Q.Integrate the following function: tan32xsec2x
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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: Sine Double Angle Integration — rewrite tan32xsec2x in terms of sin2x and cos2x, then use substitution.
Step 1: Write the integrand in sine and cosine:
tan32xsec2x=cos32xsin32x⋅cos2x1=cos42xsin32x.
Step 2: Let u=cos2x, so du=−2sin2xdx. Then sin32xdx=sin22x⋅sin2xdx=(1−cos22x)sin2xdx=(1−u2)⋅(−2du).
Step 3: The integral becomes:
∫cos42xsin32xdx=∫u41−u2⋅(−2du)=−21∫(u−4−u−2)du.
Step 4: Integrate: …
The key idea is to rewrite tan32xsec2x as tan22x⋅(tan2xsec2x), then use the identity tan22x=sec22x−1 and substitute u=sec2x. The integral evaluates to 61sec32x−21sec2x+C.
When you see a product of powers of tan and sec, your first instinct should be to look for a derivative relationship. The derivative of secx is secxtanx, and the derivative of tanx is sec2x. Here, the presence of sec2x multiplied by tan32x suggests that if we isolate one factor of tan2xsec2x, the rest can be expressed in terms of sec2x alone.
Let’s walk through it.
- Rewrite the integrand to expose the derivative of sec2x. Notice that dxd(sec2x)=2sec2xtan2x. So the factor tan2xsec2x is almost a derivative — we just need to account for the chain rule factor of 2. Write:
tan32xsec2x=tan22x⋅(tan2xsec2x).
- Use the Pythagorean identity for tan2. Recall that tan2θ=sec2θ−1. Here θ=2x, so:
tan22x=sec22x−1.
Substituting gives:
tan32xsec2x=(sec22x−1)⋅(tan2xsec2x).
- Substitute u=sec2x. Then du=2sec2xtan2xdx, so sec2xtan2xdx=2du. The integrand becomes:
(sec22x−1)⋅(tan2xsec2x)dx=(u2−1)⋅2du.
- Integrate with respect to u.
∫(u2−1)⋅2du=21∫(u2−1)du=21(3u3−u)+C.
Simplify:
21⋅3u3−21u+C=6u3−2u+C.
- Substitute back u=sec2x. …
Method: Odd power of tan with a sec factor — substitute u=sec
For integrands of the form tanm(⋅)sec(⋅) with m odd, save one sectan pair for the differential, convert the remaining even power of tan to sec, and substitute u=sec(⋅).
Steps
Step 1: Split off a sectan factor.
tan3θsecθ=tan2θ⋅(secθtanθ)
The secθtanθ is what pairs with dx.
Step 2: Convert the leftover tan2 to sec2−1.
tan2θ=sec2θ−1
so the integrand is (sec2θ−1)secθtanθ.
Step 3: Substitute u=secθ. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Saving the wrong factor for the differential.
Why it's wrong: with an odd power of tan and a sec present, you must reserve secθtanθ (the derivative of secθ), not sec2θ. Reserving sec2 here fails because only one sec is available. Correct approach: write tan32xsec2x=(sec22x−1)sec2xtan2x and set u=sec2x. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04174 marksMCQQ.∫xx+1dx= (A) 34(x+1)23+C (B) 32(x+1)23+C (C) 34(x+1)43+C (D) 31(x+1)23+C (E) 43(x+1)23+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=x+1.
With u=x+1, du=2x1dx, i.e. xdx=2du. Then …
- 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 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.∫(2ex+5)310exdx is equal to (A) 2(2ex+5)25+C (B) (2ex+5)2−5+C (C) (2ex+5)2−10+C (D) 2(2ex+5)2−5+C (E) (2ex+5)25+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=2ex+5, du=2exdx, giving 5∫u−3du=−2(2ex+5)25+C.
Let u=2ex+5, so du=2exdx, i.e. exdx=2du. Then …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.∫(27x3(1−x3))32dx= (A) −43(1−x3)34+C (B) −53(1−x3)35+C (C) −39(1−x3)31+C (D) −49(1−x3)34+C (E) −59(1−x3)35+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Simplify to 9x2(1−x3)2/3, then substitute u=1−x3 to obtain −59(1−x3)5/3+C.
Since (27x3(1−x3))2/3=272/3(x3)2/3(1−x3)2/3=9x2(1−x3)2/3, let u=1−x3, du=−3x2dx, so x2dx=−3du: …
- 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 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQQ.∫(13+36sin2tsint+cost)dt is equal to (A) 841log7−6(sint−cost)7+6(sint−cost)+C (B) 811log7−6(sint−cost)7+6(sint−cost)+C (C) 841log7+6(sint−cost)7−6(sint−cost)+C (D) 481log7−6(sint−cost)7+6(sint−cost)+C (E) 641log7−6(sint−cost)7+6(sint−cost)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Let u=sint−cost; the numerator becomes du and 13+36sin2t=49−36u2, giving a standard a2−k2u2du integral.
Set u=sint−cost. Then
du=(cost+sint)dt,
which is exactly the numerator, and
u2=1−2sintcost=1−sin2t⇒sin2t=1−u2.
So the denominator is
13+36sin2t=13+36(1−u2)=49−36u2.
Hence
∫49−36u2du=∫72−(6u)2du. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.∫1−x2sin−1xdx= (A) 21(sin−1x)2+C (B) −(sin−1x)1−x2+C (C) (sin−1x)1−x2+x+C (D) (sin−1x)1−x2−x+C (E) (sin−1x)2+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting u=sin^{-1}x turns the integral into u du = (1/2)(sin^{-1}x)^2 + C.
Concept and Intuition
The factor 1/sqrt(1-x^2) is exactly the derivative of sin^{-1}x, so the substitution u = sin^{-1}x collapses the integral.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u = sin^{-1}x, then du = dx/sqrt(1-x^2).
- The integral becomes integral of u du. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.∫x7(x8+1)−3/4dx= (A) 21(1+x81)1/4+C (B) 4(1+x81)1/4+C (C) (x8+1)1/4+C (D) 4(x8+1)1/4+C (E) 21(x8+1)1/4+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substituting u=x^8+1 gives (1/2)(x^8+1)^{1/4} + C.
Concept and Intuition
The presence of x^7 alongside x^8 signals the substitution u = x^8 + 1, whose differential absorbs x^7 dx.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u = x^8 + 1, then du = 8 x^7 dx, so x^7 dx = du/8.
- Integral = (1/8) integral of u^{-3/4} du.
- = (1/8) * u^{1/4}/(1/4) = (1/8)4u^{1/4} = (1/2)u^{1/4}. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04234 marksMCQQ.∫ex(x2−2)cos(ex(x2−2x))dx= (A) sin(ex(x2−2x))+C (B) sin(ex(x2−2))+C (C) x2exsin(ex(x2−2))+C (D) exsin(ex(x2−2))+C (E) exsin(x2ex−2xex)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Since d/dx[e^x(x^2-2x)] = e^x(x^2-2), the integral is sin(e^x(x^2-2x)) + C.
Concept and Intuition
Look for the outer function's argument, g(x) = e^x(x^2-2x), and check whether the rest of the integrand is exactly g'(x); if so the integral is a direct substitution.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let g(x) = e^x(x^2 - 2x).
- g'(x) = e^x(x^2-2x) + e^x(2x-2) = e^x(x^2 - 2), which is exactly the prefactor. …
- KEAM 2025Set eng-2025-04254 marksMCQQ.∫2x+5sec2(2x+5)dx= (A) 2tan(2x+5)+C (B) 21tan(2x+5)+C (C) tan(2x+5)+C (D) tan(2x+5)+C (E) 2tan(2x+5)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=2x+5; the differential cancels the 2x+51 factor.
Let u=2x+5. Then
du=22x+51⋅2dx=2x+5dx.
So the integral becomes …
- 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 2025Set eng-2025-04264 marksMCQQ.If ∫x7(x61+1)2/31dx=−21x61+11p+c, then p= (A) 32 (B) 3−1 (C) 31 (D) 3−2 (E) 61
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=x61+1; the result is −21u1/3, matched to the given form −21(1/u)p gives p=−1/3.
Let u=x61+1, so du=−x76dx, i.e. x7dx=−6du.
∫x7u−2/3dx=∫u−2/3(−6du)=−61⋅1/3u1/3=−21u1/3+c. …
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