Q.Find ∫x5(x4−x)1/4dx
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)∣
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:
∫x=0x=12xcos(x2)dx=∫u=0u=1cos(u)du=sin(1)−sin(0)=sin(1)
Common Mistake to Avoid
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 — the numerator’s structure suggests setting u=1−x31 to simplify the radical.
Step 1: Rewrite the integrand.
Factor x4 inside the fourth root:
(x4−x)1/4=[x4(1−x31)]1/4=x(1−x31)1/4.
Thus the integral becomes
∫x5x(1−x31)1/4dx=∫x−4(1−x31)1/4dx.
Step 2: Substitute u=1−x31. Then du=x43dx, so x−4dx=3du.
The integral becomes ∫u1/4⋅3du=31∫u1/4du.
Step 3: Integrate:
31⋅5/4u5/4=154u5/4+C.
Step 4: Back-substitute u=1−x31:
154(1−x31)5/4+C.
The value is 154(1−x31)5/4+C.
The key idea is to rewrite the integrand so that a substitution of the form t=1−x31 emerges naturally. The integral simplifies to 154(1−x31)5/4+C.
Why This Approach Works
When you see an expression like (x4−x)1/4, your first instinct might be to factor something out. Notice that x4−x=x(x3−1). The fourth root then becomes x1/4(x3−1)1/4. But the denominator is x5, so the overall power of x in the numerator is 1/4 from the root, and dividing by x5 gives x1/4−5=x−19/4. That’s messy.
A better insight: factor x4 out of the bracket instead. Write x4−x=x4(1−x31). Then the fourth root becomes x(1−x31)1/4. Now the integrand is:
x5x(1−x31)1/4=x4(1−x31)1/4.
This is much cleaner. The denominator x4 suggests that a substitution involving 1/x3 might work, because its derivative will bring down a factor of 1/x4.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Rewrite the integrand Factor x4 from (x4−x):
x4−x=x4(1−x31).
Then
(x4−x)1/4=[x4(1−x31)]1/4=x(1−x31)1/4.
The integral becomes:
∫x5x(1−x31)1/4dx=∫x4(1−x31)1/4dx.
- Choose a substitution Let t=1−x31. Then differentiate:
dxdt=x43⇒dt=x43dx.
Notice that x41dx appears in our integral. So we can write:
x41dx=3dt.
- Transform the integral Substituting t and dt:
∫x4(1−x31)1/4dx=∫t1/4⋅3dt=31∫t1/4dt.
- Integrate with respect to t Using the power rule:
31⋅1/4+1t1/4+1=31⋅5/4t5/4=31⋅54t5/4=154t5/4.
- Substitute back Recall t=1−x31. So:
∫x5(x4−x)1/4dx=154(1−x31)5/4+C.
You can also write the answer as 154(x3x3−1)5/4+C, which is equivalent. Both forms are acceptable in exams.
A common mistake is to forget the factor of 1/3 from the substitution. Always check: if t=1−1/x3, then dt=3/x4dx, so dx/x4=dt/3, not dt.
The integral evaluates to 154(1−x31)5/4+C.
Method: Factor out the dominant power, then substitute
Use this for integrands like xm(xn−x)1/k where a root of a polynomial sits over a power of x. Pulling the highest power of x out of the root exposes a clean inner function whose derivative already appears.
Steps
Step 1: Factor the largest power of x out from inside the root.
Write x4−x=x4(1−x31) so that
(x4−x)1/4=x(1−x31)1/4.
Choosing the largest power (not x itself) is what leaves a bracket of the form 1−x31, whose derivative is simple.
Step 2: Simplify the whole integrand.
Cancel the freed power of x against the denominator so the integral reduces to
∫x4(1−x31)1/4dx.
Step 3: Substitute u = the bracket.
Let u=1−x31. Then du=x43dx, so x41dx=3du — exactly the leftover factor. The integral becomes 31∫u1/4du.
Step 4: Integrate by the power rule and back-substitute.
∫u1/4du=54u5/4, giving 154u5/4+C; replace u by 1−x31.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Factoring out x instead of x4.
Why it's wrong: writing x4−x=x(x3−1) gives (x4−x)1/4=x1/4(x3−1)1/4, and dividing by x5 leaves the ugly power x−19/4 with no clean substitution. Correct approach: factor the largest power (x4) so the bracket becomes 1−x31.
Mistake 2: Dropping the 31 from du.
Why it's wrong: u=1−x31⇒du=x43dx, so x41dx=3du, not du. Missing the 31 triples the coefficient. Correct approach: solve du for the exact factor appearing in the integral.
Mistake 3: Power-rule slip on u1/4.
Why it's wrong: ∫u1/4du=5/4u5/4=54u5/4; combined with 31 this is 154, a value students frequently miscompute. Correct approach: add 1 to 41 to get 45 and divide by it.
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