Q.Evaluate ∫ (x² + 1)/(x⁴ + 1) dx. OR Evaluate ∫ dx / (x³ - 1).
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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)∣ …
Dividing through by x squared and substituting t equals x minus one over x turns the denominator into t squared plus 2, giving a standard arctangent integral. …
Divide through by x2 and substitute t=x−x1 so that x2+x21=t2+2, reducing the integral to a standard ∫t2+a2dt form.
Divide numerator and denominator by x2:
∫x4+1x2+1dx=∫x2+x211+x21dx
Let t=x−x1, so dt=(1+x21)dx. Also, t2=x2−2+x21, so x2+x21=t2+2.
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Showing the 12 most recent of 44 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.If ∫b2+c2x23axdx=Alog∣b2+c2x2∣+K, then the value of A is: (A) 3a (B) 2b23a (C) b2c23a (D) 2c23a
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integral fits the pattern ∫udu=log∣u∣+C after a substitution. The constant A turns out to be 2c23a, which corresponds to option (D).
The problem gives you the result of an integral and asks you to identify the constant A that makes the equation true. This is a classic "match the form" question — you don't need to guess; you just need to perform the integration carefully and compare.
The key insight is that the integrand b2+c2x23ax is a rational function where the numerator is almost the derivative of the denominator. The derivative of b2+c2x2 is 2c2x. Our numerator is 3ax, which is a constant multiple of x. So a simple substitution u=b2+c2x2 will turn the integral into ∫udu.
Let's work through it step by step.
-
Set up the substitution.
Let u=b2+c2x2. Then du=2c2xdx, so xdx=2c2du.
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Rewrite the integral in terms of u.
The integral is ∫b2+c2x23axdx=∫u3a⋅(xdx).
Substitute xdx=2c2du:
∫u3a⋅2c2du=2c23a∫udu.
- Integrate. ∫udu=log∣u∣+C, so
2c23alog∣u∣+C=2c23alog∣b2+c2x2∣+K,
where K is the constant of integration (we renamed C to K to match the problem).
- Compare with the given form. …
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- CBSE 2026Set CX1 markQ.Find the value of the integral ∫x2tan(x3+2)dx.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=x3+2; the integral becomes 31∫tanudu=31ln∣sec(x3+2)∣+C.
Concept: The factor x2 is (up to a constant) the derivative of the inner function x3+2, so substitution works.
Let u=x3+2⇒du=3x2dx⇒x2dx=3du.
…
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.∫1−x2tan(sin−1x)dx=(a) log∣sec(sin−1x)∣+k(b) log∣cos(sin−1x)∣+k(c) tan(sin−1x)+k(d) log∣sin−1x∣+k
›Reveal solutionSolution
With u=sin−1x (so du=1−x2dx) the integral is ∫tanudu=log∣secu∣+k.
Let u=sin−1x. Then du=1−x2dx, so
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- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.∫ex+e−xdx=(a) cot−1(ex)+k(b) tan−1(ex)+k(c) log∣ex+1∣+k(d) sin−1(ex)+k
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute t=ex: ∫ex+e−xdx=∫1+t2dt=tan−1(ex)+k.
Multiply numerator and denominator by ex:
ex+e−x1=e2x+1ex.
Let t=ex, dt=exdx. Then
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- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫sin(2x+3)dx=(a) cos(2x+3)+C(b) −2cos(2x+3)+C(c) tan2x+C(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫sin(ax+b)dx=−acos(ax+b)+C.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫1ex(logx)2dx=(a) 31e3(b) 31(e3−1)(c) 31(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=logx, du=dx/x, converting the limits from x=1,e to u=0,1.
Let u=logx⇒du=xdx. When x=1,u=0; when x=e,u=1.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫x(1+logx)1dx is equal to:(a) x+logx+c(b) ∣x+logx∣+c(c) log∣1+logx∣+c(d) log(1+x)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=1+logx so du=xdx, turning the integral into ∫udu.
I=∫x(1+logx)1dx
Let u=1+logx⇒du=x1dx.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫cos8xsin6xdx is equal to:
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite the integrand as tan6xsec2x and substitute t=tanx.
I=∫cos8xsin6xdx=∫cos6xsin6x⋅cos2x1dx=∫tan6xsec2xdx
Let t=tanx⇒dt=sec2xdx. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.\int x^2 e^{x^3} dx equals:(a)(i) \frac{e^{x^3}}{3} + c(b)(ii) 3e^{x^3} + c(c)(iii) \frac{e^{x^2}}{3} + c(d)(iv) \frac{1}{2}e^{x^2} + c
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫x2ex3dx=3ex3+c — option (i).
Concept. Substitution (u-substitution): choose u whose derivative already appears (up to a constant) in the integrand.
Steps.
- Let u=x3, then du=3x2dx, i.e. x2dx=31du. …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫1+sin2xcosxdx=(a) −tan−1(sinx)+c(b) tan−1(cosx)+c(c) tan−1(sinx)+c(d) −tan−1(cosx)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
A direct substitution u = sin x reduces this to the standard ∫du/(1+u²) form.
Let u=sinx, so du=cosxdx.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate ∫ 2x sin(1 - x^2) dx.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=1−x2 so du=−2xdx, turning the integral into a simple ∫sinudu.
Let u=1−x2. Then dxdu=−2x⇒2xdx=−du.
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate: ∫23x2+1xdx
›Reveal solutionSolution
Substitute u=x2+1 so the integrand becomes 21∫udu, then apply the given limits (2 to 3) directly.
∫23x2+1xdx
Let u=x2+1, so du=2xdx, i.e. xdx=2du.
∫x2+1xdx=21∫udu=21ln∣u∣=21ln(x2+1)
Applying the limits exactly as given (lower limit x=2, upper limit x=3):
[21ln(x2+1)]23=21ln(3+1)−21ln(4+1)=21ln4−21ln5=21ln54
…
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