(g(x))g
(x)dx. (1)
This is done by recalling the Chain rule for nding the derivative of a com-
posite function of the form f(g(x)) given by
d
dx
[f(g(x))] = f
(g(x)) g
(x).
Hence, we have the following
(g(x))g
(x)dx =
d
dx
[f(g(x))]dx = f(g(x)) + C. (2)
An alternative way for evaluating integral (1) is to let u(x) = g(x). In this
case, the dierential of u is du = g
(g(x))g
(x)dx =
3x
2
cos x
3
dx =
xe
x
2
+1
dx =
1
2
2xe
x
2
+1
dx
=
1
2
e
u
du =
e
u
2
+ C
=
1
2
e
x
2
+1
+ C.
You may wonder why
1
2
e
u
du =
1
2
e
u
+ C and not
1
2
e
u
du =
1
2
(e
u
+ C) =
e
u
2
+
C
2
. The convention is always to add C to whatever antiderivative we
have calculated.
Example 1.3
Find
x
3
x
4
+ 5dx.
Solution.
Let u(x) = x
4
+ 5. Then du = 4x
3
dx. Thus,
x
3
x
4
+ 5dx =
1
4
4x
3
x
4
+ 5dx
=
1
4
udu =
1
4
u
1
2
du
=
1
4
u
3
2
3
2
+ C
=
1
6
(x
4
+ 5)
3
2
+ C
In some situations, the integrand consists of a fraction having a function in
the denominator and its derivative in the numerator. This leads to a natural
logarithm as seen in the next two examples.
Example 1.4
Find
e
x
e
x
+1
dx.
2
Solution.
Let u(x) = e
x
+ 1. Then du = e
x
dx. Thus,
e
x
e
x
+ 1
dx =
du
u
= ln|u| + C (4)
=ln|e
x
+ 1| + C = ln(e
x
+ 1) + C.
Note that |e
x
+ 1| = e
x
+ 1 since e
x
+ 1 > 0 for all x
Example 1.5
Find
tanxdx.
Solution.
Since tanx =
sin x
cos x
, we let u(x) = cos x and we nd that du = sinxdx.
Therefore
tanxdx =
du
u
= ln|u| + C = ln| cos x| + C
Next, we discuss the evaluation of a denite integral using the technique
of substitution. From (2) we have that f(g(x)) is an antiderivative of the
function f
(g(x))g
b
a
f
(g(x))g
(x)dx = f(g(x))|
b
a
= f(g(b)) f(g(a)).
If we let u(x) = g(x) then the previous formula reduces to
b
a
f
(g(x))g
g(b)
g(a)
f
(u)du.
Warning: When evaluating denite integrals, there is no constant of inte-
gration in the nal answer. Also, when converting the original limits to new
limits then use these limits with the new variable. You DO NOT need to
convert back to the original variable.
Example 1.6
Compute
2
0
xe
x
2
dx.
3
Solution.
Let u(x) = x
2
. Then du = 2xdx, u(0) = 0, and u(2) = 4. Thus,
2
0
xe
x
2
dx =
1
2
4
0
e
u
du =
e
u
2
4
0
=
1
2
(e
4
1)
Example 1.7
Compute
4
0
tan
3
x
cos
2
x
dx.
Solution.
Let u(x) = tanx. Then du =
dx
cos
2
x
, u(0) = 0, and u(
4
) = 1. Thus,
4
0
tan
3
x
cos
2
x
dx =
1
0
u
3
du =
u
4
4
1
0
=
1
4
Example 1.8
Find
1 +
xdx.
Solution.
Let u = 1 +
x. Then du =
dx
2
x
=
dx
2(u1)
or dx = 2(u 1)du. Thus,
1 +
xdx =
u(u 1)du =
(2u
u 2
u)du
=
(2u
3
2
2u
1
2
)du
=2
u
5
2
5
2
2
u
3
2
3
2
+ C
=
4
5
(1 +
x)
5
2
4
3
(1 +
x)
3
2
+ C
Remark 1.1
As you have noticed by now, one learns how to pick the right substitution
from experience. However, keep in mind that remembering most of the
dierentiation formulas is crucial!
4