Integration by Parts

I. Basic Technique

By the Product Rule for Derivatives, { } ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( x f x g x g x f x g x f
dx
d
' + ' = . Thus,
| |
} } }
= ' + ' = ' + ' dx x f x g dx x g x f x g x f dx x f x g x g x f ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (

} }
' = ' dx x f x g x g x f dx x g x f x g x f ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( . This formula for integration
by parts often makes it possible to reduce a complicated integral involving a product to

a simpler integral. By letting dx x f du x f u ) ( ) ( ' = =
) ( ) ( x g v dx x g dv = ' =

we get the more common formula for integration by parts:



} }
= vdu uv udv



Example 1: Find
}
xdx xln .

Let x u ln = and dx
x
du xdx dv
1
= = and
2
2
1
x dx x v
}
= = . Thus,
|
.
|

\
|
= = = =
} } } }
2
2
1
) (ln ) )( (ln ln x x vdu uv udv dx x x xdx x
= + |
.
|

\
|
= = |
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
} }
C x x x dx x x x dx
x
x
2 2 2 2
2
1
2
1
ln
2
1
2
1
ln
2
1 1
2
1

C x x x +
2 2
4
1
ln
2
1
.

It is possible that when you set up an integral using integration by parts, the resulting
integral will be more complicated than the original integral. In this case, change your
substitutions for u and dv.

1

Example 2: Find
}
dx x xsin .

Let x u sin = and dx x du dx x dv cos = = and
2
2
1
x dx x v
}
= = . Thus,
|
.
|

\
|
= = = =
} } } }
2
2
1
) (sin ) )( (sin sin x x vdu uv udv dx x x dx x x
dx x x dx x x cos
2
1
) (cos
2
1
2 2
} }
= |
.
|

\
|
. Notice that this resulting integral is
more complicated that the original one. Therefore, let x u = and = dv
dx du dx x = sin and
}
= = x dx x v cos sin . Thus,
}
dx x xsin =

} } } }
= + = = = xdx x x dx x x x vdu uv udv cos cos ) cos ( ) cos )( (
C x x x + + sin cos .

Example 3: Find
}
dx x ln .

Let x u ln = and dx
x
du dx dv
1
1 = = and
}
= = x dx v 1 . Thus,
= |
.
|

\
|
= = = =
} } } } }
) (
1
) )( (ln ) 1 )( (ln ln x dx
x
x x vdu uv udv dx x dx x

}
+ = C x x x dx x x ln 1 ln .

Example 4: Find
}
dx x arctan .

As in the previous example, let x u arctan = and dx
x
du dx dv
2
1
1
+
= =
and
}
= = x dx v 1 . Thus,
} } }
= = = vdu uv udv dx x arctan x xarctan
=
+
=
+
= |
.
|

\
|
+
} } }
dx
x
x
x x dx
x
x
x x dx
x
x
2 2 2
1
2
2
1
arctan
1
arctan
1
1

C x x x + + 1 ln
2
1
arctan
2
= C x x x + + ) 1 ln(
2
1
arctan
2
.


2

Example 5: Find dx
x
x
}
2
ln
.

Let x u ln = and dx
x
du dx x dx
x
dv
1 1
2
2
= = =

and = = =

}
1 2
1x dx x v

x
1
. Thus, |
.
|

\
|
= = = |
.
|

\
|
=
} } } } x
x vdu uv udv dx
x
x dx
x
x 1
) (ln
1
) (ln
ln
2 2

= +

= +

= +

= |
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
} } }

C
x x
x
dx x
x
x
dx
x x
x
x
dx
x
1 ln ln 1 ln 1 1
2
2

C
x
x
+
1 ln
.

Sometimes, it is necessary to use integration by parts more than once.

Example 6: Find dx x x cos
2
}
.

Let
2
x u = and xdx du dx x dv 2 cos = = and
}
= = x dx x v sin cos . Thus,

} } } }
= = = = x x x xdx x x vdu uv udv dx x x sin ) )(sin 2 ( ) )(sin ( cos
2 2 2


}
xdx xsin 2 . Notice that the resulting integral
}
dx x xsin is less complicated
than the original one, but integration by parts is needed to evaluate it.
Let x u = and dx du dx x dv = = sin and
}
= = x dx x v cos sin . Thus,

} } } }
+ = = = = x x dx x x x vdu uv udv dx x x cos ) cos ( ) cos ( sin

}
+ = x x x dx x sin cos cos . Finally, we get =
}
x x dx x x sin cos
2 2

| | C x x x x x C x x x + + = + + sin 2 cos 2 sin sin cos 2
2
. [Note: We will be
able to integrate dx x x cos
2
}
more easily with tabular integration; this
technique will be described later.]


The next illustration of repeated integration by parts deserves special attention.

Example 7: Find dx x e
x
sin
}
.

3
Let
x
e u = and dx e du dx x dv
x
= = sin and x xdx v cos sin = =
}
. Thus,

} } } }
= = = = ) )( cos ( ) cos )( ( sin dx e x x e vdu uv udv dx x e
x x x

xdx e x e
x x
cos cos
}
+ . Notice that integration by parts is now needed to
evaluate xdx e
x
cos
}
. Let
x
e u = and dx e du xdx dv
x
= = cos and

}
= = x xdx v sin cos . Thus, = = =
} } }
x e vdu uv udv xdx e
x x
sin cos
xdx e x e dx e x
x x x
sin sin ) )( (sin
} }
= . Returning to the original problem,
dx x e
x
sin
}
=
} }
+ = + dx x e x e x e xdx e x e
x x x x x
sin sin cos cos cos .
Thus,
}
+ = x e x e dx x e
x x x
sin cos sin 2 dx x e
x
sin
}
= + x e
x
cos
2
1

C x e
x
+ sin
2
1
and this does check.

The next example illustrates an interesting type of integral that surprisingly requires
integration by parts.

Example 8: ( ) dx x
}
sin .

Let = = = dx udu x u x u 2
2
( )
} }
= = ) 2 )( (sin sin udu u dx x

}
du u usin 2 . In example 2, we got the following using integration by parts:

}
dx x xsin = C x x x + + sin cos or
}
du u usin = C u u u + + sin cos .
Thus, ( ) dx x
}
sin =
}
du u usin 2 = ( )+ = + + x x C u u u cos 2 sin 2 cos 2
( ) C x + sin 2 and this does check.

In general, to evaluate ( ) dx x f
n
}
, let = = =

dx du nu x u x u
n n n 1

( ) dx x f
n
}
=
}

du u f u n
n
) (
1
.

4
II. Tabular Integration

Integrals of the form
}
dx x g x f ) ( ) ( , in which f can be differentiated repeatedly
to become zero and g can be integrated repeatedly without difficulty, can be

evaluated using tabular integration.

Example: Find dx e x
x 2 3
}
.


) (x f and its derivatives ) (x g and its antiderivatives


3
x (+)
x
e
2



2
3x ()
x
e
2
2
1


6x (+)
x
e
2
4
1


6 ()
x
e
2
8
1


0
x
e
2
16
1



dx e x
x 2 3
}
= C e xe e x e x
x x x x
+ + +
2 2 2 2 2 3
16
6
8
6
4
3
2
1

= C e xe e x e x
x x x x
+ +
2 2 2 2 2 3
8
3
4
3
4
3
2
1




III. Reduction Formulas

Integration by parts can be used to derive reduction formulas for integrals. These
are formulas that express an integral involving a power of a function in terms of an
integral that involves a lower power of that function


5
Example 1: Prove the reduction formula dx x n x x dx x
n n n
} }

=
1
) (ln ) (ln ) (ln and
use the result to find dx x
}
2
) (ln .

Let
n
x u ) (ln = and |
.
|

\
|
= =

dx
x
x n du dx dv
n
1
) (ln
1
and
}
= = x dx v 1 . Thus,
= |
.
|

\
|
= = =
} } } }
n n n n
x x dx
x
x n x x x vdu uv udv dx x ) (ln
1
) (ln ) ( ) (ln ) (ln
1

dx x n
n
}
1
) (ln . Thus, = =
} }
) (ln [ 2 ) (ln ln 2 ) (ln ) (ln
2 2 2
x x x x dx x x x dx x
C x x x x x dx + + =
}
2 ln 2 ) (ln ] 1
2
and this checks.

Example 2: Prove the reduction formula + =

}
x x
n
dx x
n n
cos ) (sin
1
) (sin
1

dx x
n
n
n
}

2
) (sin
1
.

Let
1
) (sin

=
n
x u and dx x x n du dx x dv
n
cos ) )(sin 1 ( sin
2
= = and v =

}
= x dx x cos sin . Thus,
} } }
= = =

udv dx x x dx x
n n
) (sin ) (sin ) (sin
1

= =
} }

dx x x n x x x vdu uv
n n
cos ) )(sin 1 )( cos ( ) cos ( ) (sin
2 1

+ = +

}
x x dx x x n x x
n n n
cos ) (sin cos ) (sin ) 1 ( cos ) (sin
1 2 2 1


} }
+ =

dx x n x x dx x x n
n n n 2 1 2 2
) (sin ) 1 ( cos ) (sin ) sin 1 ( ) (sin ) 1 (

} } }
+ =

dx x n x x dx x n dx x n
n n n n 2 1
) (sin ) 1 ( cos ) (sin ) (sin ) (sin ) 1 (

} }


+ = dx x
n
n
x x
n
dx x
n n n 2 1
) (sin
1
cos ) (sin
1
) (sin .








6
Practice Sheet for Integration by Parts

(1) x x ln
3
}
dx =

(2) Prove the following reduction formula:
+
=
+
}
n m n m
x x
m
dx x x ) (ln
1
1
) (ln
1

dx x x
m
n
n m 1
) (ln
1

}
+
for 1 = m .


(3)
}
x arcsin dx =

(4) ( )
}
x cos dx =


(5)
}
3
ln
x
x
dx =

(6)
}
x arcsec x dx =

(7) x e
x
cos
}
dx =

(8) ( )
2 3
sin x x
}
dx =

(9)
}
x
e dx =

(10)
x
e x
3 2
}
dx =

(11) x x sin
2
}
dx =
7
(12) =
}
dx e
x
3


(13) =
}
dx
x
e
x
3
3


(14)
}
= dx x) sin(ln




Solution Key for Integrations by Parts

(1) Let x u ln = and = dx x dv
3
1
dx
x
du
1
= and = =
}
3
4
3
1
4
3
x dx x v
x x ln
3
}
dx = = =
)
`

)
`

} }
3
4
3
1
3
4
3
4
3
4
4
3
4
3
4
3 1
4
3
ln
4
3
x dx x x dx
x
x x x

C x +
3
4
16
9
.

(2) Let
n
x u ) (ln = and |
.
|

\
|
= =

dx
x
x n du dx x dv
n m
1
) (ln
1
and
}
= = dx x v
m

+
+1
1
1
m
x
m
( ) = |
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|

+
=
+ +
} }
1 1 1
1
1 1
) (ln ) (ln
1
ln
m n n m n m
x
m
dx
x
x n x x
x m
dx x x

}
+
+

+
dx x x
m
n
x x
x m
n m n m 1 1
) (ln
1
) (ln
1
.


(3) Let x u arcsin = and dx
x
du dx dv
2
1
1

= = and
}
= = x dx v 1

}
x arcsin dx = =

+ =

} }
dx
x
x
x x dx
x
x
x x
2 2
1
2
2
1
arcsin
1
arcsin

. 1 arcsin
2
C x x x + +

8
(4) Let = = = dx wdw x w x w 2
2
( )
}
x cos dx =
}
dw w wcos 2 . Let
w u = and dw du dw w dv = = cos and
}
= = w dw w v sin cos ( )
}
x cos dx =

}
dw w wcos 2 =
} }
= = dw w w w dw w w w sin 2 sin 2 ) (sin 2 ) (sin 2

C x x x C w w w + + = + + ) cos( 2 ) sin( 2 cos 2 sin 2 .


(5) Let x u ln = and dx
x
du dx
x
dv
1 1
3
= = and = =

}
2 3
2
1
x dx x v

}
3
ln
x
x
dx = = + = |
.
|

\
|
+
} }

dx x x x dx x
x
x x
3 2 2 2
2
1
ln
2
1 1
2
1
ln
2
1


C
x x
x
C x x x +

= +

2 2
2 2
4
1
2
ln
4
1
ln
2
1
.

(6) Let x arc u sec = and dx
x x
du dx x dv
1
1
2

= = and = =
}
2
2
1
x dx x v

}
x arcsec x dx = C x x arc x dx
x
x
x arc x + =

}
1
2
1
sec
2
1
1
2
1
sec
2
1
2 2
2
2
.

(7) Let x u cos = and dx x du dx e dv
x
sin = = and = =
}
x x
e dx e v =
}
dx x e
x
cos
xdx e x e
x x
sin cos
}
+ . Use integration by parts to evaluate
}
dx x e
x
sin . Let
x u sin = and dx x du dx e dv
x
cos = = and = =
}
x x
e dx e v
}
dx x e
x
sin =

dx x e x e
x x
cos sin
}
. Thus, x e
x
cos
}
dx = xdx e x e
x x
sin cos
}
+ =

+ =
)
`

+
} }
dx x e x e x e dx x e x e x e
x x x x x x
cos sin cos cos sin cos

+ =
}
x e x e dx x e
x x x
sin cos cos 2 ( ) C x x
e
dx x e
x
x
+ + =
}
sin cos
2
cos .

9
(8) Let ( ) ( ) = = = =
} }
dx x x x dx x x dx x dw x w 2 sin
2
1
sin 2
2 2 2 3 2



}
dw w wsin
2
1
. Let w u = and dw du dw w dv = = sin and
}
= = dw w v sin

+ =
)
`

+ =
} }
w w dw w w w dw w w w cos
2
1
cos cos
2
1
sin
2
1
cos

( ) ( ) C x x x C w + + = +
2 2 2
sin
2
1
cos
2
1
sin
2
1
.

(9) Let = = = dx dw w x w x w 2
2
}
x
e dx = dw we
w
}
2 . Let w u = and
dw du dw e dv
w
= = and = =
}
w w
e dw e v = =
} }
dw e we dw we
w w w



w w
e we
}
x
e dx = C e e x C e we dw we
x x w w w
+ = + =
}
2 2 2 2 2 .

(10) Use tabular integration:


f (x) and its derivatives g (x) and its antiderivatives



2
x
x
e
3

(+)
x 2
x
e
3
3
1

()
2
x
e
3
9
1

(+)
0

x
e
3
27
1


Thus,
x
e x
3 2
}
dx = C e xe e x
x x x
+ +
3 3 3 2
27
2
9
2
3
1
.

10
(11) Use tabular integration:

f (x) and its derivatives g (x) and its antiderivatives



2
x x sin
(+)
x 2 x cos
()
2 x sin
(+)
0 x cos


Thus, x x sin
2
}
dx = C x x x x x + + + cos 2 sin 2 cos
2
.

(12) Let = = = dx dw w x w x w
2 3 3
3 =
}
dx e
x
3
dw e w
w
}
2
3 . dw e w
w
}
2
can
integrated using tabular integration:

f (x) and its derivatives g (x) and its antiderivatives


2
w (+)
w
e

w 2 ()
w
e

2 (+)
w
e

0
w
e

dw e w
w
}
2
= + + C e we e w
w w w
2 2
2
= =
} }
dw e w dx e
w x 2
3
3


3 3 3
6 6 3
3 3 2 x x x
e e x e x + + C.

(13) Let = = = dx dw w x w x w
2 3 3
3 =
}
dx
x
e
x
3
3
} }
= dw we dw
w
e w
w
w
3 3
2
.

In solution to problem #9 previously, =
}
w w w
e we dw we =
}
dx
x
e
x
3
3


11
C e e x C e we dw we
x x w w w
+ = + =
}
3 3
3 3 3 3 3
3
.

(14) Let = u sin(ln x) and |
.
|

\
|
= = dx
x
x du dx dv
1
) cos(ln and
}
= = x dx v 1


}
= dx x) sin(ln
}
dx x x x ) cos(ln ) sin(ln . Use integration by parts to evaluate


}
dx x) cos(ln . Let ) cos(lnx u = and |
.
|

\
|
= = dx
x
x du dx dv
1
) sin(ln and


}
= = x dx v 1
}
dx x) cos(ln =
}
+ dx x x x ) sin(ln ) cos(ln . Thus,
}
= dx x) sin(ln


}
dx x x x ) cos(ln ) sin(ln = =
)
`

+
}
) sin(ln ) sin(ln ) cos(ln ) sin(ln x x dx x x x x x


} }
= ) cos(ln ) sin(ln ) sin(ln 2 ) sin(ln ) cos(ln x x x x dx x dx x x x

}
= dx x) sin(ln C x x x x + ) cos(ln
2
1
) sin(ln
2
1
.




















12