Q.Integrate the function cos3xelogsinx
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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)∣ …
Simplify the exponential first: elogsinx=sinx, so the integral is
∫cos3xsinxdx.
Let u=cosx, du=−sinxdx: …
Since elogsinx=sinx, the integral is ∫cos3xsinxdx; with u=cosx this gives −4cos4x+C.
1. Undo the exp-log
Exponential and natural log are inverses, so elogsinx=sinx (for sinx>0). The integrand collapses to
cos3xsinx.
2. Substitute
The derivative of cosx is −sinx, and a lone sinx is present, so a clean substitution works. Let u=cosx, so du=−sinxdx, i.e. sinxdx=−du:
∫cos3xsinxdx=∫u3(−du)=−∫u3du=−4u4+C. …
Method: Undo elog(⋅), then substitute
Use this when an exp-of-log wrapper hides a simple factor: cancel it first, then look for a derivative pair to substitute.
Steps
Step 1: Collapse the exponential-log.
elogg(x)=g(x) (valid where g(x)>0). This turns the integrand into an ordinary product of trig powers.
Step 2: Identify the substitution. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not simplifying elogsinx=sinx.
Why it's wrong: leaving the exp-log wrapper hides that the integrand is just cos3xsinx. Correct approach: cancel the exponential and logarithm first.
Mistake 2: Dropping the minus sign from du=−sinxdx. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 32 on this concept.
- 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-2025-04234 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 2024Set eng-2024-06074 marksMCQQ.∫x5ex3dx= (A) 3ex3(x3−1)+C (B) 5ex3(x5−1)+C (C) 4ex3(x4−1)+C (D) 3ex3(x5−1)+C (E) 3x3ex3+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=x3, then integrate ueu by parts.
Let u=x3, so du=3x2dx and x5dx=x3⋅x2dx=3udu. Thus
∫x5ex3dx=31∫ueudu.
By parts, ∫ueudu=ueu−eu=eu(u−1), so …
- 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 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 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 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-2026-04184 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-2025-04254 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.∫(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 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-2025-04234 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. …
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