Q.Integrate the rational function ex−11 [Hint: Put ex=t]
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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 — substituting ex=t converts the exponential integrand into a rational function in t.
Step 1: Let ex=t. Then x=logt, so dx=t1dt. The integral becomes
∫t−11⋅t1dt=∫t(t−1)1dt.
Step 2: Decompose t(t−1)1 into partial fractions:
t(t−1)1=t−11−t1.
Step 3: Integrate term by term: …
The key idea is to use the substitution ex=t, which transforms the integral into a rational function in t. After simplifying by partial fractions, the result is ∫ex−11dx=log∣ex−1∣−x+C.
Why this approach works
The integrand ex−11 is a rational function of ex, not of x itself. Direct integration doesn't work because the denominator mixes an exponential with a constant. The hint suggests setting ex=t, which turns the exponential into a simple variable. This is a classic U-substitution (or rather, a t-substitution) that converts the problem into integrating a rational function in t, which we can handle with partial fractions.
The substitution also changes dx: since t=ex, we have dt=exdx=tdx, so dx=tdt. This introduces an extra t in the denominator, which actually helps simplify the expression.
Step-by-step solution
- Perform the substitution. Let t=ex. Then dt=exdx=tdx, so dx=tdt. The integral becomes:
∫ex−11dx=∫t−11⋅tdt=∫t(t−1)dt.
- Decompose into partial fractions. We need to write t(t−1)1 as a sum of simpler fractions. Set:
t(t−1)1=tA+t−1B.
Multiply through by t(t−1):
1=A(t−1)+Bt.
This must hold for all t. Solve for A and B:
- Let t=0: 1=A(−1)⟹A=−1.
- Let t=1: 1=B(1)⟹B=1. So:
t(t−1)1=−t1+t−11.
- Integrate term by term. The integral becomes:
∫t(t−1)dt=∫(−t1+t−11)dt=−log∣t∣+log∣t−1∣+C.
Combine the logs: …
Method: Substitute the exponential, then reduce to a rational integral
When the integrand is a rational function of ex (not of x), the move is to let t=ex so the problem becomes an ordinary rational function in t.
Steps
Step 1: Set t=ex and compute dx correctly.
From t=ex, dt=exdx=tdx, so
dx=tdt.
This extra t1 is the whole reason the method works — never replace dx by dt directly.
Step 2: Rewrite the integral fully in t.
Every ex becomes t and dx becomes tdt, producing a rational function such as ∫t(t−1)dt. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Replacing dx with dt instead of tdt.
Why it's wrong: From t=ex, dt=tdx, so dx=tdt. Using dt directly gives ∫t−1dt=log∣ex−1∣ and silently loses the −x term. Correct approach: Always compute dx=tdt, producing ∫t(t−1)dt.
Mistake 2: Mis-signing the partial fractions of t(t−1)1. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 51 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-23-FN1 markMCQQ.∫(logx)mxndx= (A) ∫tmentdt, t=ex (B) ∫tme(n+1)tdt, t=ex (C) ∫tme(n+1)tdt, x=et (D) ∫tmentdt, x=et
›Reveal solutionSolution
The substitution x=et (equivalently t=logx) converts a (logx)mxn integral into an exponential-times-power integral in t.
Concept and Intuition
When an integrand is built from logx and powers of x, setting x=et makes logx=t directly, and turns xndx into an exponential in t — a very standard substitution for this integral family.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let x=et, so t=logx and dx=etdt.
- Then (logx)m=tm and xn=(et)n=ent.
- Substitute into the integral: ∫(logx)mxndx=∫tm⋅ent⋅etdt=∫tme(n+1)tdt. …
- 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-2026-05-12-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 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 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.∫log4log5e2x−5ex+6e2x+exdx= (A) log(964) (B) log(81256) (C) log(332) (D) log(27128)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting t=ex turns the integral into a simple rational-function integral that evaluates to log(128/27).
Concept and Intuition
Whenever an integrand is built entirely out of ex (here e2x and ex), the substitution t=ex converts it into a rational function of t, which can then be handled by partial fractions — a standard technique for turning transcendental-looking integrals into algebraic ones.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let t=ex, so dt=exdx=tdx, i.e. dx=tdt. When x=log4, t=4; when x=log5, t=5.
- Rewrite the integrand: e2x+ex=t2+t=t(t+1), and e2x−5ex+6=t2−5t+6=(t−2)(t−3).
- So ∫(t−2)(t−3)t(t+1)⋅tdt=∫45(t−2)(t−3)t+1dt.
- Partial fractions: (t−2)(t−3)t+1=t−2A+t−3B. At t=2: A=−13=−3. At t=3: B=14=4.
- So the integral is ∫45(t−2−3+t−34)dt=[−3log∣t−2∣+4log∣t−3∣]45. …
- AP EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-23-AN1 markMCQQ.∫2/e1/ex(logx)1/31dx= (A) 23{1+(log(2)−1)2/3} (B) 1 (C) 23{1+(log(2)+1)3/2} (D) 23{1−(log(2)−1)2/3}
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=logx to turn the integral into ∫u−1/3du, then evaluate between the transformed limits u=log2−1 and u=−1.
Concept and Intuition
An integrand of the form x⋅g(logx)1 always calls for the substitution u=logx, since du=dx/x removes the x and 1/x entirely, leaving a pure power of u.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=logx, so du=dx/x.
- Limits: at x=2/e, u=log(2/e)=log2−1. At x=1/e, u=log(1/e)=−1.
- The integral becomes ∫log2−1−1u−1/3du=[2/3u2/3]log2−1−1=23[u2/3]log2−1−1.
- Using the real cube root, (−1)2/3=((−1)1/3)2=(−1)2=1.
- So the value is 23[1−(log2−1)2/3].
Common Mistakes …
- 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-2026-05-15-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 2026Set eng-2026-05-14-FN1 markMCQQ.∫(x5+1)6/5dx= (A) 5x5+11+c (B) x5x5+1+c (C) 5x5+1x+c (D) 5x5+1+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Recognizing the integrand as the derivative of 5x5+1x (verified by direct differentiation) gives the antiderivative immediately.
Concept and Intuition
For integrals of the form ∫(xn+1)(n+1)/ndx, a useful trick is to guess that the antiderivative looks like (xn+1)1/nx (a ratio designed to make the product-rule differentiation collapse nicely), and then verify by differentiating it — if it reproduces the integrand exactly, we're done. This is often faster than a substitution for this particular family.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Guess the antiderivative g(x)=(x5+1)1/5x=x(x5+1)−1/5.
- Differentiate using the product rule: g′(x)=(x5+1)−1/5+x⋅(−51)(x5+1)−6/5⋅5x4.
- Simplify the second term: x⋅(−51)(5x4)(x5+1)−6/5=−x5(x5+1)−6/5.
- So g′(x)=(x5+1)−1/5−x5(x5+1)−6/5.
- Factor out (x5+1)−6/5: g′(x)=(x5+1)−6/5[(x5+1)−x5]=(x5+1)−6/5×1=(x5+1)−6/5. …
- 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-2026-05-13-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-2023-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.∫4+5cosxdx= (A) −31log3−tan2x3+tan2x+C (B) 31log3−tan2x3+tan2x+C (C) −91log3+tan2x3−tan2x+C (D) 91log3+tan2x3−tan2x+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The Weierstrass substitution t=tan(x/2) turns this into a standard ∫dt/(a2−t2) integral, giving option (B).
Concept and Intuition
For ∫a+bcosxdx the substitution t=tan(x/2) (so cosx=1+t21−t2, dx=1+t22dt) always converts the integral into a rational function of t alone.
Step-by-Step Solution
- cosx=1+t21−t2, dx=1+t22dt, with t=tan(x/2).
- 4+5cosx=4+5⋅1+t21−t2=1+t24(1+t2)+5(1−t2)=1+t29−t2.
- Integral becomes ∫(9−t2)/(1+t2)2dt/(1+t2)=∫9−t22dt.
- Using ∫a2−t2dt=2a1loga−ta+t+C with a=3: ∫9−t2dt=61log3−t3+t+C. …
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