Q.Evaluate the definite integral: ∫02x2+46x+3dx
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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)∣ …
Split the numerator so one piece is (a multiple of) the derivative of x2+4 (a log) and the other is a constant over x2+4 (an arctan).
x2+46x+3=x2+46x+x2+43.
Log part: ∫02x2+46xdx=3[log(x2+4)]02=3(ln8−ln4)=3ln2. …
Split into a log part and an arctan part: the value is 3ln2+83π.
Setting up
The denominator x2+4 suggests an arctangent, but the numerator 6x+3 is linear. The standard move is to break it into two pieces: one whose numerator is a multiple of dxd(x2+4)=2x (giving a logarithm) and one that is a constant over x2+4 (giving an arctangent).
x2+46x+3=x2+46x+x2+43.
1. The logarithm piece
With u=x2+4, du=2xdx, so 6xdx=3du; limits u:4→8:
∫02x2+46xdx=∫48u3du=3(ln8−ln4)=3ln2.
2. The arctangent piece …
Method: Splitting a linear-over-quadratic integrand into log and arctan parts
For ∫x2+a2px+qdx, separate the numerator into a multiple of the denominator's derivative (a logarithm) plus a constant (an inverse tangent).
Steps
Step 1: Split the numerator around dxd(x2+a2)=2x.
Write px+q=2p(2x)+q, so one part is a constant times 2x.
Step 2: Integrate the derivative part to a log. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating the whole numerator 6x+3 as the denominator's derivative.
Why it's wrong: dxd(x2+4)=2x, so only 6x (a multiple of 2x) gives a log; the constant 3 needs the arctan formula. Correct approach: split into x2+46x+x2+43. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 44 on this concept.
- CBSE 2020Set 65/1/11 markQ.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.
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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 …
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- CBSE 2020Set 65/1/11 markQ.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. …
- CBSE 2026Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.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. …
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- CBSE 2026Set CX1 markQ.Find the value of the integral ∫x2tan(x3+2)dx.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=x3+2; the integral becomes 31∫tanudu=31ln∣sec(x3+2)∣+C.
Concept: The factor x2 is (up to a constant) the derivative of the inner function x3+2, so substitution works.
Let u=x3+2⇒du=3x2dx⇒x2dx=3du.
…
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.∫1−x2tan(sin−1x)dx=(a) log∣sec(sin−1x)∣+k(b) log∣cos(sin−1x)∣+k(c) tan(sin−1x)+k(d) log∣sin−1x∣+k
›Reveal solutionSolution
With u=sin−1x (so du=1−x2dx) the integral is ∫tanudu=log∣secu∣+k.
Let u=sin−1x. Then du=1−x2dx, so
…
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.∫ex+e−xdx=(a) cot−1(ex)+k(b) tan−1(ex)+k(c) log∣ex+1∣+k(d) sin−1(ex)+k
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute t=ex: ∫ex+e−xdx=∫1+t2dt=tan−1(ex)+k.
Multiply numerator and denominator by ex:
ex+e−x1=e2x+1ex.
Let t=ex, dt=exdx. Then
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫sin(2x+3)dx=(a) cos(2x+3)+C(b) −2cos(2x+3)+C(c) tan2x+C(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫sin(ax+b)dx=−acos(ax+b)+C.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫1ex(logx)2dx=(a) 31e3(b) 31(e3−1)(c) 31(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=logx, du=dx/x, converting the limits from x=1,e to u=0,1.
Let u=logx⇒du=xdx. When x=1,u=0; when x=e,u=1.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫x(1+logx)1dx is equal to:(a) x+logx+c(b) ∣x+logx∣+c(c) log∣1+logx∣+c(d) log(1+x)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=1+logx so du=xdx, turning the integral into ∫udu.
I=∫x(1+logx)1dx
Let u=1+logx⇒du=x1dx.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫cos8xsin6xdx is equal to:
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite the integrand as tan6xsec2x and substitute t=tanx.
I=∫cos8xsin6xdx=∫cos6xsin6x⋅cos2x1dx=∫tan6xsec2xdx
Let t=tanx⇒dt=sec2xdx. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.\int x^2 e^{x^3} dx equals:(a)(i) \frac{e^{x^3}}{3} + c(b)(ii) 3e^{x^3} + c(c)(iii) \frac{e^{x^2}}{3} + c(d)(iv) \frac{1}{2}e^{x^2} + c
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫x2ex3dx=3ex3+c — option (i).
Concept. Substitution (u-substitution): choose u whose derivative already appears (up to a constant) in the integrand.
Steps.
- Let u=x3, then du=3x2dx, i.e. x2dx=31du. …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫1+sin2xcosxdx=(a) −tan−1(sinx)+c(b) tan−1(cosx)+c(c) tan−1(sinx)+c(d) −tan−1(cosx)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
A direct substitution u = sin x reduces this to the standard ∫du/(1+u²) form.
Let u=sinx, so du=cosxdx.
…
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