Q.Integrate the following function: 1+2x43x
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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)∣ …
Since x4=(x2)2 and the top has an x, substitute u=x2.
With u=x2, du=2xdx so xdx=2du:
∫1+2x43xdx=23∫1+2u2du=43∫u2+21du.
This is the standard form ∫u2+A2du=A1tan−1Au with A=21:
43⋅2tan−1(2u)+C=432tan−1(2x2)+C. …
The substitution u=x2 turns this into an arctangent integral, giving 432tan−1(2x2)+C.
Choose the substitution
The denominator involves x4=(x2)2 and the numerator carries a single x — a textbook cue for u=x2, because du=2xdx absorbs that x. Then xdx=2du and
∫1+2x43xdx=∫1+2u23⋅2du=23∫1+2u2du.
Match the arctangent form
Factor the 2 out of the denominator: 1+2u2=2(u2+21), so
23∫2(u2+21)du=43∫u2+(21)2du.
With A=21, use ∫u2+A2du=A1tan−1Au:
43⋅1/21tan−1(1/2u)+C=43⋅2tan−1(2u)+C=432tan−1(2u)+C.
Back-substitute and check …
Method: Substitute u=x2 to reach an arctangent standard form
When the numerator has an odd power of x that is (a constant times) the derivative of x2, and the denominator is a function of x4, substitute u=x2 to reduce it to a 1+ku21 arctangent form.
Steps
Step 1: Substitute u=x2.
u=x2,du=2xdx ⇒ xdx=21du
Note x4=u2.
Step 2: Rewrite the integral.
∫1+2x43xdx=23∫1+2u2du
Step 3: Apply the arctangent standard form. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Substituting u=x4 instead of u=x2.
Why it's wrong: the numerator is xdx, which is 21d(x2), not d(x4); choosing u=x4 leaves an unmatched power of x. Correct approach: set u=x2 so xdx=21du and x4=u2.
Mistake 2: Dropping the 21 from the arctangent standard form. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06094 marksMCQQ.∫x2(x4+1)3/4dx= (A) −(x4+1)1/4+C (B) (x4+1)1/4+C (C) −(x4x4+1)1/4+C (D) (x4x4+1)+C (E) (x4x4+1)3/4+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factor x4 out of the radical; with u=1+x−4, du=−4x−5dx, the integral becomes −u1/4=−(x4x4+1)1/4+C.
Write (x4+1)3/4=x3(1+x−4)3/4, so
∫x2(x4+1)3/4dx=∫x5(1+x−4)3/4dx. …
- KEAM 2023Set eng-2023-P2-B24 marksMCQQ.∫sin2x+2cos2x2tanx+3dx= (A) 23sin−1(2sinx)+lnsin2x+2+C (B) 23tan−1(2tanx)+lntan2x+2+C (C) 21tan−1(2tanx)−lntan2x+2+C (D) 23cos−1(2cosx)+lnsin2x+2+C (E) 21cos−1(2cosx)−lncos2x+2+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integral is 23tan−1(2tanx)+log∣tan2x+2∣+C.
Concept and Intuition
Divide numerator and denominator by cos2x to convert everything into tanx, then substitute t=tanx.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Dividing by cos2x: integrand =tan2x+2(2tanx+3)sec2x.
- Let t=tanx,dt=sec2xdx: ∫t2+22t+3dt.
- Split: ∫t2+22tdt=log(t2+2) and ∫t2+23dt=23tan−12t.
Common Mistakes …
- 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 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 2022Set eng-2022-P2-B14 marksMCQQ.∫x311−x21dx= (A) 6−1(1−x21)23+C (B) 31(1−x21)23+C (C) 3−1(1−x21)23+C (D) 34(1−x21)23+C (E) 3−4(1−x21)23+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integral equals 31(1−x21)3/2+C.
Concept and Intuition
The derivative of 1−x21 is x32, which matches the x31 factor outside the root, so a substitution linearizes the integral.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let u=1−x21.
- du=x32dx⇒x3dx=2du.
- ∫x311−x21dx=∫u2du=21⋅3/2u3/2.
- =21⋅32u3/2=31u3/2=31(1−x21)3/2+C. …
- KEAM 2024Set eng-2024-06064 marksMCQQ.∫0π/4(tan3x+tan5x)dx= (A) 125 (B) 31 (C) 41 (D) 61 (E) 121
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factor out tan3xsec2x and substitute u=tanx to get 41.
tan3x+tan5x=tan3x(1+tan2x)=tan3xsec2x.
Let u=tanx, du=sec2xdx. Limits: x=0→u=0, x=4π→u=1. …
- 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. …
- 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 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-2025-04294 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-2024-06064 marksMCQQ.∫x4+3x2+1x2−1dx= (A) 31tan−1(3xx2+1)+C (B) tan−1(x2−1)+C (C) tan−1(x−x1)+C (D) 51tan−1(5xx2+1)+C (E) tan−1(x+x1)+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The substitution u=x+x1 turns it into ∫u2+1du=tan−1(x+x1)+C.
Divide numerator and denominator by x2:
x4+3x2+1x2−1=x2+3+x211−x21. …
- 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: …
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