Integration by Parts

Introduction

Let's say we want to integrate

$\int x^{2}e^{x^{3}}~dx.$

Here, we can compute this antiderivative by using  $u-$substitution.

While  $u-$substitution is an important integration technique, it will not help us evaluate all integrals.

For example, consider the integral

$\int xe^{x}~dx.$

There is no substitution that will allow us to integrate this integral.

We need another integration technique called integration by parts.

The formula for integration by parts comes from the product rule for derivatives.

Recall from the product rule,

$(fg)'=f'g+g'f.$

Warm-Up

Calculate  $f'(x).$

1)   $f(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)$

Solution:
Using the Product Rule, we have
$f'(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)'+(x^{2}+x+1)'(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4).$
Then, using the Power Rule, we have
$f'(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(3x^{2}+4x)+(2x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4).$
NOTE: It is not necessary to use the Product Rule to calculate the derivative of this function.
You can distribute the terms and then use the Power Rule.
In this case, we have
${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f(x)}&=&\displaystyle {(x^{2}+x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x^{2}(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)+x(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)+1(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x^{5}+2x^{4}+4x^{2}+x^{4}+2x^{3}+4x+x^{3}+2x^{2}+4}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x^{5}+3x^{4}+3x^{3}+6x^{2}+4x+4.}\end{array}}$
Now, using the Power Rule, we get
$f'(x)=5x^{4}+12x^{3}+9x^{2}+12x+4.$
In general, calculating derivatives in this way is tedious. It would be better to use the Product Rule.

Final Answer:
$f'(x)=(x^{2}+x+1)(3x^{2}+4x)+(2x+1)(x^{3}+2x^{2}+4)$
or equivalently
$f'(x)=x^{5}+3x^{4}+3x^{3}+6x^{2}+4x+4$

2)   $f(x)={\frac {x^{2}+x^{3}}{x}}$

Solution:
Using the Quotient Rule, we have
$f'(x)={\frac {x(x^{2}+x^{3})'-(x^{2}+x^{3})(x)'}{x^{2}}}.$
Then, using the Power Rule, we have
$f'(x)={\frac {x(2x+3x^{2})-(x^{2}+x^{3})(1)}{x^{2}}}.$
NOTE: It is not necessary to use the Quotient Rule to calculate the derivative of this function.
You can divide and then use the Power Rule.
In this case, we have
${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {x^{2}+x^{3}}{x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {x^{2}}{x}}+{\frac {x^{3}}{x}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {x+x^{2}.}\\\end{array}}$
Now, using the Power Rule, we get
$f'(x)=1+2x.$

Final Answer:
$f'(x)={\frac {x(2x+3x^{2})-(x^{2}+x^{3})}{x^{2}}}$
or equivalently
$f'(x)=1+2x$

3)   $f(x)={\frac {\sin x}{\cos x}}$

Solution:
Using the Quotient Rule, we get
${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\cos x(\sin x)'-\sin x(\cos x)'}{(\cos x)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\cos x(\cos x)-\sin x(-\sin x)}{(\cos x)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\cos ^{2}x+\sin ^{2}x}{\cos ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {1}{\cos ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\sec ^{2}x}\end{array}}$
since  $\sin ^{2}x+\cos ^{2}x=1$  and  $\sec x={\frac {1}{\cos x}}.$
Since  ${\frac {\sin x}{\cos x}}=\tan x,$  we have
${\frac {d}{dx}}{\tan x}=\sec ^{2}x.$

Final Answer:
$f'(x)=\sec ^{2}x$

Exercise 1

Calculate the derivative of  $f(x)={\frac {1}{x^{2}}}(\csc x-4).$

First, we need to know the derivative of  $\csc x.$  Recall

$\csc x={\frac {1}{\sin x}}.$

Now, using the Quotient Rule, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {{\frac {d}{dx}}(\csc x)}&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {d}{dx}}{\bigg (}{\frac {1}{\sin x}}{\bigg )}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\sin x(1)'-1(\sin x)'}{\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {\sin x(0)-\cos x}{\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {\frac {-\cos x}{\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {-\csc x\cot x.}\end{array}}$

Using the Product Rule and Power Rule, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {1}{x^{2}}}(\csc x-4)'+{\bigg (}{\frac {1}{x^{2}}}{\bigg )}'(\csc x-4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {1}{x^{2}}}(-\csc x\cot x+0)+(-2x^{-3})(\csc x-4)}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {-\csc x\cot x}{x^{2}}}+{\frac {-2(\csc x-4)}{x^{3}}}.}\end{array}}$

So, we have

$f'(x)={\frac {-\csc x\cot x}{x^{2}}}+{\frac {-2(\csc x-4)}{x^{3}}}.$

Exercise 2

Calculate the derivative of  $g(x)=2x\sin x\sec x.$

Notice that the function  $g(x)$  is the product of three functions.

We start by grouping two of the functions together. So, we have  $g(x)=(2x\sin x)\sec x.$

Using the Product Rule, we get

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {g'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {(2x\sin x)(\sec x)'+(2x\sin x)'\sec x}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {(2x\sin x)(\tan ^{2}x)+(2x\sin x)'\sec x.}\end{array}}$

Now, we need to use the Product Rule again. So,

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {g'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x\tan ^{2}x+(2x(\sin x)'+(2x)'\sin x)\sec x}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x\tan ^{2}x+(2x\cos x+2\sin x)\sec x.}\end{array}}$

So, we have

$g'(x)=2x\sin x\tan ^{2}x+(2x\cos x+2\sin x)\sec x.$

But, there is another way to do this problem. Notice

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {g(x)}&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x\sec x}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {2x\sin x{\frac {1}{\cos x}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {2x\tan x.}\end{array}}$

Now, you would only need to use the Product Rule once instead of twice.

Exercise 3

Calculate the derivative of  $h(x)={\frac {x^{2}\sin x+1}{x^{2}\cos x+3}}.$

Using the Quotient Rule, we have

$h'(x)={\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}\sin x+1)'-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(x^{2}\cos x+3)'}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}.$

Now, we need to use the Product Rule. So, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {h'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}(\sin x)'+(x^{2})'\sin x)-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(x^{2}(\cos x)'+(x^{2})'\cos x)}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(-x^{2}\sin x+2x\cos x)}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}.}\end{array}}$

So, we get

$h'(x)={\frac {(x^{2}\cos x+3)(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)-(x^{2}\sin x+1)(-x^{2}\sin x+2x\cos x)}{(x^{2}\cos x+3)^{2}}}.$

Exercise 4

Calculate the derivative of  $f(x)={\frac {e^{x}}{x^{2}\sin x}}.$

First, using the Quotient Rule, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {x^{2}\sin x(e^{x})'-e^{x}(x^{2}\sin x)'}{(x^{2}\sin x)^{2}}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}\sin x)'}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}.}\end{array}}$

Now, we need to use the Product Rule. So, we have

${\begin{array}{rcl}\displaystyle {f'(x)}&=&\displaystyle {\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}(\sin x)'+(x^{2})'\sin x)}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}\\&&\\&=&\displaystyle {{\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}.}\end{array}}$

So, we have

$f'(x)={\frac {x^{2}\sin xe^{x}-e^{x}(x^{2}\cos x+2x\sin x)}{x^{4}\sin ^{2}x}}.$