Q.Evaluate the definite integral: ∫23x2+1xdx
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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 — we substitute the denominator to simplify the integral into a standard logarithmic form.
Let u=x2+1. Then du=2xdx, so xdx=2du.
Change the limits: when x=2, u=22+1=5; when x=3, u=32+1=10.
The integral becomes:
∫510u1⋅2du=21∫510udu
Evaluate: …
The integral ∫23x2+1xdx is solved by the substitution u=x2+1, which simplifies the integrand to 2u1. The value is 21log(510)=21log2.
Why U-Substitution Works Here
When you see a function and its derivative lurking in the integrand, substitution is your best friend. In x2+1x, the numerator x is (up to a constant factor) the derivative of the denominator x2+1. That’s the classic signal: let u be the denominator, and the integral collapses into a simple logarithmic form.
The key insight: you’re not just mechanically replacing variables — you’re undoing the chain rule. The derivative of log(x2+1) is x2+12x, so our integrand is half of that derivative. That’s the whole story.
Step-by-Step Solution
-
Choose the substitution.
Let u=x2+1. Then du=2xdx, so xdx=2du.
-
Change the limits of integration.
When x=2, u=22+1=5.
When x=3, u=32+1=10.
-
Rewrite the integral in terms of u.
∫23x2+1xdx=∫u=510u1⋅2du=21∫510udu.
- Integrate. The antiderivative of u1 is log∣u∣. Since u>0 on [5,10], we drop the absolute value:
21[logu]510=21(log10−log5).
- Simplify using logarithm properties. log10−log5=log(510)=log2. …
Method: Substitution when the numerator is (a multiple of) the derivative of the denominator
Use this whenever a rational integrand g(x)g′(x) appears — the numerator matches the derivative of the denominator up to a constant, collapsing the integral to a logarithm.
Steps
Step 1: Spot the derivative pattern.
Differentiate the denominator mentally. If the numerator is a constant multiple of that derivative, the substitution u=denominator will work. Here you would check dxd(x2+1)=2x against the numerator x.
Step 2: Substitute and rescale the differential.
Set u equal to the denominator, so du=g′(x)dx. Solve for the exact group that appears in the integrand (e.g. xdx=21du). The integral becomes a constant times ∫udu. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Keeping the original x-limits after substituting to u.
Why it's wrong: once the variable becomes u=x2+1, the numbers 2 and 3 are x-values, not u-values. Correct approach: convert the limits to u=5 and u=10, or back-substitute u=x2+1 before using the x-limits. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 51 on this concept.
- 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-2025-05-22-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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. …
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