Q.Integrate the following function: 1−tanx1
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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)∣ …
Concept: method of substitution. Convert to sines and cosines, then split the numerator.
Since tanx=cosxsinx,
1−tanx1=cosx−sinxcosx.
Write the numerator as a combination of the denominator and its derivative-partner:
cosx=21[(cosx−sinx)+(cosx+sinx)],
so
cosx−sinxcosx=21(1+cosx−sinxcosx+sinx).
In the second term, dxd(cosx−sinx)=−(sinx+cosx), so its numerator is exactly the negative of that derivative: …
Rewrite 1−tanx1 as cosx−sinxcosx, split cosx into half the sum of (cosx−sinx) and (cosx+sinx), and integrate the two easy pieces. Final answer: 2x−21log∣cosx−sinx∣+C.
Step 1 — Write in sines and cosines
Using tanx=cosxsinx,
1−tanx1=1−cosxsinx1=cosx−sinxcosx.
So we must find I=∫cosx−sinxcosxdx.
Step 2 — The splitting trick
We want the numerator expressed through the denominator cosx−sinx and its "partner" cosx+sinx (whose combination gives the derivative of the denominator). Notice
(cosx−sinx)+(cosx+sinx)=2cosx,
so
cosx=21[(cosx−sinx)+(cosx+sinx)].
Dividing by cosx−sinx,
cosx−sinxcosx=21(1+cosx−sinxcosx+sinx).
Step 3 — Integrate the two pieces
I=21∫1dx+21∫cosx−sinxcosx+sinxdx.
The first piece is 2x.
For the second piece, put u=cosx−sinx. Then
du=(−sinx−cosx)dx=−(cosx+sinx)dx,
so (cosx+sinx)dx=−du and …
Method: Decompose numerator into denominator plus its derivative
Use this for 1−tanx1-type integrals: rewrite in sines/cosines, then split the numerator as A(denominator)+B(its derivative) so one part integrates to x and the other to a log.
Steps
Step 1: Convert to sine and cosine.
1−tanx1=1−cosxsinx1=cosx−sinxcosx.
Step 2: Match numerator to A(cosx−sinx)+B(−sinx−cosx). …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not converting 1−tanx1 to cosx−sinxcosx.
Why it's wrong: the integral is intractable until written in sines and cosines. Correct approach: use tanx=cosxsinx and simplify.
Mistake 2: Skipping the Af+Bf′ split. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.
- KEAM 2021Set eng-2021-P2-B14 marksMCQQ.∫cos2xcos(tanx)dx= (A) (tanx)sin(tanx)+C (B) sin(tanx)+C (C) sec(tanx)+C (D) (cosx)sin(tanx)+C (E) cos2(tanx)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫cos2xcos(tanx)dx=sin(tanx)+C.
Concept and Intuition
The factor 1/cos2x=sec2x is exactly the derivative of tanx, so substituting u=tanx linearizes the integral.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Rewrite as ∫cos(tanx)sec2xdx.
- Let u=tanx, du=sec2xdx. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQQ.∫1+x2sin(cot−1x)dx is equal to (A) −cos(cot−1x)+C (B) cos(cot−1x)+C (C) 1+x2cos(cot−1x)+C (D) 2cos(cot−1x)+C (E) 1+x2−cos(cot−1x)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=cot−1x so du=−1+x2dx.
Let u=cot−1x⇒du=−1+x2dx, i.e. 1+x2dx=−du. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04294 marksMCQQ.∫cosx2sin2xdx= (A) 21tanx+C (B) tanx+C (C) 2tanx+C (D) 4tanx+C (E) 3tanx+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing 2sin2x=4sinxcosx reduces the integrand to 21sec2x(tanx)−1/2; with u=tanx this integrates to tanx+C.
Use sin2x=2sinxcosx, so 2sin2x=4sinxcosx and 2sin2x=2sinxcosx. Then …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06054 marksMCQQ.∫(secx+tanx)2secxdx= (A) 5(secx+tanx)42+C (B) 2(secx+tanx)2−1+C (C) 3(secx+tanx)3/22+C (D) 3(secx+tanx)3−2+C (E) (secx+tanx)2+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The substitution u=secx+tanx turns it into ∫u−3du.
Let u=secx+tanx. Then du=(secxtanx+sec2x)dx=secx(tanx+secx)dx=secxudx, so secxdx=udu. Hence …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06054 marksMCQQ.∫tan12x+1tan5xsec2xdx is equal to (A) 61tan−1[tan6x]+C (B) 21tan−1[tan6x]+C (C) 41tan−1[tan4x]+C (D) 31tan−1[tan3x]+C (E) 71tan−1[tan7x]+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=tan6x; the integral reduces to 61∫u2+1du=61tan−1(tan6x)+C.
Let u=tan6x. Then du=6tan5xsec2xdx, so tan5xsec2xdx=6du.
Also tan12x=(tan6x)2=u2. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04254 marksMCQQ.The value of ∫0π/3costtantdt is equal to (A) 21 (B) 2−1 (C) 2 (D) −2 (E) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write costtant=cos2tsint; its antiderivative is sect.
costtant=cos2tsint.
With u=cost, du=−sintdt, the antiderivative is cost1=sect. Thus …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.∫sinx+cosxsecxsecxdx= (A) 2(tanx−loge(tanx+1))+C (B) 2(tanx+loge(tanx+1))+C (C) 2tanx−loge(tanx+1)+C (D) 2tanx+loge(tanx+1)+C (E) tanx−loge(tanx+1)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factor sinx+cosx=cosx(tanx+1) to reduce the integrand to tanx+1sec2x; substituting u=tanx gives option (A).
Write the denominator as sinx+cosx=cosx(tanx+1). The numerator is secxsecx=cos−3/2x, so
cosx(tanx+1)cos−3/2x=tanx+1cos−2x=tanx+1sec2x.
Let t=tanx, dt=sec2xdx, then u=t, t=u2, dt=2udu: …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04274 marksMCQQ.∫2−sin2θcosθdθ= (A) 21log2+sinθ2−sinθ+C (B) 21log2−sinθ2+sinθ+C (C) log2−sinθ2+sinθ+C (D) 21log2−sinθ2+sinθ+C (E) 221log2−sinθ2+sinθ+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitution u=sinθ gives ∫2−u2du=221log2−sinθ2+sinθ+C.
Let u=sinθ, so du=cosθdθ. The integral becomes
∫2−u2du=∫(2)2−u2du.
Using the standard result ∫a2−u2du=2a1loga−ua+u+C with a=2: …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04284 marksMCQQ.∫cos2/3xsin4/3xdx is (A) 3tan3x+C (B) 3tan1/3x+C (C) −3tan1/3x+C (D) −3tan−1/3x+C (E) 3tan−1/3x+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite as sec2xtan−4/3xdx; sub t=tanx to get ∫t−4/3dt=−3t−1/3=−3tan−1/3x+C.
The integrand cos2/3xsin4/3x1 has denominator powers summing to 2, so factor out cos2x. Multiplying numerator and denominator by cos4/3x (equivalently dividing top and bottom by cos2x): …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04264 marksMCQQ.∫(secx+tanx)9secxdx= (A) 91(secx+tanx)9+C (B) 9−1(secx+tanx)9+C (C) 9−1(secx+tanx)−9+C (D) 91(secx+tanx)−9+C (E) (secx+tanx)−9+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=secx+tanx; then secxdx=du/u.
Let u=secx+tanx. Then du=(secxtanx+sec2x)dx=secx(tanx+secx)dx=secxudx, so secxdx=udu. …
- KEAM 2022Set eng-2022-P2-B14 marksMCQQ.∫cos27xsin25xdx is equal to (A) 26sin26(x)+C (B) 26cos26(x)+C (C) tan26(x)+C (D) 26tan26(x)+C (E) 26tan26(x)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integral equals 26tan26x+C.
Concept and Intuition
Split off a sec2x factor so the rest becomes a power of tanx, then substitute u=tanx.
Step-by-Step Solution
- cos27xsin25x=tan25x⋅cos2x1=tan25xsec2x.
- Let u=tanx⇒du=sec2xdx.
- ∫tan25xsec2xdx=∫u25du=26u26+C.
- =26tan26x+C.
Common Mistakes …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04264 marksMCQQ.∫0π/21+sinx1dx= (A) 2 (B) 21 (C) 41 (D) 1 (E) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalise the denominator, integrate sec2x−secxtanx.
Multiply numerator and denominator by 1−sinx:
1+sinx1=1−sin2x1−sinx=cos2x1−sinx=sec2x−secxtanx. …
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