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).
Setu=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 backu=g(x).
Watch out
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:
The integral ∫xcosxdx is solved by substituting u=x, which simplifies the integrand to 2cosu. The final answer is 2sinx+C.
The key to this problem is noticing that the derivative of x is 2x1, and we have a x1 factor sitting right next to cosx. That’s a dead giveaway for U Substitution — we let the inner function be u, and the rest of the integrand becomes its derivative (up to a constant factor).
Let’s walk through it.
Set up the substitution.
Let u=x. Then x=u2, so dx=2udu.
Why this choice? Because x appears inside the cosine, and its derivative 2x1 is almost exactly the x1 we have. The substitution will collapse the whole expression into something clean.
Rewrite the integral in terms of u.
The original integral is
∫xcosxdx.
Replace x with u, and dx with 2udu:
∫xcosu⋅2udu.
But x=u, so x1=u1. That gives:
∫ucosu⋅2udu=∫2cosudu.
The u cancels beautifully — that’s the whole point of the substitution.