Q.If β« π₯3 π ππ4(π₯4) cos(π₯4) ππ₯ = π π ππ5(π₯4) + C, then π is equal to
(A) β 1 10
(B) 1 20
(C) 1 4
(D) 1 5
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π Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution βConcept understanding β U Substitution
U Substitution: The Reverse Chain Rule
The chain rule differentiates composite functions: the derivative of sin(x2) is cos(x2)β 2x β differentiate the outer function, then multiply by the derivative of the inside. Integration asks the reverse: given cos(x2)β 2x, find the original function. That's what u substitution does β 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:
β«2xcos(x2)dx
Here 2x is the derivative of x2, and x2 is the inside of cos(x2). Let u=x2, so du=2xdx:
β«cos(u)du=sin(u)+C=sin(x2)+C
Check: the derivative of sin(x2) is cos(x2)β 2x.
The Precise Statement
β«f(g(x))β gβ²(x)dx=β«f(u)duwhereΒ u=g(x),du=gβ²(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 gβ²(x) also appears (possibly up to a constant factor).
- Set u=g(x), compute du=gβ²(x)dx.
- Rewrite the entire integral in u and du β 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 β rare).
A Second Example (with a constant factor)
Evaluate β«xx2+1βdx. Let u=x2+1, so xdx=21βdu:
β«uββ 21βdu=21ββ 32βu3/2+C=31β(x2+1)3/2+C
When Does It Work?
When the integrand is something times the derivative of something inside. Common patterns:
- xβ f(x2) β derivative of x2 is 2x, so u=x2
- eg(x)β gβ²(x) β derivative of g(x) appears
- g(x)gβ²(x)β β leads to logβ£g(x)β£ β¦
Concept: U Substitution β the integrand contains a composite function whose derivative (up to a constant) is also present.
Let u=sin(x4). Then du=cos(x4)β 4x3dx, so x3cos(x4)dx=4duβ.
The integral becomes: β¦
The integral simplifies via substitution u=sin(x4), leading to 201βsin5(x4)+C, so a=201β.
We have the integral β«x3sin4(x4)cos(x4)dx and are told it equals asin5(x4)+C. The task is to find a.
The key insight is that the integrand contains a composition of functions: sin4(x4) and cos(x4), multiplied by x3. The derivative of x4 is 4x3, and we see x3 sitting there β a perfect setup for substitution. When you see a function and its derivative (or a constant multiple) nearby, substitution is the natural path.
Letβs work through it step by step.
-
Choose the substitution.
The inner function x4 appears inside both sine and cosine. Let u=x4. Then du=4x3dx, so x3dx=4duβ.
-
Rewrite the integral in terms of u.
The integral becomes:
β«sin4(u)cos(u)β 4duβ=41ββ«sin4(u)cos(u)du.
- Now handle the u-integral. We have sin4(u)cos(u). Notice that the derivative of sin(u) is cos(u). So let v=sin(u). Then dv=cos(u)du. The integral becomes:
41ββ«v4dv=41ββ 5v5β+C=201βv5+C.
- Back-substitute. First v=sin(u), then u=x4:
201βsin5(u)+C=201βsin5(x4)+C.
- Compare with the given form. β¦
Method: Finding an unknown coefficient by substitution
Use this when an integral of a composite function is given in the form (constant) Γ (some function) +C, and you must identify the constant. You do not need to "guess" β integrate honestly and compare.
Steps
Step 1: Spot the inner function whose derivative is present.
Look for a chunk g(x) sitting inside another function, with gβ²(x) (up to a numerical factor) also appearing in the integrand. Here powers of x next to a sin/cos of x4 signal g(x)=x4 (or directly g(x)=sin(x4)).
Step 2: Substitute u=g(x) and convert dx.
u=g(x),du=gβ²(x)dx.
Solve for the exact group that appears, e.g. x3cos(x4)dx=41βdu. The numerical factor from du is exactly what produces the unknown coefficient. β¦
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Dropping the constant from du.
Why it's wrong: with u=sin(x4), du=4x3cos(x4)dx, so x3cos(x4)dx=41βdu β writing it as du loses the 41β and gives a=51β instead of 201β. Correct approach: always compute du fully and solve for the exact differential group.
Mistake 2: Choosing the wrong inner function.
Why it's wrong: substituting u=x4 leaves a sin4ucosu that still needs a second step; not realising this makes students stop early. Correct approach: either substitute u=sin(x4) in one move, or carry the second substitution v=sinu through to the end. β¦
Showing the 12 most recent of 16 on this concept.
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.Integral of β«x2[1+x4]3/4dxβ. (A) β4(x1/4+1)1/4+C (B) 4(x1/4+1)1/4+C (C) 4(x4+1)1/4+C (D) None of these
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The result -(x^4 + 1)^(1/4)/x + C matches none of options (A), (B), (C) (they are missing the 1/x factor, and (A)/(B) even have x^(1/4)).
Concept: for integrands of the form 1/(x^2 (1 + x^4)^(3/4)), take x^4 out of the bracket and substitute u = 1 + x^(-4).
(1 + x^4)^(3/4) = x^3 (1 + x^(-4))^(3/4) (for x > 0).
So the integrand = 1 / [ x^2 * x^3 * (1 + x^(-4))^(3/4) ] = x^(-5) (1 + x^(-4))^(-3/4).
Let u = 1 + x^(-4) => du = -4 x^(-5) dx => x^(-5) dx = -du/4.
I = -(1/4) * integral u^(-3/4) du = -(1/4) * (u^(1/4)/(1/4)) + C = -u^(1/4) + C
= -(1 + x^(-4))^(1/4) + C
= -((x^4 + 1)/x^4)^(1/4) + C
= -(x^4 + 1)^(1/4) / x + C.
Check by differentiating: d/dx [ -(1 + x^4)^(1/4) x^(-1) ] = -(1/4)(1 + x^4)^(-3/4)(4x^3)x^(-1) + (1 + x^4)^(1/4) x^(-2) β¦
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-M1 markMCQQ.β«1β16xβ4xβdx is equal to (A) (log4)sinβ14x+C (B) 41βsinβ1(4x)+C (C) log41βsinβ14x+C (D) 4log4sinβ14+C
βΊReveal solutionSolution
Put u=4x so 16x=u2 and du=4xln4dx; the integral becomes ln41ββ«1βu2βduβ=log41βsinβ1(4x)+C.
β«1β16xβ4xβdx. Let u=4xβdu=4xln4dxβ4xdx=ln4duβ, and 16x=(4x)2=u2: β¦
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-A1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] β«xx2+4βdxβ=
(A) 41βlogβx2+4β+2x2+4ββ2ββ+C (B) 41βlogβx2+4ββ2x2+4β+2ββ+C (C) 21βlogβx2+4ββ2x2+4β+2ββ+C (D) 21βlogβx2+4β+2x2+4ββ2ββ+CβΊReveal solutionSolution
Substituting x=2tanΞΈ gives 41βlogβx2+4β+2x2+4ββ2ββ+C β option (A).
For β«xx2+4βdxβ put x=2tanΞΈ, so dx=2sec2ΞΈdΞΈ and x2+4β=2secΞΈ:
β«2tanΞΈβ 2secΞΈ2sec2ΞΈdΞΈβ=21ββ«cscΞΈdΞΈ=21βlogβ£cscΞΈβcotΞΈβ£+C
With cscΞΈ=xx2+4ββ and cotΞΈ=x2β:
=21βlogβxx2+4ββ2ββ+C β¦
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.If β«1β4xβ2xβdx=ksinβ1(2x)+c, then k is (A) 2log2β (B) log21β (C) 2log21β (D) log2
βΊReveal solutionSolution
k=log21β.
Let u=2x, so du=2xln2dx and 4x=u2. Then
β«1β4xβ2xβdx=β«1βu2βuββ uln2duβ=ln21ββ«1βu2βduβ=ln21βsinβ1u+c. β¦
- COMEDK 2022Set 20221 markMCQQ.β«1β9xβ3xβdx is equal to (A) (log3)sinβ13x+C (B) 31βsinβ1(3x)+C (C) log31βsinβ13x+C (D) 3log3sinβ13x+C
βΊReveal solutionSolution
I = (1/log 3) * Integral du / sqrt(1 - u^2) = (1/log 3) * arcsin(u) + C = (1 / log 3) * sin^-1 (3^x) + C
Concept: Substitution reducing to the arcsin form, integral du/sqrt(1 - u^2) = arcsin u.
I = Integral of 3^x / sqrt(1 - 9^x) dx , and 9^x = (3^x)^2
Put u = 3^x => du = 3^x (log 3) dx => 3^x dx = du / log 3
I = (1/log 3) * Integral du / sqrt(1 - u^2) β¦
- COMEDK 2021Set 20211 markMCQQ.β«1β4xβ2xβdx is equal to (A) (log2)sinβ12x+C (B) 21βsinβ12x+C (C) log21βsinβ12x+C (D) 2log2sinβ12x+C
βΊReveal solutionSolution
I = (1/log 2) * integral du / sqrt(1 - u^2) = (1/log 2) * arcsin(u) + C = (1/log 2) * arcsin(2^x) + C.
Concept: substitution reducing the integrand to the standard form 1/sqrt(1 - u^2), whose integral is arcsin(u).
I = integral 2^x / sqrt(1 - 4^x) dx. Note 4^x = (2^x)^2.
Put u = 2^x. Then du = 2^x * log 2 dx, so 2^x dx = du / log 2. β¦
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-M1 markMCQQ.If β«sin3xcosxβ1βdx=tanxβkβ+c then the value of k is (A) β2 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) β1
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The integral simplifies by rewriting the integrand in terms of tanx, leading to a straightforward power rule integration; comparing the result with the given form shows k=β2.
We are given
β«sin3xcosxβ1βdx=tanxβkβ+c
and need to find k.
Concept and intuition
The integrand mixes powers of sinx and cosx. A classic trick is to express everything in terms of tanx (or cotx) because the derivative of tanx is sec2x, which itself is 1/cos2x. This often turns messy trigonometric integrals into simple power rules. Here, the presence of tanxβ on the right side is a strong hint: the integrand likely simplifies to something like (tanx)β3/2β sec2x, whose antiderivative is a constant times (tanx)β1/2.
Letβs work it out step by step.
- Rewrite the integrand using tanx.
sin3xcosxβ1β=sin3/2xβ cos1/2x1β
Divide numerator and denominator by cos3/2x (a common trick to introduce tanx):
=cos3/2xβ tan3/2xβ cos1/2x1β=cos2xβ tan3/2x1β
because cos3/2xβ cos1/2x=cos2x.
Since 1/cos2x=sec2x, we have:
sin3xcosxβ1β=tan3/2xsec2xβ.
- Set up the substitution. Let u=tanx. Then du=sec2xdx. The integral becomes:
β«tan3/2xsec2xβdx=β«u3/2duβ=β«uβ3/2du.
- Integrate using the power rule. β«uβ3/2du=β3/2+1uβ3/2+1β=β1/2uβ1/2β=β2uβ1/2+C. β¦
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.β«1βcos3xcosxβcos3xββdx= (A) β31βlogβ1βcos3/2x1+cos3/2xββ+c (B) β31βlogβcos3/2x+1cos3/2xβ1ββ+c (C) β32βsinβ1(cos3/2x)+c (D) β32βsinβ1(cos3x)+c
βΊReveal solutionSolution
The integral equals β32βsinβ1(cos3/2x)+c.
Simplify the radicand: cosxβcos3x=cosx(1βcos2x)=cosxsin2x, so
1βcos3xcosxβcos3xββ=1βcos3xβcosxββ£sinxβ£β.
Let u=cos3/2x. Then dxduβ=23βcos1/2xβ (βsinx)=β23βcosxβsinx, so cosxβsinxdx=β32βdu, and 1βcos3x=1βu2.
Thus β¦
- COMEDK 2023Set 2023-M1 markMCQQ.β«2(1+x)3/2xdxβ is equal to (A) 1+xβ2+xβ+C (B) x1+xβ2+xβ+C (C) 1+xβxβ+C (D) β1+xβxβ+C
βΊReveal solutionSolution
With u=1+x, the integral becomes 21ββ«(uβ1/2βuβ3/2)du=u1/2+uβ1/2=1+xβ2+xβ+C.
β«2(1+x)3/2xdxβ. Let u=1+xβx=uβ1,Β dx=du:
21ββ«u3/2uβ1βdu=21ββ«(uβ1/2βuβ3/2)du. β¦
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] β«f(x)log(f(x))fβ²(x)βdxΒ isΒ equalΒ toΒ
(A) f(x)logf(x)+C (B) log(logf(x))1β+C (C) logf(x)f(x)β+C (D) log(logf(x))+CβΊReveal solutionSolution
The integral simplifies by substitution u=log(f(x)), leading directly to log(logf(x))+C, so the correct choice is (D).
Concept & Intuition
When you see a fraction where the numerator is the derivative of the denominatorβs βinside,β a substitution is almost always the cleanest path. Here, the denominator is f(x)log(f(x)), and the numerator is fβ²(x). Notice that the derivative of log(f(x)) is f(x)fβ²(x)β, which appears in the integrand. That suggests setting u=log(f(x)), turning the whole integral into a simple β«uduβ.
Step-by-step solution
- Identify the substitution Let u=log(f(x)). Then differentiate:
dxduβ=f(x)fβ²(x)ββdu=f(x)fβ²(x)βdx.
- Rewrite the integral The original integral is
β«f(x)log(f(x))fβ²(x)βdx.
Factor the f(x) in the denominator:
β«log(f(x))fβ²(x)/f(x)βdx.
Now substitute u=log(f(x)) and du=f(x)fβ²(x)βdx:
β«uduβ.
- Integrate The integral β«uduβ is a standard result:
β«uduβ=logβ£uβ£+C.
- Back-substitute Replace u with log(f(x)): logβ£log(f(x))β£+C. β¦
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-M1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] β«x(1+xex)x+1βdx=
(A) logβ£cxex(1+xex)β£ (B) logβ£cxex(1+xex)β£ (C) logβxexc(1+xex)ββ (D) logβ1+xexcxexβββΊReveal solutionSolution
The integral simplifies by noticing the derivative of xex appears in the denominator; the result is logβ1+xexcxexββ, which matches option (D).
The key insight is that the integrand contains xex in the denominator, and the derivative of xex is ex(1+x). That derivative is almost exactly the numerator x+1, except for a factor of ex. This suggests a substitution or a clever split of the fraction to reveal a logarithmic derivative.
- Rewrite the integrand to expose the derivative of xex. Notice that
dxdβ(xex)=ex+xex=ex(1+x).
Our numerator is x+1, so we can write:
x(1+xex)x+1β=exβ x(1+xex)ex(x+1)β=xex(1+xex)ex(1+x)β.
The numerator is now exactly the derivative of xex.
- Perform a substitution. Let t=xex. Then dt=ex(1+x)dx. The integral becomes:
β«xex(1+xex)ex(1+x)βdx=β«t(1+t)dtβ.
- Decompose the rational function. Use partial fractions:
t(1+t)1β=t1ββ1+t1β.
So the integral is:
β«(t1ββ1+t1β)dt=logβ£tβ£βlogβ£1+tβ£+C=logβ1+ttββ+C.
- Substitute back. Since t=xex, we have: β«x(1+xex)x+1βdx=logβ1+xexxexββ+C. β¦
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-M1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] Β TheΒ valueΒ ofΒ β«x+xβ1β1βdxΒ isΒ
(A) log(x+xβ1β)+sinβ1(xxβ1ββ)+C (B) log(x+xβ1β)β3β2βtanβ1(3β2xβ1β+1β)+C (C) log(x+xβ1β)+C (D) log(xβ1+xβ1β)+3β1βlogβxβ2+3βxβ2β3βββ+CβΊReveal solutionSolution
The integral simplifies by substituting t=xβ1β, turning it into a rational function that integrates to a logarithm and an arctangent, matching option (B).
We are asked to evaluate
β«x+xβ1β1βdx.
The presence of xβ1β suggests a substitution that removes the square root, turning the integrand into a rational function. The trick is to set t=xβ1β, so that x=t2+1 and dx=2tdt. This transforms the integral into a form we can handle with partial fractions or a standard arctangent formula.
Letβs work through it step by step.
- Substitute t=xβ1β. Then x=t2+1 and dx=2tdt. The denominator becomes
x+xβ1β=(t2+1)+t=t2+t+1.
So the integral becomes
β«t2+t+11ββ 2tdt=2β«t2+t+1tβdt.
- Prepare for integration by rewriting the numerator to match the derivative of the denominator. The derivative of t2+t+1 is 2t+1. We have 2t in the numerator, so write
2t=(2t+1)β1.
Then
2β«t2+t+1tβdt=β«t2+t+12t+1βdtββ«t2+t+11βdt.
- First integral:
β«t2+t+12t+1βdt=logβ£t2+t+1β£+C1β.
Since t2+t+1>0 for all real t, we can drop the absolute value.
- Second integral: Complete the square in the denominator:
t2+t+1=(t+21β)2+43β.
So
β«t2+t+11βdt=β«(t+21β)2+(23ββ)21βdt.
Using the formula β«u2+a2duβ=a1βtanβ1(auβ), with u=t+21β and a=23ββ, we get
β«t2+t+11βdt=3β2βtanβ1(3β2t+1β)+C2β.
- Combine results:
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