MODULE 2

INDEFINITE INTEGRALS OF POWERS, LOGARITHMS, AND

EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Understand how to apply the basic integration formulas;

2. Use the formula of simple power formula and general power formula to solve
equations;
3. Solve problems of anti-differentiation and indefinite integrals;
4. Differentiate and solve problems involving Simple Trigonometric Function,
Exponential Function, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, and Hyperbolic Functions;
and
5. Be familiarize in solving constant integration and definite integrals.

POWER FORMULA
𝑢𝑛+1
∫ 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑢 = +𝐶 𝑛 ≠ −1
𝑛+1

The power rule for integrals allows us to find the indefinite (and later the definite)
integrals of a variety of functions like polynomials, functions involving roots, and even
some rational functions. If you can write it with an exponents, you probably can apply the
power rule.
To apply the rule, simply take the exponent and add 1. Then, divide by that same
value. Finally, don’t forget to add the constant C.

1. Integrals of Polynomials

Finding the integral of a polynomial involves applying the power rule, along with
some other properties of integrals. Take a look at the example to see how.

Example:
∫ 2𝑥3 + 4𝑥2𝑑𝑥

We will write out every step here so that you can see the process. After some
practice, you will probably just write the answer down immediately.

First, remember that integrals can be broken up over addition/subtraction and

multiplication by constants. Therefore:
 ∫ 2𝑥3 + 4𝑥2𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 2𝑥3𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 4𝑥2𝑑𝑥

= 2 ∫ 𝑥3𝑑𝑥 + 4 ∫ 𝑥2𝑑𝑥

Now apply the power rule by adding 1 to each exponent, and then dividing by
the same number. When you do this, the integral symbols are dropped since you
have “taken the integral”.

𝑥3 + 1 𝑥2 + 1
= 2( )+4 ( )+𝐶
3+1 2+1

𝑥4 𝑥3
= 2( )+4 ( )+𝐶
4 3

𝑥4 4𝑥3
= + +𝐶
4 3

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integral

∫ 𝑥4 + 3𝑥 − 9𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥4𝑑𝑥 + 3 ∫ 𝑥2𝑑𝑥 − 9 ∫ 𝑑𝑥

𝑥5 3𝑥2
= + − 9𝑥 + 𝐶
5 2

2. Integrals of Radical Functions

1
𝑛√𝑥 = 𝑥𝑛
𝑚
𝑛√𝑥𝑚 = 𝑥𝑛

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integral

Before applying any calculus, you can rewrite the integral using the rule above. This
way, we have exponents and can apply the power rule.
1
∫ √𝑥 + 4 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑥2 + 4 𝑑𝑥

Now, applying the power rule (and the rule for integrating constants):
1
1 +1
𝑥2
∫ 𝑥2 + 4 𝑑𝑥 = + 4𝑥 + 𝐶
1
2+1
 Simplify to get the final answer:
3
𝑥2
= 3 + 4𝑥 + 𝐶
2
2 3

= 𝑥2 + 4𝑥 + 𝐶
3

3. Integrals with Negative Exponents

1
𝑥−𝑛 =
𝑥𝑛

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integral

3 1 1
− 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 3𝑥 −5 − 𝑥−2𝑑𝑥
∫ 4𝑥2
𝑥5 4

Apply the power rule:

𝑥−5+1 1 𝑥−2+1
= 3( )− ( )+𝐶

−5 + 1 4 −2 + 1

Simplify to get the final answer:

𝑥−4 1 𝑥−1
= 3( )− ( )+𝐶
−4 4 −1

3 1
= − 𝑥−4 + 𝑥−1 + 𝐶
4 4
3 1 11
= − ( 4) + ( ) + 𝐶
4 𝑥 4 𝑥
3 1
= − + +𝐶
4𝑥4 4𝑥
4. Integrals using “Let u”

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integral

a. ∫(𝑎2 − 𝑥2)2 𝑥𝑑𝑥

𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = 𝑎2 − 𝑥2
𝑛=2
 Derive u to get du using the table of derivatives. Please note that a is constant,
and the derivative of a constant is 0.

𝑑𝑢 = −2𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑢
= 𝑑𝑥
−2𝑥

Substitute u, du, and dx to the main example.

𝑑𝑢
∫(𝑎2 − 𝑥2)2 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑢 2° 𝑥 ( )
−2𝑥
1
= − ∫ 𝑢2 ° (𝑑𝑢)
2
You can now use power formula from this:

1 𝑢2+1
=− ( )
2 2+1
1 𝑢3
=− ( )
2 3
1
=− (𝑎2 − 𝑥2)3
6

b. ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛3𝑦 cos 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
Derive u to get du using the table of derivatives of trigonometric function.

𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = sin 𝑦
𝑑𝑢 = cos 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑢
= 𝑑𝑦
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑦
𝑑𝑢
∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛3𝑦 cos 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = ∫ 𝑢3 ° cos 𝑦 °
cos 𝑦

= ∫ 𝑢3 ° 𝑑𝑢
3+1
= (𝑢 )+𝐶
3+1

1
= (𝑢3+1) + 𝐶4

1
= (sin 𝑦)4 + 𝐶4
 Note:
As you have seen, the power rule can be used to find simple integrals, but
also much more complicated integrals. The general strategy is always the same –
if you don’t already have exponents, see if you can write the function using
exponents. Then, apply the power rule and simplify.

LOGARITHMS
𝑑𝑢
∫ = ln|𝑢| + 𝐶 𝑢≠0
𝑢

The integral of any quotient whose numerator is the differential of the denominator
is the logarithm of the denominator.
When integrating the logarithm of a polynomial with at least two terms, the
technique of u-substitution is needed. The following are some examples of integrating
logarithms via u-substitution.

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integrals

2𝑑𝑦
∫
3𝑦 − 4
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = 3𝑦 − 4
𝑑𝑢 = 3𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑢
= 𝑑𝑦
3
𝑑𝑢
2𝑑𝑦 2°
∫ = ∫ 3
3𝑦 − 4 𝑢
2 𝑑𝑢
= ∫
3 𝑢
2
= ln|𝑢| + 𝐶
3
2
= ln|3𝑦 − 4| + 𝐶
3

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integrals

(2𝑥 − 5)𝑑𝑥
∫ 2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 3
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = 𝑥2 − 5𝑥 + 3
𝑑𝑢 = (2𝑥 − 5)𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑢
= 𝑑𝑥
2𝑥 − 5
 𝑑𝑢
(2𝑥 − 5)°
(2𝑥 − 5)𝑑𝑥
∫ = ∫ 2𝑥 − 5
𝑥2 − 5𝑥 + 3 𝑢
𝑑𝑢
= ∫
𝑢
= ln|𝑢| + 𝐶
= ln|𝑥2 − 5𝑥 + 3| + 𝐶

EXPONENTIAL
∫ 𝑒𝑢𝑑𝑢 = 𝑒𝑢 + 𝐶
𝑎𝑢
∫ 𝑎𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = +𝐶 𝑎>0
ln 𝑎

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integrals

∫ 𝑒−3𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = −3𝑥
𝑑𝑢 = −3𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑢
= 𝑑𝑥
−3
𝑑𝑢
∫ 𝑒−3𝑥𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑒𝑢
−3
1
=− ∫ 𝑒𝑢𝑑𝑢
3
1
=− (𝑒𝑢) + 𝐶
3
1
=− 𝑒−3𝑥 + 𝐶
3

Example: Evaluate the following indefinite integrals

∫ 2−𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑢 = −𝑥
𝑑𝑢 = −𝑑𝑥
−𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥
∫ 2−𝑥𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 2𝑢(−𝑑𝑢)

= − ∫ 𝑎𝑢(𝑑𝑢)
𝑎𝑢
= −( )+𝐶
ln 𝑎
 2−𝑋
= − ( ln 2 ) + 𝐶

KEY POINTS:
1. Evaluate each integrals and determine what possible formula can be used to
apply power formula, logarithms, and exponential.
2. After the determination, transform each integrals into a form such that the formula
provided can be used.
3. Checking of your answers can be verified by derivation.
LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Solve for the following indefinite integrals:

1. ∫(2𝑥2 − 𝑥2 + 3𝑥 − 7) 𝑑𝑥
1 3
2. ∫ ( − ) 𝑑𝑥
𝑧3 𝑧2
3. ∫(2𝑥 − 5)(3𝑥 + 1)𝑑𝑥
2𝑥2−𝑥+3
4. ∫ √𝑥
𝑑𝑥
cos 𝑥
5. ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛4𝑥 𝑑𝑥
6. ∫ sin 4𝑥 cos 4𝑥 𝑑𝑥
(2𝑥−5𝑥)𝑑𝑥
7. ∫ 𝑥2−5𝑥+3
8. ∫ tan 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2
9. ∫ 𝑧𝑒4𝑧 𝑑𝑧
10. ∫ 4𝑒3 ln 𝑥 𝑑𝑥