Integral calculus
43
Integration by parts
43.1 Introduction
From the product rule of differentiation:
d
dx
(uv)=v
du
dx
+u
dv
dx
,
whereuandvare both functions ofx.
Rearranging gives:u
dv
dx
=
d
dx
(uv)−v
du
dx
Integrating both sides with respect toxgives:
∫
u
dv
dx
dx=
∫
d
dx
(uv)dx−
∫
v
du
dx
dx
i.e.
∫
u
dv
dx
dx=uv−
∫
v
du
dx
dx
or
∫
udv=uv−
∫
vdu
This is known as the integration by parts for-
mulaand provides a method of integrating such
products of simple functions as
∫
xexdx,
∫
∫ tsintdt,
eθcosθdθand
∫
xlnxdx.
Given a product of two terms to integrate the ini-
tial choice is: ‘which part to make equal tou’ and
‘which part to make equal tov’. The choice must
be such that the ‘upart’ becomes a constant after
successive differentiation and the ‘dvpart’ can be
integrated from standard integrals. Invariable, the
following rule holds: If a product to be integrated
contains an algebraic term (such asx,t^2 or 3θ) then
this term is chosen as theupart. The one exception
to this rule is when a ‘lnx’ term is involved; in this
case lnxis chosen as the ‘upart’.
43.2 Worked problems on integration
by parts
Problem 1. Determine
∫
xcosxdx.
From the integration by parts formula,
∫
udv=uv−
∫
vdu
Letu=x, from which
du
dx
=1, i.e. du=dxand let
dv=cosxdx, from whichv=
∫
cosxdx=sinx.
Expressions foru,duandvare now substituted
into the ‘by parts’ formula as shown below.
i.e.
∫
xcosxdx=xsinx−(−cosx)+c
=xsinx+cosx+c
[This result may be checked by differentiating the
right hand side,
i.e.
d
dx
(xsinx+cosx+c)
=[(x)(cosx)+(sinx)(1)]−sinx+ 0
using the product rule
=xcosx, which is the function
being integrated]
Problem 2. Find
∫
3 te^2 tdt.
Letu= 3 t, from which,
du
dt
=3, i.e. du=3dtand
let dv=e^2 tdt, from which,v=
∫
e^2 tdt=
1
2
e^2 t
Substituting into
∫
udv=uv−
∫
vdugives:
∫
3 te^2 tdt=(3t)
(
1
2
e^2 t
)
−
∫ (
1
2
e^2 t
)
(3 dt)