Harvey Mudd College Math Tutorial:

Integration by Parts
We will use the Product Rule for derivatives to derive a powerful integration formula: Start with (f (x)g (x)) = f (x)g (x) + f (x)g (x). Integrate both sides to get f (x)g (x) = f (x)g (x) dx + f (x)g (x) dx. (We need not include a constant of integration on the left, since the integrals on the right will also have integration constants.) Solve for f (x)g (x) dx, obtaining f (x)g (x) dx = f (x)g (x) f (x)g (x) dx.

This formula frequently allows us to compute a dicult integral by computing a much simpler integral. We often express the Integration by Parts formula as follows: Let u = f (x) du = f (x) dx Then the formula becomes u dv = uv v du. To integrate by parts, strategically choose u, dv and then apply the formula. dv = g (x) dx v = g (x)

Example Lets evaluate Let u=x du = dx Then by integration by parts, xex = xex ex dx xex dx. dv = ex dx v = ex

= xex ex + C.

A Faulty Choice

A Reduction Formula

Integration by parts works on denite integrals as well:

b a

u dv = uv |b a

v du.
a

Example
1

We will evaluate
0

arctan(x) dx.

Let u = arctan(x) 1 du = dx 1 + x2 Then by integration by parts,

1 0

dv = dx v=x

arctan(x) = x arctan(x)|1 0 = x arctan(x)|1 0 =

1 0

x dx 1 + x2

1 1 ln(1 + x2 ) 2 0

1 0 ln(2) 0 4 2 ln( 2). = 4 Sometimes it is necessary to integrate twice by parts in order to compute an integral:

Example Lets compute Let ex cos x dx. u = ex du = ex dx ex cos x dx = ex sin x ex sin x dx. dv = cos x dx v = sin x

Then

It is not clear yet that weve accomplished anything, but now lets integrate the integral on the right-hand side by parts: Now let u = ex du = ex dx ex cos x dx. ex sin x dx, ex cos x dx ex cos x dx. dv = sin x dx v = cos x

So

ex sin x dx = ex cos x +

Substituting this into

ex cos x dx = ex sin x

ex cos x dx = ex sin x ex cos x + = ex sin x + ex cos x

The integal

ex cos x dx appears on both sides on the equation, so we can solve for it: 2 ex cos x dx = ex sin x + ex cos x.

Finally, 1 1 ex cos x dx = ex sin x + ex cos x + C. 2 2

Check by Dierentiating

Key Concept

u dv = uv Choose u, dv in such a way that: 1. u is easy to dierentiate. 2. dv is easy to integrate. 3. v du is easier to compute that u dv .

v du.

Sometimes it is necessary to integrate by parts more than once. [Im ready to take the quiz.] [I need to review more.] [Take me back to the Tutorial Page]