6.

2: Integration by Parts
Here's a simple integral that we can't yet evaluate:
$$\int x\cos x \,dx.\]
It's a simple matter to take the derivative of the integrand using the Product Rule, but there is no Product Rule for integrals.
However, this section introduces Integration by Parts, a method of integration that is based on the Product Rule for derivatives. It
will enable us to evaluate this integral.
The Product Rule says that if u and v are functions of x, then (uv) = u v + u v . For simplicity, we've written
′ ′ ′
u for u(x) and v

for v(x). Suppose we integrate both sides with respect to x. This gives
$$\int (uv)'\,dx = \int (u'v+uv')\,dx.\]
By the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, the left side integrates to uv. The right side can be broken up into two integrals, and we
have
$$uv = \int u'v\,dx + \int uv'\,dx.\]
Solving for the second integral we have
$$\int uv'\,dx = uv - \int u'v\,dx.\]
Using differential notation, we can write du = u (x)dx and dv = v (x)dx and the expression above can be written as follows:
′ ′

$$\int u\,dv = uv - \int v\,du.\]

This is the Integration by Parts formula. For reference purposes, we state this in a theorem.

Theorem 6.2.1: Integration by Parts

Let u and v be differentiable functions of x on an interval I containing a and b . Then

∫ u dv = uv − ∫ v du, (6.2.1)

and integration by parts

x=b x=b
b
∣
∫ u dv = uv −∫ v du. (6.2.2)
∣
a
x=a x=a

Let's try an example to understand our new technique.

Example 6.2.1: Integrating using Integration by Parts

Evaluate ∫ x cos x dx .

Solution
The key to Integration by Parts is to identify part of the integrand as "u" and part as "dv ." Regular practice will help one make
good identifications, and later we will introduce some principles that help. For now, let u = x and dv = cos x dx .
It is generally useful to make a small table of these values as done below. Right now we only know u and dv as shown on the
left of Figure 6.2.1; on the right we fill in the rest of what we need. If u = x , then du = dx . Since dv = cos x dx , v is an
antiderivative of cos x. We choose v = sin x .

Figure 6.2.1 : Setting up integration by parts.

Now substitute all of this into the Integration by Parts formula, giving
$$\int x\cos x\,dx = x\sin x - \int \sin x \,dx.\]

6.2.1 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/4186
 We can then integrate sin x to get − cos x + C and overall our answer is
$$\int x\cos x\ dx = x\sin x + \cos x + C.\]
Note how the antiderivative contains a product, x sin x. This product is what makes Integration by Parts necessary.

The example above demonstrates how Integration by Parts works in general. We try to identify u and dv in the integral we are
given, and the key is that we usually want to choose u and dv so that du is simpler than u and v is hopefully not too much more
complicated than dv . This will mean that the integral on the right side of the Integration by Parts formula, ∫ v du will be simpler to
integrate than the original integral ∫ u dv .
In the example above, we chose u = x and dv = cos x dx . Then du = dx was simpler than u and v = sin x is no more
complicated than dv . Therefore, instead of integrating x cos x dx, we could integrate sin x dx, which we knew how to do.
A useful mnemonic for helping to determine u is "LIATE," where

L = Logarithmic, I = InverseT rig. , A = Algebraic(polynomials), (6.2.3)

T = Trigonometric, andE = Exponential. (6.2.4)

If the integrand contains both a logarithmic and an algebraic term, in general letting u be the logarithmic term works best, as
indicated by L coming before A in LIATE.
We now consider another example.

Example 6.2.2: Integrating using Integration by Parts

Evaluate ∫ xe
x
dx .

Solution
The integrand contains an Algebraic term (x) and an \textbf{E}xponential term (e ). Our mnemonic suggests letting u be the
x

algebraic term, so we choose u = x and dv = e dx . Then du = dx and v = e as indicated by the tables below.
x x

Figure 6.2.2 : Setting up Integration by Parts.

We see du is simpler than u, while there is no change in going from dv to v . This is good. The Integration by Parts formula
gives
$$\int x e^x\,dx = xe^x - \int e^x\,dx.\]
The integral on the right is simple; our final answer is
$$\int xe^x\ dx = xe^x - e^x + C.\]
Note again how the antiderivatives contain a product term.

Example 6.2.3: Integrating using Integration by Parts

Evaluate ∫ x
2
cos x dx .

Solution
The mnemonic suggests letting u =x
2
instead of the trigonometric function, hence dv = cos x dx . Then du = 2x dx and
v = sin x as shown below.

Figure 6.2.3 : Setting up Integration by Parts.

6.2.2 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/4186
 The Integration by Parts formula gives
$$\int x^2\cos x\,dx = x^2\sin x - \int 2x\sin x\,dx.\]
At this point, the integral on the right is indeed simpler than the one we started with, but to evaluate it, we need to do
Integration by Parts again. Here we choose u = 2x and dv = sin x and fill in the rest below.

Figure 6.2.4 : Setting up Integration by Parts.

The integral all the way on the right is now something we can evaluate. It evaluates to −2 sin x . Then going through and
simplifying, being careful to keep all the signs straight, our answer is
$$\int x^2\cos x\ dx = x^2\sin x + 2x\cos x - 2\sin x + C.\]

Example 6.2.4: Integrating using Integration by Parts

Evaluate ∫ e
x
.
cos x dx

Solution
This is a classic problem. Our mnemonic suggests letting u be the trigonometric function instead of the exponential. In this
particular example, one can let u be either cos x or e ; to demonstrate that we do not have to follow LIATE, we choose u = e
x x

and hence dv = cos x dx . Then du = e dx and v = sin x as shown below.

x

Figure 6.2.5 : Setting up Integration by Parts.

Notice that du is no simpler than u, going against our general rule (but bear with us). The Integration by Parts formula yields
$$\int e^x\cos x\ dx = e^x\sin x - \int e^x\sin x\,dx.\]
The integral on the right is not much different than the one we started with, so it seems like we have gotten nowhere. Let's keep
working and apply Integration by Parts to the new integral, using u = e and dv = sin x dx . This leads us to the following:
x

Figure 6.2.6 : Setting up Integration by Parts.

The Integration by Parts formula then gives:

x x x x
∫ e cos x dx =e sin x − (−e cos x − ∫ −e cos x dx)

x x x
=e sin x + e cos x − ∫ e cos x dx.

It seems we are back right where we started, as the right hand side contains ∫ e x
cos x dx . But this is actually a good thing.
Add ∫ e x
cos x dx to both sides. This gives

x x x
2∫ e cos x dx = e sin x + e cos x

1
x x x
Now divide both sides by 2: ∫ e cos x dx = (e sin x + e cos x).
2

Simplifying a little and adding the constant of integration, our answer is thus
$$\int e^x\cos x\ dx = \frac12e^x\left(\sin x + \cos x\right)+C.\]

6.2.3 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/4186
 Example 6.2.5: Integrating using Integration by Parts: antiderivative of ln x

Evaluate ∫ ln x dx .

Solution
One may have noticed that we have rules for integrating the familiar trigonometric functions and e , but we have not yet given
x

a rule for integrating ln x. That is because ln x can't easily be integrated with any of the rules we have learned up to this point.
But we can find its antiderivative by a clever application of Integration by Parts. Set u = ln x and dv = dx . This is a good,
sneaky trick to learn as it can help in other situations. This determines du = (1/x) dx and v = x as shown below.

Figure 6.2.7 : Setting up Integration by Parts.

Putting this all together in the Integration by Parts formula, things work out very nicely:
$$\int \ln x\,dx = x\ln x - \int x\,\frac1x\,dx.\]
The new integral simplifies to ∫ 1 dx , which is about as simple as things get. Its integral is x + C and our answer is
$$\int \ln x\ dx = x\ln{x} - x + C.\]

Example 6.2.6: Integrating using Int. by Parts: antiderivative of arctan x

Evaluate ∫ arctan x dx .

Solution
The same sneaky trick we used above works here. Let u = arctan x and dv = dx . Then du = 1/(1 + x 2
) dx and v = x . The
Integration by Parts formula gives
x
∫ arctan x dx = x arctan x − ∫ dx. (6.2.5)
2
1 +x

The integral on the right can be solved by substitution. Taking u = 1 + x , we get du = 2x dx. The integral then becomes
2

1 1
∫ arctan x dx = x arctan x − ∫ du. (6.2.6)
2 u

The integral on the right evaluates to ln |u| + C , which becomes ln(1 + x 2

)+C . Therefore, the answer is

2
∫ arctan x dx = x arctan x − ln(1 + x ) + C . (6.2.7)

Substitution Before Integration

When taking derivatives, it was common to employ multiple rules (such as using both the Quotient and the Chain Rules). It should
then come as no surprise that some integrals are best evaluated by combining integration techniques. In particular, here we illustrate
making an "unusual" substitution first before using Integration by Parts.

Example 6.2.7: Integration by Parts after substitution

Evaluate ∫ cos(ln x) dx .

Solution
The integrand contains a composition of functions, leading us to think Substitution would be beneficial. Letting u = ln x , we
have du = 1/x dx. This seems problematic, as we do not have a 1/x in the integrand. But consider:

6.2.4 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/4186
 1
du = dx ⇒ x ⋅ du = dx. (6.2.8)
x

Since u = ln x , we can use inverse functions and conclude that x = e . Therefore we have that u

dx = x ⋅ du
u
=e du.

We can thus replace ln x with u and dx with e u

du . Thus we rewrite our integral as

u
∫ cos(ln x) dx = ∫ e cos u du. (6.2.9)

We evaluated this integral in Example 6.2.4. Using the result there, we have:

u
∫ cos(ln x) dx = ∫ e cos u du

1 u
= e ( sin u + cos u) + C
2
1 ln x
= e ( sin(ln x) + cos(ln x)) + C
2
1
= x( sin(ln x) + cos(ln x)) + C .
2

Definite Integrals and Integration By Parts

So far we have focused only on evaluating indefinite integrals. Of course, we can use Integration by Parts to evaluate definite
integrals as well, as Theorem 6.2.1 states. We do so in the next example.

Example 6.2.8: Definite integration using Integration by Parts

2

Evaluate ∫ 2
x .
ln x dx
1

Solution
Our mnemonic suggests letting u = ln x , hence dv = x 2
dx .
We then get du = (1/x) dx and v = x 3
/3 as shown below.

Figure 6.2.8 : Setting up Integration by Parts.

The Integration by Parts formula then gives
2 3 2 2 3
2
x ∣ x 1
∫ x ln x dx = ln x ∣ − ∫ dx
3 ∣1 3 x
1 1

3 2 2 2
x ∣ x
= ln x ∣ − ∫ dx
3 ∣ 3
1 1

3 2 3 2
x ∣ x ∣
= ln x ∣ − ∣
3 ∣ 9 ∣1
1

3 3 2
x x ∣
=( ln x − )∣
3 9 ∣
1

8 8 1 1
=( ln 2 − ) −( ln 1 − )
3 9 3 9

8 7
= ln 2 −
3 9

≈ 1.07.

6.2.5 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/4186
In general, Integration by Parts is useful for integrating certain products of functions, like ∫ xe
x
dx or 3
∫ x sin x dx . It is also
useful for integrals involving logarithms and inverse trigonometric functions.
As stated before, integration is generally more difficult than derivation. We are developing tools for handling a large array of
integrals, and experience will tell us when one tool is preferable/necessary over another. For instance, consider the three similar--
looking integrals
$$\int xe^x\,dx, \qquad \int x e^{x^2}\,dx \qquad \text{and} \qquad \int xe^{x^3}\,dx.\]
While the first is calculated easily with Integration by Parts, the second is best approached with Substitution. Taking things one step
further, the third integral has no answer in terms of elementary functions, so none of the methods we learn in calculus will get us
the exact answer.
Integration by Parts is a very useful method, second only to substitution. In the following sections of this chapter, we continue to
learn other integration techniques. The next section focuses on handling integrals containing trigonometric functions.

Contributors and Attributions

Gregory Hartman (Virginia Military Institute). Contributions were made by Troy Siemers and Dimplekumar Chalishajar of
VMI and Brian Heinold of Mount Saint Mary's University. This content is copyrighted by a Creative Commons Attribution -
Noncommercial (BY-NC) License. http://www.apexcalculus.com/
Integrated by Justin Marshall.

This page titled 6.2: Integration by Parts is shared under a CC BY-NC 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gregory Hartman
et al. via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.

6.2.6 https://math.libretexts.org/@go/page/4186