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Q.Evaluate: ∫01xtan⁡−1x dx\displaystyle\int_0^1 x\tan^{-1}x\,dx.

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2026Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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This integral is solved using integration by parts, choosing tan⁡−1x\tan^{-1}x as the function to differentiate. The final value is π4−12\boxed{\frac{\pi}{4} - \frac{1}{2}}.

When faced with an integral involving a product of two different types of functions, such as an algebraic function (xx) and an inverse trigonometric function (tan⁡−1x\tan^{-1}x), the most common and effective technique is integration by parts.

The core idea behind integration by parts is to transform a difficult integral into a potentially simpler one. The formula for definite integrals is:

∫abu dv=[uv]ab−∫abv du\int_a^b u\,dv = [uv]_a^b - \int_a^b v\,du

The crucial step is choosing which part of the integrand becomes uu and which becomes dvdv. A helpful mnemonic for this choice is LIATE:

  • Logarithmic functions
  • Inverse trigonometric functions
  • Algebraic functions
  • Trigonometric functions
  • Exponential functions

The function that appears earlier in the LIATE list is generally chosen as uu, because its derivative tends to simplify the expression, or its integral is more complex than its derivative.

In our problem, ∫01xtan⁡−1x dx\int_0^1 x\tan^{-1}x\,dx:

  • tan⁡−1x\tan^{-1}x is an Inverse trigonometric function.
  • xx is an Algebraic function.

According to LIATE, we should choose u=tan⁡−1xu = \tan^{-1}x and dv=x dxdv = x\,dx. This choice is strategic because the derivative of tan⁡−1x\tan^{-1}x is a simple rational function, and the integral of xx is straightforward.

Let's proceed with the evaluation:

  1. Identify uu and dvdv:

    Based on the LIATE rule, we set:

    u=tan⁡−1xu = \tan^{-1}x

    dv=x dxdv = x\,dx

  2. Calculate dudu and vv:

    Differentiating uu:

    du=ddx(tan⁡−1x) dx=11+x2 dxdu = \frac{d}{dx}(\tan^{-1}x)\,dx = \frac{1}{1+x^2}\,dx

    Integrating dvdv:

    v=∫x dx=x22v = \int x\,dx = \frac{x^2}{2}

  3. Apply the integration by parts formula:

    Substitute uu, vv, dudu, and dvdv into the formula ∫01u dv=[uv]01−∫01v du\int_0^1 u\,dv = [uv]_0^1 - \int_0^1 v\,du:

∫01xtan⁡−1x dx=[x22tan⁡−1x]01−∫01x22⋅11+x2 dx\int_0^1 x\tan^{-1}x\,dx = \left[\frac{x^2}{2}\tan^{-1}x\right]_0^1 - \int_0^1 \frac{x^2}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{1+x^2}\,dx

  1. Evaluate the first term:

[x22tan⁡−1x]01=(122tan⁡−1(1))−(022tan⁡−1(0))\left[\frac{x^2}{2}\tan^{-1}x\right]_0^1 = \left(\frac{1^2}{2}\tan^{-1}(1)\right) - \left(\frac{0^2}{2}\tan^{-1}(0)\right)

We know that $\tan^{-1}(1) = \frac{\pi}{4}$ and $\tan^{-1}(0) = 0$.

=(12⋅π4)−(0⋅0)=π8= \left(\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{\pi}{4}\right) - \left(0 \cdot 0\right) = \frac{\pi}{8}

  1. Evaluate the remaining integral: The integral we need to solve is ∫01x22(1+x2) dx\int_0^1 \frac{x^2}{2(1+x^2)}\,dx. We can factor out the constant 12\frac{1}{2}: 12∫01x21+x2 dx\frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 \frac{x^2}{1+x^2}\,dx …

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