Integration Methods

MATH142 - Essentials of Engineering Mathematics

Useful for integrals

of the form ...

Method

Algebraic
Substitution



g f (x) .f (x)dx

What to do

Comments

Let u = f (x)
then du = f  (x)dx ,
and we get


Make sure a constant multiple of f  (x)

is in the integrand.
Dont forget to back-substitute; or be
careful with limits of integration.

g(u)du .

Complete the square on

ax2 + bx + c

to obtain the form

dx
ax2 + bx + c
 
ax2 + bx + c

Complete
the Square

a( (x + )2 ) .

Make a substitution for

x+ then use the Table

Can be used for

dx
if
ax2 + bx + c

ax2 + bx + c is NOT factorizable.

of Integrals.



Trig or Hyperbolic
Identities

Simplify the integrand

using identities and the
expansions of

cos mx sin nxdx

sin mx sin nxdx

cos(A B)
sin(A B)
cosh(A B)
sinh(A B)

cos mx cos nxdx



sinn xdx,
cosn xdx

The aim is to rewrite the integral in

terms of standard integrals.

etc.

Integration
by Parts


f (x)g(x) dx

Partial
Fractions

p(x)
dx
q(x)

where p(x) and q(x)

are polynomials and
q(x) is factorisable.

Assign f and g to u
and v  as appropriate,
then

Carefully choose a function to integrate and a function to dierentiate.

u v dx

You may wish to introduce a factor of

1 as v  .

Find partial fractions for

Make sure you check for factorizable

quadratics.

uv  dx = uv

p(x)
q(x)

If you have an improper fraction to

start with, use long division to obtain
a proper fraction.

Keep the Table of Integrals handy, and make use of reduction formulae!