Q.Find ∫[cotx+tanx]dx
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — U Substitution
U Substitution: The Reverse Chain Rule
The chain rule differentiates composite functions: the derivative of sin(x2) is cos(x2)⋅2x — differentiate the outer function, then multiply by the derivative of the inside. Integration asks the reverse: given cos(x2)⋅2x, find the original function. That's what u substitution does — it reverses the chain rule.
The Core Intuition
When an integral looks like "a function times the derivative of its inside," substitute the inside with u and the derivative of the inside with du. Consider:
∫2xcos(x2)dx
Here 2x is the derivative of x2, and x2 is the inside of cos(x2). Let u=x2, so du=2xdx:
∫cos(u)du=sin(u)+C=sin(x2)+C
Check: the derivative of sin(x2) is cos(x2)⋅2x.
The Precise Statement
∫f(g(x))⋅g′(x)dx=∫f(u)duwhere u=g(x),du=g′(x)dx
Valid provided g is differentiable and the resulting integral in u is simpler.
The Step-by-Step Method
- Identify a function g(x) whose derivative g′(x) also appears (possibly up to a constant factor).
- Set u=g(x), compute du=g′(x)dx.
- Rewrite the entire integral in u and du — every x and dx must be replaced.
- Integrate with respect to u.
- Substitute back u=g(x).
You cannot mix variables. If any x remains after substitution, you chose the wrong u (or must solve for x in terms of u — rare).
A Second Example (with a constant factor)
Evaluate ∫xx2+1dx. Let u=x2+1, so xdx=21du:
∫u⋅21du=21⋅32u3/2+C=31(x2+1)3/2+C
When Does It Work?
When the integrand is something times the derivative of something inside. Common patterns:
- x⋅f(x2) — derivative of x2 is 2x, so u=x2
- eg(x)⋅g′(x) — derivative of g(x) appears
- g(x)g′(x) — leads to log∣g(x)∣ …
Concept: method of substitution (combine the surds over a common denominator, then substitute t=sinx−cosx).
Write both surds over sinxcosx:
cotx+tanx=sinxcosx+cosxsinx=sinxcosxcosx+sinx.
Let t=sinx−cosx, so dt=(cosx+sinx)dx (exactly the numerator). Also
t2=(sinx−cosx)2=1−2sinxcosx ⇒ sinxcosx=21−t2.
Hence sinxcosx=21−t2, and …
Combine the two surds into sinxcosxsinx+cosx, then substitute t=sinx−cosx (so dt matches the numerator) to reach the standard integral ∫1−t2dt. Final answer: 2sin−1(sinx−cosx)+C.
Step 1 — Combine the surds
Write each term with sines and cosines and put them over a common denominator:
cotx+tanx=sinxcosx+cosxsinx=sinxcosxcosx+sinxcosxsinx=sinxcosxsinx+cosx.
Step 2 — Pick the substitution
The numerator sinx+cosx is the derivative of sinx−cosx. So let
t=sinx−cosx⇒dt=(cosx+sinx)dx.
Thus (sinx+cosx)dx=dt — the numerator is handled exactly.
Step 3 — Express the denominator through t
Squaring,
t2=(sinx−cosx)2=sin2x+cos2x−2sinxcosx=1−2sinxcosx,
so
sinxcosx=21−t2⇒sinxcosx=21−t2=21−t2.
Step 4 — Substitute into the integral
∫sinxcosxsinx+cosxdx=∫21−t2dt=2∫1−t2dt. …
Method: Combine tanx+cotx, then a t±t1 substitution
Use this for integrals of tanx±cotx: rewrite over a common denominator, substitute to a single variable, and force a standard ∫u2+a2du (or ∫a2−u2du) form.
Steps
Step 1: Merge the two roots.
Since cotx=tanx1,
cotx+tanx=tanx1+tanxor, in sin/cos,sinxcosxsinx+cosx.
Either single fraction is now substitutable.
Step 2: Substitute so the numerator becomes du.
Path A: let t=tanx, then dx=1+t42tdt and the integral becomes 2∫1+t41+t2dt. Path B: let t=sinx−cosx, whose derivative (cosx+sinx) is exactly the numerator.
Step 3: Reduce to a standard form. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Integrating tanx and cotx separately.
Why it's wrong: each root alone leads to a hard integral, whereas their sum combines into a single clean fraction. Correct approach: put them over a common denominator first (sinxcosxsinx+cosx) so a single substitution works.
Mistake 2: Choosing the substitution whose derivative does not match the numerator. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 51 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.∫(tan7x+tanx)dx= (A) 12tan2x(2tan4x−3tan2x+6)+c (B) 6tan2x−4tan5x+2tan4x+c (C) 6tan2x(tan4x+3tan2x+4)+c (D) 12tanx(tan4x−3tan2x+6)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factoring tan7x+tanx using the sum-of-like-terms identity t7+t=t(t6+1)=t(t2+1)(t4−t2+1) exposes the sec2x needed for a clean t=tanx substitution. Answer: 12tan2x(2tan4x−3tan2x+6)+c.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever an integrand is built purely from powers of tanx together with an explicit or hidden sec2x, substituting t=tanx turns it into a polynomial integral — the key is recognizing that t6+1=(t2+1)(t4−t2+1) supplies exactly the sec2x=1+tan2x factor needed.
Step-by-Step Solution
- tan7x+tanx=tanx(tan6x+1)=tanx(tan2x+1)(tan4x−tan2x+1)=tanxsec2x(tan4x−tan2x+1).
- Let t=tanx, dt=sec2xdx. Integral becomes ∫t(t4−t2+1)dt=∫(t5−t3+t)dt.
- =6t6−4t4+2t2+c=6tan6x−4tan4x+2tan2x+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-AN1 markMCQQ.∫sin3xcos(x−α)dx= (A) cosα1cotx+tanα+c (B) cosα1cotx−tanα+c (C) sinα−1cotx+tanα+c (D) cosα−2cotx+tanα+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expanding cos(x−α) and substituting u=cotx reduces this to a simple square-root integral; final answer is (D).
Concept and Intuition
The key move is expanding cos(x−α) and factoring out sin4x from inside the square root so that a substitution u=cotx (whose differential is −csc2xdx, conveniently matching what's left outside) linearizes the whole thing.
Step-by-Step Solution
- cos(x−α)=cosxcosα+sinxsinα.
- sin3xcos(x−α)=sin3xcosxcosα+sin4xsinα=sin4x(sinxcosxcosα+sinα)=sin4x(cotxcosα+sinα).
- So sin3xcos(x−α)=sin2xcotxcosα+sinα (taking sin2x>0 outside the root).
- The integral is ∫sin2xcosαcotx+sinαdx=∫cosαcotx+sinαcsc2xdx.
- Let u=cotx, du=−csc2xdx. Integral becomes −∫cosαu+sinαdu=−cosα2cosαu+sinα+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-25-AN1 markMCQQ.∫cosxdx= (A) 2xsinx+2cosx+c (B) 2xsinx+2sinx+c (C) 2xsinx−2cosx+c (D) xcosx−2sinx+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute t=x to turn the integral into a standard integration-by-parts problem. Answer: 2xsinx+2cosx+c.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever you see x trapped inside a trig or exponential function, substituting t=x converts it into a polynomial-times-trig integral solvable by parts.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let t=x⇒x=t2, dx=2tdt.
- ∫cosxdx=∫cost⋅2tdt=2∫tcostdt.
- Integrate by parts: ∫tcostdt=tsint−∫sintdt=tsint+cost. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-27-FN1 markMCQQ.∫(1+x)x−x2dx= (A) −21−x1+x+c (B) −1+x1−x+c (C) −21+x1−x+c (D) 21−x1+x+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting t=x turns the surd-heavy integrand into ∫(1+t)3/2(1−t)1/22dt, whose antiderivative is exactly −21+t1−t.
Concept and Intuition
When an integrand mixes x and x−x2=x1−x, substituting t=x clears every square root of x at once, converting the whole thing into a rational-power integral in t that matches the derivative of 1+t1−t — a standard "recognise the derivative" pattern worth memorising for CET-style problems.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write x−x2=x(1−x)=x1−x, so the integral is
I=∫(1+x)x1−xdx.
- Let t=x, so x=t2, dx=2tdt:
I=∫(1+t)⋅t⋅1−t22tdt=∫(1+t)(1−t)(1+t)2dt=∫(1+t)3/2(1−t)1/22dt.
- Let y=1+t1−t. Differentiating y2=1+t1−t: 2yy′=(1+t)2−(1+t)−(1−t)=(1+t)2−2 ⇒ y′=y(1+t)2−1=(1+t)3/2(1−t)1/2−1. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-06-AN1 markMCQQ.∫(sin2x+sin−3xcos5x)3cos4xdx= (A) 51(1+cot5x)−2+C (B) 101(1+cot2x)−5+C (C) 101(1+cot5x)−2+C (D) 51(1+cot5x)−5+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factoring sin2x out of the denominator turns it into sin2x(1+cot5x), and the substitution t=1+cot5x makes the whole integral a simple power-rule integration, giving 101(1+cot5x)−2+C.
Concept and Intuition
Integrals with mixed powers of sinx and cosx in odd/negative combinations often simplify beautifully once you factor out a common power to expose a (1+cotnx) or (1+tannx) structure — this is exactly the kind of expression whose derivative (via chain rule) reproduces cotn−1xcsc2x, matching what's left over in the integrand.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Denominator: sin2x+sin−3xcos5x. Factor out sin2x: =sin2x[1+sin5xcos5x]=sin2x(1+cot5x).
- So the full denominator cubed: [sin2x(1+cot5x)]3=sin6x(1+cot5x)3.
- Integrand: sin6x(1+cot5x)3cos4x=sin4xcos4x⋅sin2x1⋅(1+cot5x)−3=cot4xcsc2x(1+cot5x)−3.
- Substitute t=1+cot5x. Then dxdt=5cot4x⋅(−csc2x)=−5cot4xcsc2x, so cot4xcsc2xdx=−5dt. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.∫cos8xsin6xdx= (A) tan7x+c (B) 7tan7x+c (C) 7tan7x+c (D) sec7x
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫tan6xsec2xdx=7tan7x+c via u=tanx.
Concept and Intuition
sin6x/cos8x=tan6x⋅sec2x, and sec2xdx is exactly d(tanx) — a direct power-rule substitution.
Step-by-Step Solution
- cos8xsin6x=tan6x⋅cos2x1=tan6xsec2x.
- Let u=tanx⇒du=sec2xdx.
- ∫u6du=7u7+c=7tan7x+c.
Common Mistakes …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-10-05-FN1 markMCQQ.∫sin3xsinxdx= (A) 231log3−tanx3+tanx+c (B) 231log3+tanx3−tanx+c (C) 431log3−tanx3+tanx+c (D) 431log3+tanx3−tanx+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the triple-angle identity to cancel sinx, rewrite in terms of cos2x, then apply the Weierstrass-type substitution t=tanx to reduce to a standard rational integral. The answer is (A).
Concept and Intuition
sin3x factors as sinx(3−4sin2x), so sinx cancels immediately with the numerator, turning a trigonometric-looking integral into a much simpler one in sin2x (hence in cos2x), which is a textbook target for the t=tanx substitution.
Step-by-Step Solution
- sin3x=3sinx−4sin3x=sinx(3−4sin2x).
- sin3xsinx=3−4sin2x1.
- Using sin2x=21−cos2x: 4sin2x=2−2cos2x, so 3−4sin2x=1+2cos2x.
- Integral becomes ∫1+2cos2xdx.
- Substitute t=tanx, dx=1+t2dt, cos2x=1+t21−t2: 1+2cos2x=1+t2(1+t2)+2(1−t2)=1+t23−t2.
- Integral =∫3−t21+t2⋅1+t2dt=∫3−t2dt. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-07-AN1 markMCQQ.∫x+x2+2dx= (A) 23(x+x+2)3/2−2(x+x2+2)1/4+C (B) 31(x+x2+2)3/2−2(x+x2+2)1/4+C (C) (x+x2+2)−3/2−2(x+x2+2)−1/2+C (D) 3x+x2+2(x+x2+2)2−6+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The substitution t=x+x2+2 rationalises the nested radical; the resulting antiderivative, written as a single fraction, matches option (D). Answer: option (D).
Concept and Intuition
Integrals containing x+x2+a2 are a classic signal to substitute t equal to that whole expression — it converts the awkward nested square root into simple powers of t, because x and x2+a2 can both be written as clean rational/linear functions of t.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let t=x+x2+2. Then x2+2=t−x; squaring, x2+2=t2−2tx+x2⇒2=t2−2tx⇒x=2tt2−2.
- Then x2+2=t−x=t−2tt2−2=2t2t2−t2+2=2tt2+2.
- Differentiate t w.r.t. x: dxdt=1+x2+2x=x2+2x2+2+x=x2+2t=(t2+2)/(2t)t=t2+22t2, so dx=2t2t2+2dt.
- Substitute into the integral: ∫tdx=∫t1/2⋅2t2t2+2dt=21∫(t1/2+2t−3/2)dt.
- Integrate: 21[32t3/2−4t−1/2]+C=31t3/2−2t−1/2+C. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫sin3x+cos3x1dx=Alog2−t2+t+BTan−1(t)+c, then (AB,t)= (A) (22,sinx+cosx) (B) (92,sinx+cosx) (C) (92,sinx−cosx) (D) (22,sinx−cosx)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factoring the sum of cubes and substituting t=sinx−cosx turns the trigonometric integral into a clean rational-function integral in t, giving B/A=22 with t=sinx−cosx.
Concept and Intuition
sin3x+cos3x factors as a sum of cubes: (sinx+cosx)(1−sinxcosx). Both sinx+cosx and 1−sinxcosx can be written purely in terms of u=sinx−cosx, because (sinx+cosx)2+(sinx−cosx)2=2 and 1−sinxcosx=21+(sinx−cosx)2. Crucially, dxdu=cosx+sinx, which is exactly the factor left over after using the second identity — so the whole integral collapses into a rational function of u alone.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Factor: sin3x+cos3x=(sinx+cosx)(1−sinxcosx).
- Let u=sinx−cosx. Then u2=1−2sinxcosx, so 1−sinxcosx=21+u2.
- Also (sinx+cosx)2=1+2sinxcosx=2−u2, so sinx+cosx=2−u2 (taking the appropriate branch), and dxdu=cosx+sinx=2−u2.
- So sin3x+cos3x=2−u2⋅21+u2, and
I=∫sin3x+cos3xdx=∫2−u2(1+u2)2dx=∫2−u2(1+u2)2⋅2−u2du=∫(2−u2)(1+u2)2du.
- Partial fractions (by symmetry, only even terms survive): (2−u2)(1+u2)2=2−u22/3+1+u22/3. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.∫x2x4+x2+1x4−1dx= (A) x2x4+x2+1+c (B) xx4+x2+1+c (C) 2xx4+x2+1+c (D) x4x4+x2+1+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating the candidate xx4+x2+1 reproduces the given integrand exactly, confirming it as the antiderivative.
Concept and Intuition
When an integrand looks like it could come from a quotient rule (a square root over a power of x), it is often faster to differentiate a plausible candidate of that shape and check, rather than search for a substitution from scratch.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Try g(x)=xx4+x2+1=xN where N=x4+x2+1.
- N′=2x4+x2+14x3+2x=Nx(2x2+1).
- Quotient rule: g′(x)=x2N′x−N=x2Nx2(2x2+1)−N=Nx2x2(2x2+1)−N2.
- N2=x4+x2+1, so the numerator is x2(2x2+1)−(x4+x2+1)=2x4+x2−x4−x2−1=x4−1.
- So g′(x)=x2x4+x2+1x4−1 — exactly the given integrand. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.∫10+sin2xcosx−sinxdx= (A) 21log(10+sin2x)+c (B) 31log(10+sin2x)+c (C) 31Tan−1(3sinx+cosx)+c (D) 31Tan−1(10+sin2x)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
The numerator cosx−sinx is exactly d(sinx+cosx), and the denominator rewrites in terms of u=sinx+cosx via sin2x=u2−1. That collapses the integral to a standard ∫du/(a2+u2) arctangent form. Answer: 31Tan−1(3sinx+cosx)+c.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever an integrand contains both sinx−cosx (or cosx−sinx) and sin2x, it is worth trying u=sinx+cosx (or sinx−cosx) as the substitution, because u2=1±sin2x links the two.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=sinx+cosx. Then du=(cosx−sinx)dx — this is exactly the numerator times dx.
- Also u2=sin2x+cos2x+2sinxcosx=1+sin2x, so sin2x=u2−1.
- Denominator: 10+sin2x=10+u2−1=9+u2.
- The integral becomes ∫9+u2du=31Tan−1(3u)+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.If ∫sin3x+cos3xdx=Alog2−t2+t+BTan−1(t)+c, then (AB,t)= (A) (32,sinx−cosx) (B) (22,sinx−cosx) (C) (32,sinx−cosx) (D) (23,sinx+cosx)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The standard sin3x+cos3x integral, solved via the substitution t=sinx−cosx; matching to the given Alog∣⋯∣+Btan−1t form gives B/A=22 with t=sinx−cosx.
Concept and Intuition
sin3x+cos3x factors as a sum of cubes, (sinx+cosx)(sin2x−sinxcosx+cos2x)=(sinx+cosx)(1−sinxcosx). Both remaining factors can be expressed in terms of t=sinx−cosx (since t2=1−2sinxcosx links sinxcosx to t, and dt=(sinx+cosx)dx conveniently cancels the other factor).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Factor: sin3x+cos3x=(sinx+cosx)(1−sinxcosx).
- Let t=sinx−cosx⇒dt=(cosx+sinx)dx, and t2=1−2sinxcosx⇒sinxcosx=21−t2.
- So 1−sinxcosx=1−21−t2=21+t2.
- Also (sinx+cosx)2=1+2sinxcosx=1+(1−t2)=2−t2, so sinx+cosx=2−t2.
- Rewrite the integral:
∫(sinx+cosx)(1−sinxcosx)dx=∫2−t2⋅21+t2dx.
Since dx=sinx+cosxdt=2−t2dt:
=∫2−t2⋅21+t21⋅2−t2dt=∫(2−t2)(1+t2)2dt.
- Split using 1=3(2−t2)+(1+t2):
(2−t2)(1+t2)2=32⋅(2−t2)(1+t2)(2−t2)+(1+t2)=32[1+t21+2−t21].
- Integrate each piece: ∫1+t2dt=tan−1t; ∫2−t2dt=221log2−t2+t (standard form ∫a2−x2dx=2a1loga−xa+x with a=2).
- So the integral is …
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