2

An important point to note is that the limits of integration are limits on the variable t, not u. To emphasise this they have been written explicitly as t = 2 and t = 3. When we integrate with respect to the variable u, the limits must be written in terms of u. From the substitution u = t2 , note that when t = 2 then u = 4 and when t = 3 then u = 9 so the integral becomes 1 2
u=9 u=4

1 sin u du = 2

cos u
4

1 ( cos 9 + cos 4) = 0.129 to 3 d.p. 2

Exercise
2 1

Use suitable substitutions to nd (a)

1

(2x + 3) dx,

(b)
0

3t2 et dt.

Answer (a) u = 2x + 3 is suitable; 3.359 105 to 4 sig. gs. (b) 1.718 to 3 d.p.

HELM (2008): Section 13.5: Integration by Substitution and Using Partial Fractions

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3. Integrals giving rise to logarithms

Example 21
Find

3x2 + 1 dx x3 + x + 2

Solution Let us consider what happens when we make the substitution z = x3 + x + 2. Note that dz = 3x2 + 1 so that we can write dz = (3x2 + 1)dx dx Then 1 3x2 + 1 dx = dz = ln |z | + c = ln |x3 + x + 2| 3 x +x+2 z

Note that in the last Example, the numerator of the integrand (3x2 + 1) is the derivative of the denominator (x3 + x + 2). The result is the logarithm of the denominator. This is a special case of the following rule:

Key Point 7
f (x) dx = ln |f (x)| + c f (x) Note that it is the modulus of f (x) in the answer.

Task
Write down, purely by inspection, the following integrals: 1 2x 1 (a) dx, (b) dx, (c) dx. 2 x+1 x +8 x3 Hint: In each case the numerator of the integrand is the derivative of the denominator. Your solution (a) Answer (a) ln |x + 1| + c, 44 (b) (c)

(b) ln |x2 + 8| + c,

(c) ln |x 3| + c
HELM (2008): Workbook 13: Integration

Task
Evaluate the denite integral
2

3t2 + 2t dt. t3 + t2 + 1

Your solution

Answer
4

ln |t3 + t2 + 1|
2

= ln 81 ln 13 = 1.83

Sometimes it is necessary to make slight adjustments to the integrand to obtain a form for which the rule in Key Point 7 is suitable. Consider the next Example.

Example 22
Find the indenite integral

x2 dx. x3 + 1

Solution In this Example the derivative of the denominator is 3x2 whereas the numerator is just x2 . We adjust the numerator as follows: x2 1 dx = 3 x +1 3 3x2 dx and integrate by the rule to get x3 + 1
1 3

ln |x3 + 1| + c

Note that the sort of procedure in the last Example is only possible because we can move constant factors through the integral sign. It would be wrong to try to move terms involving the variable x in a similar way.

Exercise
Write down the result of nding the following integrals. 1 2t 1 (a) dx, (b) dt, (c) dx, 2 x t +1 2x + 5 Answer (a) ln |x| + c, (b) ln |t2 + 1| + c, (c)
1 2

(d)

2 dx. 3x 2
2 3

ln |2x + 5| + c,

(d)

ln |3x 2| + c.

HELM (2008): Section 13.5: Integration by Substitution and Using Partial Fractions

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4. Integration using partial fractions

Sometimes expressions which at rst sight look impossible to integrate using the techniques already met may in fact be integrated by rst expressing them as simpler partial fractions, and then using the techniques described earlier in this Section. Consider the following Task.

Task
Express

23 x as the sum of its partial fractions. (x 5)(x + 4) 23 x dx (x 5)(x + 4) A B + and nd A, B . x5 x+4

Hence nd

First produce the partial fractions. Write the fraction in the form Your solution

Answer A = 2, B = 3 Now integrate each term separately: Your solution 23 x dx = (x 5)(x + 4) A dx + x5 B dx = x+4

Answer 2 ln |x 5| 3 ln |x + 4| + c

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HELM (2008): Workbook 13: Integration

Exercises
By expressing the following in partial fractions, evaluate each integral: 1. 2. 3. 4. x3 1 dx +x

13x 4 dx 6x2 x 2 1 dx (x + 1)(x 5) 2x dx (x 1)2 (x + 1)

Answers 1 ln |x2 + 1| + c 2 3 2 2. ln |2x + 1| + ln |3x 2| + c 2 3 1 1 3. ln |x 5| ln |x + 1| + c 6 6 1 1 1 +c 4. ln |x + 1| + ln |x 1| 2 2 x1 1. ln |x|

HELM (2008): Section 13.5: Integration by Substitution and Using Partial Fractions

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