TECHNIQUES OF INTEGRATION

B. Integration by Substitution

There are two types of substitution:

a. Algebraic Substitution
b. Trigonometric Substitution

B.1. Algebraic Substitution

In algebraic substitution we replace the variable of integration by a

function of a new variable. A change in the variable on integration
often reduces an integrand to an easier integrable form.
Examples: Evaluate the following integrals.

𝑑𝑥
1. 3
𝑥−𝑥

Solution:
Let: 3
𝑥=𝑧 𝑥 = 𝑧3
𝑑𝑥 = 3𝑧 2 𝑑𝑧
- substitute
𝑑𝑥 3𝑧 2 𝑑𝑧
=
3
𝑥−𝑥 𝑧 − 𝑧3

𝑧 2 𝑑𝑧
=3
𝑧(1 − 𝑧 2 )

𝑧 𝑑𝑧
=3
(1 − 𝑧 2 )

let 𝑢 = 1 − 𝑧 2 𝑑𝑢 = −2𝑧 𝑑𝑧
−12 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑧 𝑑𝑧
 𝑑𝑥 3 2
3
𝑥−𝑥 = − 𝑙𝑛 1 − 𝑧 +𝐶
2
But 3 𝑥 = 𝑧, 𝑥2 3 = 𝑧2
3
= − 𝑙𝑛 1 − 𝑥 2 3 + 𝐶
2

𝑑𝑥
2. 4
1+ 𝑥−1

Solution:
4
let: 𝑧 = 𝑥−1
z= 𝑥−1 1 4
𝑧2 = 𝑥 − 1 1 2
𝑧3 = 𝑥 − 1 3 4
𝑧4 = 𝑥 − 1
4𝑧 3 𝑑𝑧 = 𝑑𝑥
substitute
𝑑𝑥 4𝑧 3 𝑑𝑧
4 =
1+ 𝑥−1 1+𝑧

𝑧 3 𝑑𝑧
=4
1+𝑧

divide 𝑧2 − 𝑧 + 1
𝑧 + 1 𝑧 3
− 3
𝑧 + 𝑧2
2
− 2−𝑧
−𝑧 − 𝑧
𝑧
−𝑧+1
−1

𝑑𝑥 2
1
4 =4 𝑧 −𝑧+1 − 𝑑𝑧
1+ 𝑥−1 𝑧+1
 𝑑𝑥
2
1
1+ 𝑥−1 =4 𝑧 𝑑𝑧 − 𝑧 𝑑𝑧 + 𝑑𝑧 − 𝑑𝑧
4
𝑧+1

𝑧3 𝑧2
=4 − + 𝑧 − ln 𝑧 + 1 +𝐶
3 2
Substitute back the values of the original variable
𝑥−1 3 4 𝑥−1 1 2
=4 − + 𝑥 − 1 1 4 − ln 𝑥−1 1 4
+1 +𝐶
3 2
44 4 4
= 𝑥 − 1 3 − 2 𝑥 − 1 + 4 𝑥 − 1 − ln 𝑥−1 +1 +𝐶
3
 𝑑𝑥
3.
𝑥+1

Solution:
let 𝑦 = 𝑥+1
𝑦2 = 𝑥 + 1 ⟹ 𝑥 = 𝑦2 − 1
1 1
2𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑥 −1 2 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑥
2 2 𝑥
4𝑦 𝑥 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝑥
but 𝑥 = 𝑦2 − 1
So 4𝑦 𝑦 2 − 1 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑑𝑥

Substitute
𝑑𝑥 4𝑦 𝑦 2 − 1 𝑑𝑦
=
𝑥+1 𝑦
𝑑𝑥 𝑦3 − 𝑦
=4 𝑑𝑦
𝑥+1 𝑦

=4 𝑦 2 − 1 𝑑𝑦

𝑦3
= 4 − 4𝑦 + 𝐶
3
But
𝑦= 𝑥+1
𝑦 = 𝑥+1 1 2
𝑦3 = 𝑥 + 1 3 2
𝑑𝑥 4 3 2
= 𝑥+1 −4 𝑥+1+𝐶
𝑥+1 3
 𝑥 2 −𝑎2
4. 𝑑𝑥
𝑥

Solution:
let: 𝑦= 𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 ⟹ 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 ⟹ 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2
2𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 =
2𝑥
𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 =
𝑥
substitute

𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 𝑦 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 =
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

𝑦2
= 2
𝑑𝑦
𝑥
since 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2

𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 𝑦2
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑦
𝑥 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2

Divide the 𝑦2 𝑎2
polynomial 2 2
=1− 2
𝑦 +𝑎 𝑦 + 𝑎2
𝑎2
= 𝑑𝑦 − 2 2
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 +𝑎

𝑎2 𝑦
= 𝑦 − 𝐴𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 + 𝐶
𝑎 𝑎
Substitute back the value of 𝑦
𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 𝑥 2 − 𝑎2
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 − 𝑎 𝐴𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 +𝐶
𝑥 𝑎
5. 1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Solution:
2 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑦2
Let: 𝑦= 1− 𝑥 ⟹ 𝑦 =1− 𝑥 ⟹
𝑥 = 1 − 𝑦2 2
𝑑𝑥 = 2 1 − 𝑦 2 −2𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 = −4𝑦 1 − 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦

substitute

1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑦 −4𝑦 1 − 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦

= −4 𝑦 2 1 − 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦

= −4 𝑦 2 𝑑𝑦 + 4 𝑦 4 𝑑𝑦
 𝑦3 𝑦5
1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = −4 +4 +𝐶
3 5
4 3 4 5
=− 𝑦 + 𝑦 +𝐶
3 5
but 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 1 2
𝑦3 = 1 − 𝑥 3 2
𝑦5 = 1 − 𝑥 5 2
4 3 2
4 5 2
1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = − 3 1 − 𝑥 + 1− 𝑥
5
+𝐶
6. sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Solution:

Let: 𝑧= 𝑥 ⟹ 𝑧2 = 𝑥
2𝑧 𝑑𝑧 = 𝑑𝑥

substitute
sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = sin 𝑧 2𝑧 𝑑𝑧

=2 sin 𝑧 𝑧 𝑑𝑧

Apply integration by parts

𝑢=𝑧 𝑑𝑣 = sin 𝑧 𝑑𝑧
𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑧 𝑣 = − cos 𝑧
 sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑧 − cos 𝑧 + 2 cos 𝑧 𝑑𝑧

= −2𝑧 cos 𝑧 + sin 𝑧 + 𝐶

Substitute back the value of 𝑧 = 𝑥

sin 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = −2 𝑥 cos 𝑥 + sin 𝑥 + 𝐶

Now try these

Practice Problems
2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1. 2 4
𝑑𝑥 4.
𝑥 +5 𝑥+2
𝑑𝑥
2. 15𝑥 4 3𝑥 5 + 5 𝑑𝑥 5.
1+ 𝑥

3. 36𝑥 2 tan 4𝑥 3 − 5 𝑑𝑥
Answers to practice problems

1
1. − +𝐶
3 𝑥2 + 5 3

2
2. 3𝑥 5 + 5 3 2
+𝐶
3

3. 3 ln sec 4𝑥 3 − 5 + 𝐶

4. 2 𝑥+2+𝐶

5. 2 𝑥 − 2 ln 1 + 𝑥 + 𝐶
B.2. Trigonometric Substitution

Trigonometric substitution is employed to integrate expressions

involving functions of (𝑎2 − 𝑢2 ), (𝑎2 + 𝑢2 ), and (𝑢2 − 𝑎2 ) where
"𝑎" is a constant and "𝑢" is any algebraic function. Substitutions
convert the respective functions to expressions in terms of
trigonometric functions. The substitution is more useful but not
limited to functions involving radicals.

Use the following suggestions:

When the integrand involves...
a. (𝑎2 − 𝑢2 ), try 𝑢 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
b. (𝑎2 + 𝑢2 ), try 𝑢 = 𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃
c. (𝑢2 − 𝑎2 ), try 𝑢 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃
Examples: Evaluate the following.
25−𝑥 2
1. 𝑑𝑥
𝑥

Solution:
The integrand is in the form 𝑎2 − 𝑢2 , where 𝑎 = 5 and 𝑢 = 𝑥.
let: 𝑥 = 5 sin 𝜃 𝑥 2 = 25 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 5 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
- substitute

25 − 𝑥 2 25 − 25 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 5 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
𝑥 5 sin 𝜃

25 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
sin 𝜃

5 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 cos 𝜃
= 𝑑𝜃
sin 𝜃
25 − 𝑥 2 cos 𝜃 cos 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 5 𝑑𝜃
𝑥 sin 𝜃

𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃
=5 𝑑𝜃
sin 𝜃

(1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃) 𝑑𝜃
=5
sin 𝜃

1 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
=5 𝑑𝜃 − 5 𝑑𝜃
sin 𝜃 sin 𝜃

=5 csc 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 − 5 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

= 5 ln csc 𝜃 − cot 𝜃 − 5(− cos 𝜃) + 𝐶

= 5 ln csc 𝜃 − cot 𝜃 + 5 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶
 𝑥 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
From 𝑥 = 5 sin 𝜃, sin 𝜃 = 5 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒

From the right triangle shown,

25−𝑥 2
5 cos 𝜃 = ,
𝑥 5
25 − 𝑥 2
 cot 𝜃 =
𝑥
5
25 − 𝑥 2 csc 𝜃 =
𝑥

Substitute;
25 − 𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥 = 5 ln csc 𝜃 − cot 𝜃 + 5 cos 𝜃 + 𝐶
𝑥

5 25 − 𝑥 2 25 − 𝑥 2
= 5 ln − +5 +𝐶
𝑥 𝑥 5
5 − 25 − 𝑥 2
= 5 ln + 25 − 𝑥 2 + 𝐶 Answer
𝑥
 𝑑𝑥
2. 3
4+𝑥 2 2

Solution:
The integrand is in the form (𝑎2 + 𝑢2 ), where 𝑎 = 2 and 𝑢 = 𝑥.
Let: 𝑥 = 2 tan 𝜃 𝑥 2 = 4 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
substitute

𝑑𝑥 2𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
3 =
4+ 𝑥 2 2 4 + 4𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃 3 2

2𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
43 2 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃 3 2

1 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 3 2
 𝑑𝑥 1 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
3 =
4 + 𝑥2 2 4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 3 𝜃

1 1
= 𝑑𝜃
4 sec 𝜃

1
= cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
4
1
= sin 𝜃 + 𝐶
4

𝑥 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
From 𝑥 = 2 tan 𝜃, tan 𝜃 = 2 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝑥 From the right triangle shown,

𝑥
sin 𝜃 =
 4 + 𝑥2
2
Substitute;
𝑑𝑥 1
3 = sin 𝜃 + 𝐶
4 + 𝑥2 2 4
1 𝑥
= +𝐶
4 4+𝑥 2
𝑥
=
2
+𝐶 Answer
4 4+𝑥

𝑥 𝑑𝑥
3.
𝑥 2 −4

Solution:
The integrand is in the form (𝑢2 − 𝑎2 ), where 𝑎 = 2 and 𝑢 = 𝑥.
Let: 𝑥 = 2 sec 𝜃 𝑥 2 = 4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 2 sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
substitute
𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2 sec 𝜃 2 sec 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
𝑥2 −4 4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 − 4
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=4
4 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 − 1
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=4
2 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝜃
𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 tan 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=4
2 tan 𝜃

=2 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

= 2 tan 𝜃 + 𝐶
 𝑥 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
From 𝑥 = 2 sec 𝜃, sec 𝜃 = 2 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝑥
From the right triangle shown,
𝑥2 − 4
𝑥2 − 4
 tan 𝜃 =
2
2
Substitute;
𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 2 tan 𝜃 + 𝐶
𝑥2 −4

𝑥2 − 4
=2 +𝐶
2
= 𝑥2 − 4 + 𝐶 Answer
4. 1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Solution:
Let: 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 = 𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝜃 = 𝑥
4 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 = 𝑑𝑥
substitute

1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 4 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

=4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

=4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

=4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

 1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 (1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃) sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

=4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 − 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4 𝜃 sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

𝑢 = cos 𝜃 , 𝑑𝑢 = − sin 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
Apply the power formula
−𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝜃 −𝑐𝑜𝑠 5 𝜃
=4 −4 +𝐶
3 5
4 4
= − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝜃 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 5 𝜃 + 𝐶
3 5
4
4 4 𝑥 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
From 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑥, sin 𝜃 = 𝑥= 1 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒

4 1 From the right triangle shown,

𝑥

 cos 𝜃 =
1− 𝑥
= 1− 𝑥
1− 𝑥
1
Substitute;

1 − 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = − 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3 𝜃 + 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 5 𝜃 + 𝐶
3 5
3 5
4 4
=− 1− 𝑥 + 1− 𝑥 +𝐶
3 5
4 3 2
4
= − 1− 𝑥 + 1− 𝑥 5 2+𝐶 Answer
3 5

𝑑𝑥
5.
𝑥 2 16−𝑥 2

Solution:
The integrand is in the form (𝑎2 − 𝑢2 ), where 𝑎 = 4 and 𝑢 = 𝑥.
Let: 𝑥 = 4 s𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑥 2 = 16 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 4 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
substitute
 𝑑𝑥 4 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
𝑥2 16 − 𝑥2 16 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 16 − 16 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
1 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
4 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 16 1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
1 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
4 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 4 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃
1 cos 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
=
16 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 cos 𝜃

1 1
= 2
𝑑𝜃
16 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

1
= 𝑐𝑠𝑐 2 𝜃 + 𝐶
16
1
= (− cot 𝜃) + 𝐶
16
1
= − cot 𝜃 + 𝐶
16
 𝑥 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
From 𝑥 = 4 s𝑖𝑛 𝜃, s𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 4 ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒

4 From the right triangle shown,

𝑥
16 − 𝑥 2
 cot 𝜃 =
𝑥
16 − 𝑥 2
Substitute;
𝑑𝑥 1
= − cot 𝜃 + 𝐶
𝑥 2 16 − 𝑥 2 16
1 16 − 𝑥 2
=− +𝐶
16 𝑥
16 − 𝑥 2
=− +𝐶 Answer
16𝑥
Now try these

Practice Problems

1. 𝑥 2 4 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

3𝑥 − 1
2. 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑥 +1

1
3. 𝑑𝑥
1 − 𝑥2
Answers to practice problems

1 3 2
1 2
𝑥
1. 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 + 2𝐴𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 + 𝐶
4 2 2

3
2. ln 𝑥 2 + 1 − 𝐴𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥 + 𝐶
2

3. 𝐴𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥 + 𝐶