Q.Evaluate : ∫0π/416+9sin2xsinx+cosxdx OR Evaluate : ∫13(x2+3x+ex)dx as the limit of the sum.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Definite Substitution Method
Substitution in Definite Integrals
You already know substitution for indefinite integrals: set u=g(x), rewrite in terms of u, integrate, then substitute back. For a definite integral there is a cleaner twist — instead of substituting back, you convert the limits of integration to the new variable and finish entirely in u.
Why the limits must change
The limits a and b are x-values. Once you switch to u=g(x), those numbers no longer describe the start and end of the integration — the corresponding u-values do. Keeping the old numbers would integrate over the wrong interval, like reading a distance in kilometres off a scale marked in miles.
∫abf(g(x))g′(x)dx=∫g(a)g(b)f(u)du
The steps
- Choose u=g(x), picking something whose derivative already appears in the integrand.
- Differentiate: du=g′(x)dx.
- Convert the limits: the lower limit becomes u=g(a), the upper becomes u=g(b).
- Integrate in u — no substituting back needed.
Example. Evaluate ∫022x(x2+1)3dx.
Let u=x2+1, so du=2xdx. When x=0, u=1; when x=2, u=5. Then
∫02(x2+1)3(2xdx)=∫15u3du=[4u4]15=4625−1=156.
We never returned to x — the converted limits carried the work. …
Substitute t=sinx−cosx so dt=(cosx+sinx)dx and sin2x=1−t2, reducing to ∫25−9t2dt. (OR: definite integral as a limit of sums.) …
The value is 301ln4=151ln2 (OR case: 362+e3−e).
Concept. Substitution using (sinx−cosx)2=1−sin2x, then the standard form ∫a2−t2dt=2a1lna−ta+t.
Why this method. The numerator sinx+cosx is exactly the derivative of t=sinx−cosx.
Working. Let t=sinx−cosx, dt=(cosx+sinx)dx, and sin2x=1−t2. Limits: x=0⇒t=−1; x=4π⇒t=0.
I=∫−1016+9(1−t2)dt=∫−1025−9t2dt=91∫−10(35)2−t2dt.
=91⋅2⋅351[ln35−t35+t]−10=301[ln1−ln41]=301ln4=151ln2.
…
- KCET 2026Set UNKNOWN1 markMCQQ.∫a−6b−6f(x+6)dx is equal to (A) ∫abf(x−6)dx (B) ∫abf(x+6)dx (C) ∫abf(x)dx (D) ∫abf(−x)dx
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use a simple shift substitution to change the limits of integration and cancel the shift inside f.
Step 1 — Substitute
Let u=x+6, so du=dx.
When x=a−6, u=a; when x=b−6, u=b.
Step 2 — Rewrite the integral …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-E1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] The value of the integral ∫311x4(x−x3)31dx is
(A) 4 (B) 0 (C) 3 (D) 6›Reveal solutionSolution
The integral simplifies via a clever substitution x=sinθ and then t=cosθ, turning it into a simple power integral; its value is 6, so the correct option is (D).
The key insight is that the integrand x4(x−x3)1/3 looks like it might be related to trigonometric identities. The expression x−x3=x(1−x2) suggests the substitution x=sinθ, because then 1−x2=cos2θ and the cube root becomes (sinθcos2θ)1/3. The denominator x4=sin4θ then combines nicely, and the limits transform from x=1/3 to x=1 into θ=arcsin(1/3) to θ=π/2. After simplification, a further substitution t=cosθ yields a straightforward integral.
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Substitute x=sinθ.
Then dx=cosθdθ.
The limits: when x=1/3, θ=arcsin(1/3); when x=1, θ=π/2.
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Rewrite the integrand.
x−x3=sinθ−sin3θ=sinθ(1−sin2θ)=sinθcos2θ.
So (x−x3)1/3=(sinθcos2θ)1/3=sin1/3θ⋅cos2/3θ.
The denominator: x4=sin4θ.
Also dx=cosθdθ.
The integral becomes:
I=∫θ=arcsin(1/3)π/2sin4θsin1/3θ⋅cos2/3θ⋅cosθdθ=∫arcsin(1/3)π/2sin11/3θcos5/3θdθ.
- Simplify the exponent. Notice sin11/3θcos5/3θ=cot5/3θ⋅csc2θ? Actually better: write as
sin11/3θcos5/3θ=sin5/3θcos5/3θ⋅sin2θ1=cot5/3θ⋅csc2θ.
But csc2θdθ=−?d(cotθ) Wait: d(cotθ)=−csc2θdθ. So csc2θdθ=−d(cotθ).
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Substitute t=cotθ.
Then dt=−csc2θdθ.
Limits: when θ=arcsin(1/3), we need cotθ.
If sinθ=1/3, then cosθ=1−1/9=8/9=322.
So cotθ=sinθcosθ=1/322/3=22.
When θ=π/2, cot(π/2)=0.
The integral becomes:
I=∫t=220t5/3⋅(−dt)=∫022t5/3dt. …
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- KCET 2022Set C-41 markMCQQ.∫0π/2sinθcos3θdθ is equal to (A) 7/23 (B) 8/21 (C) 7/21 (D) 8/23
›Reveal solutionSolution
The odd power of cosθ lets us peel off one cosθ for d(sinθ) and substitute s=sinθ, turning the integral into a simple power integral.
Step 1 — Spot the right substitution
I=∫0π/2sinθcos3θdθ
The power of cosθ is odd. That is the signal to save one factor of cosθ (it will become ds) and convert the remaining even power using the Pythagorean identity:
cos3θ=cos2θ⋅cosθ=(1−sin2θ)cosθ
Step 2 — Substitute
Let
s=sinθ⟹ds=cosθdθ
Change the limits (essential for a definite integral):
θ=0⇒s=sin0=0,θ=2π⇒s=sin2π=1
The integral becomes
I=∫01s(1−s2)ds=∫01(s1/2−s5/2)ds
(using s⋅s2=s1/2+2=s5/2).
Step 3 — Integrate term by term
Using ∫snds=n+1sn+1: …
- KCET 2020Set A-11 markMCQQ.If ∫(x−1)(x−2)(x−3)3x+1dx=Alog∣x−1∣+Blog∣x−2∣+Clog∣x−3∣+C, then the values of A, B and C are respectively (A) 5,−7,−5 (B) 2,−7,−5 (C) 5,−7,5 (D) 2,−7,5
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use partial fractions to decompose the integrand, then compare coefficients to find A=2, B=−7, C=5.
The key idea here is that when you have a rational function with distinct linear factors in the denominator, the method of partial fractions lets you break it into simpler pieces — each of which integrates directly to a logarithm. The constants A, B, C are exactly the numerators of those partial fractions.
Let’s work through it step by step.
- Set up the partial fraction decomposition. Since the denominator (x−1)(x−2)(x−3) has three distinct linear factors, we can write:
(x−1)(x−2)(x−3)3x+1=x−1A+x−2B+x−3C
where A, B, C are constants we need to find.
- Clear the denominators. Multiply both sides by (x−1)(x−2)(x−3):
3x+1=A(x−2)(x−3)+B(x−1)(x−3)+C(x−1)(x−2)
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Solve for the constants — the smart way.
Instead of expanding everything and comparing coefficients (which works but is slower), we can substitute the roots of the denominator one by one. This is faster and less error-prone.
- For A: Put x=1. Then the terms with B and C vanish because they contain (x−1):
3(1)+1=A(1−2)(1−3)⇒4=A(−1)(−2)=2A
So $A = 2$.- For B: Put x=2:
3(2)+1=B(2−1)(2−3)⇒7=B(1)(−1)=−B
So $B = -7$.- For C: Put x=3:
3(3)+1=C(3−1)(3−2)⇒10=C(2)(1)=2C
So $C = 5$.TipSubstituting the roots is the fastest method for distinct linear factors. It works because each factor except the one you're solving for becomes zero at that root, isolating the unknown constant.
- Verify quickly (optional but good practice). …
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