National Junior College Mathematics Department 2015

Integration Techniques Summary

Integrand
f ( x )
f( x )

sin2 x, cos2 x

How to integrate
f ( x )
dx = ln f( x ) + c

f( x )

Use the double-angle formula:

x
1- x 2

sin

cos

cos 2 x 1- 2sin2 x
1- cos 2 x
sin2 x
2
cos 2 x 2cos2 x
1+ cos 2 x
cos2 x
2

Example
1 -2 x
dx = -
dx
2 1- x 2
1
= - ln 1- x 2 + c
2

1 1
x dx = - cos 2 x dx
2 2
1
1
= x - sin 2 x + c
2
4

Pointers

The double-angle formulae can be found

inside MF15.

The identity sec 2 x 1 + tan2 x is NOT

inside MF15.

The relevant integral formulae can be

found inside MF15.

For integrands that will give ln after

integrating, a modulus needs to be
included (adjusted from the formulae in
MF15).

The question may require you to

integrate expressions that can be
reduced to one or more of these forms
using partial factions e.g.

1 1
x dx = + cos 2 x dx
2 2
1
1
= x + sin 2 x + c
2
4

Then integrate using standard

forms.
Use
the
identity
2
2
sec x 1+ tan x, then integrate
using standard forms.

tan2 x

x -a
1
1

+c
dx =
ln
2
2
a -x
2a x + a

1
,
a - x2
1
2
x - a2
2

1
1 a+x

+c
dx =
ln
2
2
x -a
2a a - x

tan

x dx = sec 2 x - 1 dx
= tan x - x + c

1
1 dx =
dx
2
2
9- x
3 - x2
=

1
x -3
ln
+c
2 3 x + 3

1 x -3
ln
+c
6 x +3

1
1

dx =
dx

2
4x 2 - 9
(2 x ) - 32
1
2
dx

2
2 (2 x ) - 32

1 1
3 + 2x
ln
=
+ c
2 2 3 3 - 2 x

1
a -x
1
2
x + a2
2

-1 x
x
d
sin
=
+c

a
a2 - x 2

x
1
1

dx = tan-1 + c
2
2
a
x +a
a

2
9 x + x - 13
dx

(2x - 5)( x 2 + 9)

1 3 + 2x
ln
+c
12 3 - 2 x

Refer
to
the
partial
fractions
decomposition section in MF15 to
decompose properly:

1
1

dx =
dx

16 - 9 x 2
42 - (3 x )2
=

1
3
dx

3 42 - (3 x )2

1 -1 3 x
sin + c
4
3

2
9 x + x - 13

(2 x - 5)( x 2 + 9)

3
3x + 8
=
+ 2
dx
2x - 5 x + 9
3
3x
8
=
+ 2
+ 2
dx
2x - 5 x + 9 x + 9
8
3 2 3 2 x
=
+ 2
+ 2
dx

2 2 x - 5 2 x + 9 x + 32

1
1

dx =
dx

2
2
16 + 9 x
4 + (3 x )2

x
3
3
8
= ln 2 x - 5 + ln ( x 2 + 9) + tan-1
3
2
2
3
+c
x
3
8
= ln (2 x - 5)( x 2 + 9) + tan-1 + c
3
2
3

1
1
=
dx
2
3 4 + (3 x )2
3 x
11
= tan-1 + c
4
3 4
=
tan x, cot x
sec x, cosec x

tan x dx = ln sec x + c

3x
1
tan-1 + c
4
12

N.A.

cot x dx = -ln cosec x + c

sec x dx = ln sec x + tan x + c
cosec x dx = ln cosec x + cot x
+c

Page 1 of 2

The relevant integral formulae can be

found inside MF15, but need to be
adjusted to include a modulus each.

National Junior College Mathematics Department 2015

Integrate
by
substitution

Procedure

Example

Pointers

By using the substitution x = 2 sin q , find

Step 1:
Using
the
substitution
provided, differentiate x with
respect to the new variable, q ,
so as to obtain the relationship
dx
"dx =
dq " .
dq

4 - x 2 dx .

x = 2sin q
dx
= 2cos q
dq
" dx = 2cos q dq ".

dx
dq " must include a
dq
pair of inverted commas as this serves
mainly as a mnemonic and is strictly speaking
not mathematically correct. You may be
penalised if you do not include the inverted
commas.

For definite integrals, you need to perform

the additional step of replacing the limits of
integration as well e.g.
p
x = 3 2 sin = 3 = , and
3
p
x = 1 2 sin = 1 = , so
6

Step 2:
4 - x 2 dx

Replace all the terms in x by

2

q . Change the operator

= 4 - (2sin q ) 2cos q d
dx to dq by using the

relationship obtained in Step 1.

The relationship "dx =

3
1

3
2
4 - x dx = 4 - (2 sin q ) 2cos q d
p

Angle values must be expressed in radians for

all calculus problems i.e. differentiation &
integration problems.
Step 3:
=
Simplify the integrand where
necessary.
=

4 - 4 sin q 2cos q d
4cos2 q 2cos q d

You need to be familiar with your algebraic

manipulations, in particular trigonometric
identities, so as to apply them to simplify your
integrand when the need arises. (Many, but
not all, of these identities can be found inside
MF15.)

You are not allowed to leave your answers in

the form such as

x
x
x
2sin-1 + 2sin sin-1 cos sin-1 .
2

2
2

For definite integrals, step 5 is not necessary.

Instead, evaluate the expression in terms of
directly e.g.
p /3
= [ 2 + sin2q ]p /6

= (2cos q ) 2cos q d
= 4cos2 q d
= 2 + 2cos 2q d

= 2 + sin2q + c

Step 4: Integrate.

Step 5:
Replace all the = 2 + 2sin q cos q + c
terms in q back to the original
= 2 + 2sin q 1- sin2 q + c
variable x.
2

x
x
-1 x

= 2sin + 2 1- + c
2
2
2

x 1
= 2sin-1 + x 4 - x 2 + c
2 2

p
2p p
p p
= 2 + sin - 2 + sin =
3
3 6
3 3
parts

Use the formula

uv dx
du
= u v dx -
dx

e sin x dx
= (sin x ) e dx - (cos x ) e dx
= e sin x - {(cos x ) e dx - (- sin x ) e

E.g. 1.

( v d x ) dx

dx

Algebraic (e.g. x3, 1- x 2 )

Trigonometric (e.g. sin x)
Exponential (e.g. ex)

= e x sin x - e x cos x - e x sin x dx

\ 2 e x sin x dx = e x sin x - e x cos x
e x sin x dx =
E.g. 2.

1 x
e (sin x - cos x ) + c
2

ln x dx = 1 ln x dx

1
= (ln x ) 1 dx - x dx
x
= (ln x ) x - 1 dx
= x ln x - x + c

Page 2 of 2

Follow the LIATE rule to decide which

expression to differentiate (in order of priority):
Logarithmic (e.g. ln2x)
Inverse Trigo (e.g. sin1x)

If there is a need to integrate twice, preserve

the same choice of expression type to
integrate and to differentiate.

For definite
integrals,
presentation is expected:
p /4

the

following

(sin x ) e x - 4 e x cos x dx
0
0

and not
p /4

(sin x ) e x - e x cos x dx

You may be penalised for writing the latter.