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).
Setu=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 backu=g(x).
Watch out
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)∣
Tip
If stuck, differentiate a candidate "inside" function in your head. If its derivative (up to a constant) appears, that's your u.
The Definite Integral Case
Either change the limits (when x=a, u=g(a); when x=b, u=g(b); then integrate in u), or integrate in u, substitute back, and use the original limits. Changing limits is cleaner:
Don't confuse du with Δu. du is a differential — the exact relationship du=g′(x)dx that holds inside the integral. Treat it algebraically: multiply, divide, and substitute freely.
U-substitution, taught in the CBSE Class 12 Integrals chapter as the method of substitution, is one of the very first integration techniques students learn after the standard formulas, and "integration by substitution class 12 examples" is a heavily searched revision topic. It remains equally essential for solving integral calculus problems in JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
Concept: U Substitution (standard form of inverse hyperbolic sine).
We want ∫1+4x21dx.
Step 1: Factor the constant inside the square root to match the form 1+u21.
1+4x2=1+(2x)2
Step 2: Let u=2x, so du=2dx, hence dx=2du.
Step 3: Substitute and integrate using the standard result ∫1+u21du=sinh−1u+C.
∫1+u21⋅2du=21sinh−1u+C
Step 4: Replace u with 2x.
✓Final answer
The integral is 21sinh−1(2x)+C.
The key idea is to recognise the integrand as a standard form requiring a trigonometric substitution. By substituting 2x=tanθ, the integral simplifies to 21∫secθdθ, which evaluates to 21log2x+1+4x2+C.
Why This Approach Works
When you see 1+4x2, your first thought should be: this looks like a Pythagorean identity. The expression 1+(2x)2 under a square root is a dead giveaway for the identity 1+tan2θ=sec2θ. That’s the heart of it — we want to turn the square root into something clean like secθ, which integrates nicely.
The substitution 2x=tanθ is the natural choice. It transforms the messy square root into a simple trigonometric function, and the dx term will bring in a sec2θ that cancels beautifully.
Watch out
A common mistake is to try x=tanθ directly. That gives 1+x2, not 1+4x2. You must match the coefficient: set 2x=tanθ, not x=tanθ.
Step-by-Step Solution
1. Set up the substitution.
Let 2x=tanθ. Then x=21tanθ, and differentiating gives:
dx=21sec2θdθ
2. Rewrite the square root.
The expression under the square root becomes:
1+4x2=1+(2x)2=1+tan2θ=sec2θ
So 1+4x2=sec2θ=∣secθ∣. For the standard indefinite integral, we assume the domain where secθ>0 (typically −π/2<θ<π/2), so we can drop the absolute value:
1+4x2=secθ
3. Substitute everything into the integral.
The original integral is:
∫1+4x21dx
Substituting dx=21sec2θdθ and 1+4x2=secθ:
∫secθ1⋅21sec2θdθ=21∫secθdθ
Tip
Notice how the secθ in the denominator cancels one power of sec2θ from dx, leaving exactly secθ to integrate. This cancellation is why the substitution works so cleanly.
4. Integrate secθ.
The integral of secθ is a standard result:
∫secθdθ=log∣secθ+tanθ∣+C
So we have:
21∫secθdθ=21log∣secθ+tanθ∣+C
5. Convert back to x.
We know tanθ=2x. To find secθ, use the identity sec2θ=1+tan2θ:
secθ=1+tan2θ=1+(2x)2=1+4x2
Therefore:
secθ+tanθ=1+4x2+2x
6. Write the final answer.
Substituting back:
21log1+4x2+2x+C
Note
The expression 1+4x2+2x is always positive for all real x, so the absolute value is often omitted in practice. But it's good form to keep it for completeness.
✓Final answer
The integral evaluates to 21log2x+1+4x2+C.
Method: Reduce to the standard form ∫x2+a2dx
Integrands like 1+4x21 are handled by factoring the coefficient of x2 out of the square root to match a standard formula.
Steps
Step 1: Pull the coefficient out of the radical.
1+4x2=2x2+41
so the integrand becomes 21⋅x2+(1/2)21.
Step 2: Apply the standard result.
∫x2+a2dx=logx+x2+a2+C
with a=21.
Step 3: Reassemble with the constant factor.
Carry the 21 through; the result is 21log2x+1+4x2+C (equivalent to the a=21 form up to a constant).
The general move: whenever x2 has a coefficient, factor it out to expose the underlying x2±a2 standard form.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating 1+4x2 as if it were 1+x2 and ignoring the coefficient.
Why it's wrong: the 4 multiplying x2 changes the effective a and introduces a constant factor; skipping it gives a wrong argument. Correct approach: factor 1+4x2=2x2+41 so a=21.
Mistake 2: Confusing the x2+a2 (log) form with the a2−x2 (arcsine) form.
Why it's wrong: a plus under the root gives a logarithm/sinh−1, not sin−1. Correct approach: since it is x2+a2, use ∫x2+a2dx=log∣x+x2+a2∣+C, giving 21log∣2x+1+4x2∣+C.
Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.
Showing the 12 most recent of 44 on this concept.
CBSE 2020Set 65/1/11 mark
Q.Find : ∫9−4x2dx
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integral ∫9−4x2dx is a standard inverse sine form. By rewriting the denominator as 4(49−x2) and using substitution u=2x, we get the result 21sin−1(32x)+C.
When you see a square root with a constant minus a square term, your mind should immediately jump to the inverse trigonometric integrals. The classic formula is:
∫a2−u2du=sin−1(au)+C
Our job is to force the given integral into this exact shape. The denominator is 9−4x2. Notice that 9=32, so we have a=3 in the formula. But the 4x2 term is not a pure u2 — it has a coefficient 4. That’s the only obstacle.
The key insight: Factor out the 4 from inside the square root. Write:
9−4x2=4(49−x2)=249−x2
Now the integral becomes:
∫249−x2dx=21∫(23)2−x2dx
This is exactly the inverse sine form with a=23 and u=x. So:
21sin−1(3/2x)+C=21sin−1(32x)+C
That’s the answer. But let’s walk through it step by step with a substitution to make it foolproof.
Identify the target form. We want ∫a2−u2du. Here, the denominator has 9−4x2. Compare with a2−u2: we need a2=9 and u2=4x2. So set u=2x. Then du=2dx, so dx=2du.
Substitute. The integral becomes:
∫9−4x2dx=∫9−u2du/2=21∫9−u2du
Apply the standard formula. With a=3:
21sin−1(3u)+C
Back-substituteu=2x:
21sin−1(32x)+C
Watch out
A common mistake is to forget the factor from the substitution. If you set u=2x, you must also replace dx with du/2. Skipping that step gives the wrong coefficient. Also, note that 9−4x2 is not the same as 9−(2x)2 — it is exactly that, but the substitution handles it cleanly.
Tip
You can also factor directly: 9−4x2=249−x2 and then use a=3/2 without an explicit substitution. Both methods are equivalent; choose whichever feels more natural.
✓Final answer
The value is 21sin−1(32x)+C.
CBSE 2026Set 65/1/11 markMCQ
Q.If ∫b2+c2x23axdx=Alog∣b2+c2x2∣+K, then the value of A is:
(A) 3a
(B) 2b23a
(C) b2c23a
(D) 2c23a
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integral fits the pattern ∫udu=log∣u∣+C after a substitution. The constant A turns out to be 2c23a, which corresponds to option (D).
The problem gives you the result of an integral and asks you to identify the constant A that makes the equation true. This is a classic "match the form" question — you don't need to guess; you just need to perform the integration carefully and compare.
The key insight is that the integrand b2+c2x23ax is a rational function where the numerator is almost the derivative of the denominator. The derivative of b2+c2x2 is 2c2x. Our numerator is 3ax, which is a constant multiple of x. So a simple substitution u=b2+c2x2 will turn the integral into ∫udu.
Let's work through it step by step.
Set up the substitution.
Let u=b2+c2x2. Then du=2c2xdx, so xdx=2c2du.
Rewrite the integral in terms of u.
The integral is ∫b2+c2x23axdx=∫u3a⋅(xdx).
Substitute xdx=2c2du:
∫u3a⋅2c2du=2c23a∫udu.
Integrate.∫udu=log∣u∣+C, so
2c23alog∣u∣+C=2c23alog∣b2+c2x2∣+K,
where K is the constant of integration (we renamed C to K to match the problem).
Compare with the given form.
The problem states that the integral equals Alog∣b2+c2x2∣+K. Matching coefficients, we see
A=2c23a.
Watch out
A common mistake is to forget the factor from du — specifically, that xdx becomes 2c2du, not just du. If you skip that, you might get 3a or something like 2b23a, which are wrong. Always check the derivative of your substitution.
Tip
Notice that the constants b2 and c2 appear in the denominator, but b2 disappears from the final A because it's part of the constant term inside the log — it doesn't affect the coefficient. Only c2 matters because it comes from the derivative.
✓Final answer
The value of A is 2c23a, which corresponds to option (D).
CBSE 2020Set 65/1/11 mark
Q.Evaluate: ∫x4logxdx
(OR)
Evaluate: ∫3x2+12xdx
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫x4logxdx=5x5logx−25x5+C.
∫3x2+12xdx=23(x2+1)2/3+C.
Part (a)
Use integration by parts, ∫udv=uv−∫vdu, choosing u=logx (differentiates simply) and dv=x4dx, so du=x1dx and v=5x5:
∫x4logxdx=5x5logx−∫5x5⋅x1dx=5x5logx−51∫x4dx.
=5x5logx−51⋅5x5+C=5x5logx−25x5+C.
✓Final answer
∫x4logxdx=5x5logx−25x5+C.
Part (b)
Substitute u=x2+1, so du=2xdx — exactly the numerator: