Q.Integrate the following function: 2x2+x−34x+1
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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: U Substitution — the numerator is almost the derivative of the expression inside the square root.
Let u=2x2+x−3. Then du=(4x+1)dx, which matches the numerator exactly.
The integral becomes:
∫2x2+x−34x+1dx=∫udu=∫u−1/2du …
The key idea is to notice that the numerator 4x+1 is exactly the derivative of the denominator’s radicand 2x2+x−3. This makes the integral a direct application of ∫udu=2u+C. The final answer is 22x2+x−3+C.
When you see an integral like this, the first instinct should be to check if the numerator is the derivative of the expression inside the square root. Why? Because the derivative of u is 2u1⋅u′, so if the numerator matches u′, the integral collapses into something simple.
Here, the denominator is 2x2+x−3. Let’s call u=2x2+x−3. Then du=(4x+1)dx. That’s exactly the numerator! So the integral becomes ∫udu, which is a standard power rule.
Let’s walk through it step by step.
-
Set up the substitution.
Let u=2x2+x−3. Then differentiate:
dxdu=4x+1, so du=(4x+1)dx.
-
Rewrite the integral.
The original integral is ∫2x2+x−34x+1dx.
Substituting u and du gives:
∫udu.
-
Integrate with respect to u.
Recall that u1=u−1/2. So:
∫u−1/2du=1/2u1/2+C=2u+C.
-
Substitute back.
Replace u with 2x2+x−3:
22x2+x−3+C. …
Method: When the numerator is the derivative of the radicand
If ∫f(x)f′(x)dx, the whole integral collapses to 2f(x) — no completing the square needed.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate the expression under the root.
Compute dxd(ax2+bx+c)=2ax+b and compare it with the numerator.
Step 2: Confirm the match (up to a constant factor). …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Reaching for completing the square out of habit.
Why it's wrong: here the numerator is exactly the derivative of the radicand, so the problem is a one-line u-substitution — completing the square wastes time and invites errors. Correct approach: always check dxd(radicand) against the numerator first.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the factor of 2.
Why it's wrong: ∫u−1/2du=2u1/2, not u1/2. Correct approach: apply the power rule ∫undu=n+1un+1 with n=−21. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 51 on this concept.
- 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 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫1+x2x3dx=A(1+x2)3/2+B(1+x2)1/2+C, then A+B= (A) 2/3 (B) −2/3 (C) 1/3 (D) −1/3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The substitution u=1+x2 turns the integral into a simple power-rule computation, giving A=1/3 and B=−1, so A+B=−2/3.
Concept and Intuition
Whenever the integrand has an odd power of x alongside a function of x2 (here 1+x2), substituting u=1+x2 (so du=2xdx) converts the odd-power part into a polynomial in u, making the integral elementary.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=1+x2, du=2xdx, and x2=u−1.
- x3dx=x2⋅xdx=(u−1)⋅2du.
- ∫1+x2x3dx=∫u(u−1)⋅2du=21∫(u1/2−u−1/2)du.
- =21(32u3/2−2u1/2)+C=31u3/2−u1/2+C. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-05-FN1 markMCQQ.∫(x−3)4/5(x+1)6/5dx= (A) 455x+1x−3+C (B) 45(x−3x+1)1/5+C (C) 51(x+1x−3)1/5+C (D) 45(x+4x−3)4/5+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Splitting off (x+1)2 turns the integrand into a pure power of t=x+1x−3, giving 45(x+1x−3)1/5+C.
Concept and Intuition
When an integrand has the form (x−a)p(x−b)q with p+q an integer (here 54+56=2), factoring out (x−b)p+q and substituting t=x−bx−a collapses the whole thing to a simple power of t — a standard trick for these "unequal fractional exponent" integrals.
Step-by-Step Solution
- (x−3)4/5(x+1)6/5=(x+1)2[x+1x−3]4/5 (factoring out (x+1)4/5+6/5=(x+1)2).
- So the integrand is (x+1)−2[x+1x−3]−4/5.
- Let t=x+1x−3. Then dxdt=(x+1)2(x+1)−(x−3)=(x+1)24, so (x+1)−2dx=4dt.
- The integral becomes 41∫t−4/5dt=41⋅1/5t1/5+C=45t1/5+C. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫x5e−4x3dx=481e−4x3f(x)+c, then f(x)= (A) −2x3−1 (B) −4x3−1 (C) −2x2+1 (D) 4x3+1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting u=x3 converts the integral into a simple integration-by-parts problem ∫ue−4udu; matching the result to the given form yields f(x)=−4x3−1.
Concept and Intuition
The presence of x5 alongside e−4x3 is a strong hint to substitute u=x3, since then x2dx (part of du) combines with the remaining x3=u to leave a clean polynomial-times-exponential integral, solvable by the standard integration-by-parts reduction formula for ∫uekudu.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=x3, so du=3x2dx⇒x2dx=3du.
- Rewrite x5e−4x3dx=x3⋅x2e−4x3dx=ue−4u⋅3du.
- So the integral becomes 31∫ue−4udu.
- Integrate by parts with first function u, second e−4u: ∫ue−4udu=u⋅(−4e−4u)−∫(−4e−4u)du=−4ue−4u−161e−4u. …
- 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 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.∫log2log3e2x−1e3x−3exdx= (A) log(32e) (B) log(34e) (C) 32e (D) 34e
›Reveal solutionSolution
A substitution t=ex turns this exponential integral into a rational one; the value works out to log(2e/3).
Concept and Intuition
Whenever an integral is built entirely from powers of ex, substituting t=ex converts it into an algebraic (rational function) integral, which is usually far easier to handle with partial fractions.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let t=ex, so dt=exdx=tdx, i.e. dx=dt/t. When x=log2, t=2; when x=log3, t=3.
- Rewrite the integrand: e2x−1e3x−3ex=t2−1t3−3t. Multiplying by dx=dt/t gives t(t2−1)t3−3tdt=t2−1t2−3dt.
- So the integral becomes ∫23t2−1t2−3dt.
- Split: t2−1t2−3=t2−1(t2−1)−2=1−t2−12. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫(x−1)3/2(x−3)1/2dx=f(x)+c then f(−1)−f(0)= (A) −3 (B) −4 (C) −2 (D) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
A classic "divide by (x−1)2 and substitute t=(x−3)/(x−1)" integral. It reduces to t, giving f(x)=(x−3)/(x−1), and then f(−1)−f(0)=−1.
Concept and Intuition
When an integrand has two linear factors under different fractional powers whose exponents sum to an integer (here 3/2+1/2=2), factor out (x−1)2 from the denominator and express the rest as a function of the ratio x−1x−3. This ratio then becomes a natural single substitution variable.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write the denominator as
(x−1)3/2(x−3)1/2=(x−1)2⋅(x−1)1/2(x−3)1/2=(x−1)2x−1x−3.
- So the integral is ∫(x−1)2x−1x−3dx.
- Let t=x−1x−3=1−x−12. Then dxdt=(x−1)22, i.e. (x−1)2dx=2dt.
- The integral becomes ∫tdt/2=21⋅2t+c=t+c=x−1x−3+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.∫x2(x4+1)3/4dx= (A) (1+x41)3/4+c (B) (1+x61)1/2+c (C) −(1+x41)−1/4+c (D) −(1+x41)1/4+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Pulling x4 out from under the radical and substituting t=1+x−4 reduces the integral to a simple power rule, giving −(1+1/x4)1/4+c.
Concept and Intuition
When the integrand has (xn+1)p, it often helps to factor out the highest power of x from inside the bracket so that a substitution like t=1+x−n produces a clean differential matching the rest of the integrand.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write (x4+1)3/4=(x4(1+x41))3/4=x3(1+x41)3/4.
- So x2(x4+1)3/41=x2⋅x3(1+x41)3/41=x5(1+x41)3/41=x−5(1+x−4)−3/4.
- Let t=1+x−4. Then dt=−4x−5dx, so x−5dx=−4dt. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If ∫x(1−x3)2−1dx=32g(f(x))+c, then (A) f(x)=x, g(x)=sin−1x (B) f(x)=x3/2, g(x)=sin−1x (C) f(x)=x3/2, g(x)=cos−1x (D) f(x)=x, g(x)=cos−1x
›Reveal solutionSolution
A substitution u=x3/2 turns the integral into the standard ∫du/1−u2 form, giving f(x)=x3/2 and g=sin−1.
Concept and Intuition
The presence of xdx alongside x3=(x3/2)2 inside a square root strongly signals the substitution u=x3/2 (its derivative is proportional to x, exactly what's needed to absorb the leftover xdx). Once substituted, the integral collapses to the standard arcsine form.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=x3/2. Then du=23x1/2dx=23xdx, so xdx=32du.
- Also, u2=x3, so 1−x3=1−u2.
- Substitute into the integral: ∫x(1−x3)−1/2dx=∫32⋅1−u2du=32∫1−u2du.
- This is the standard form: ∫1−u2du=sin−1u+c.
- So the integral =32sin−1(u)+c=32sin−1(x3/2)+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-23-AN1 markMCQQ.If ∫2cosx+3sinx+4dx=32f(x)+c, then f(32π)= (A) 12π (B) 8π (C) 125π (D) 85π
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a Weierstrass (t=tan(x/2)) substitution problem for a linear combination of sine and cosine plus a constant in the denominator. Evaluating f at the given point gives 125π, option (C).
Concept and Intuition
Whenever the denominator mixes sinx, cosx and a constant, the universal substitution t=tan(x/2) (with cosx=1+t21−t2, sinx=1+t22t, dx=1+t22dt) converts the trigonometric denominator into a plain quadratic in t, reducing the whole problem to a standard ∫quadraticdt that integrates to an arctangent.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Substitute: denominator becomes
2⋅1+t21−t2+3⋅1+t22t+4=1+t22−2t2+6t+4+4t2=1+t22t2+6t+6.
- The integral becomes ∫(2t2+6t+6)/(1+t2)2dt/(1+t2)=∫2t2+6t+62dt=∫t2+3t+3dt.
- Complete the square: t2+3t+3=(t+23)2+43, so ∫(t+23)2+43dt=3/21arctan(3/2t+3/2)+c=32arctan(32t+3)+c. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.∫x55x5+11dx= (A) 5x5+14+c (B) 4x4(x5+1)4/5+c (C) −4x4(x5+1)4/5+c (D) −4x5(x5+1)4/5+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewriting the integrand to expose 1+x−5 as the natural substitution variable solves this cleanly; the answer is −4x4(x5+1)4/5+c.
Concept and Intuition
When an integral mixes a power of x with a root of a polynomial in x, factoring out the highest power of x from inside the root often converts the expression into a function of 1/x (or x−5 here), whose derivative is already present elsewhere in the integrand — a clean substitution.
Step-by-Step Solution
- (x5+1)−1/5=(x5(1+x−5))−1/5=x−1(1+x−5)−1/5.
- So the integrand x−5(x5+1)−1/5=x−6(1+x−5)−1/5.
- Let t=1+x−5, so dt=−5x−6dx⇒x−6dx=−5dt.
- Integral =∫t−1/5(−5dt)=−51⋅4/5t4/5+c=−41t4/5+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. …
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