Rules of Integrals with Examples

A tutorial, with examples and detailed solutions, in using the rules of indefinite integrals in calculus is presented. A set of questions with solutions is also included.

In what follows, C is a constant of integration and can take any value.


1 - Integral of a power function: \( f(x) = x^n \)

\[ \int x^n \, dx = \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} + c \]
Example: Evaluate the integral \[ \int x^5 dx \] Solution: \[ \int x^5 dx = \dfrac{x^{5 + 1}}{ 5 + 1} + c = \dfrac{x^6}{6} + c \]


2 - Integral of a function \( f \) multiplied by a constant \( k \): \( k f(x) \)

\[ \int k f(x) \, dx = k \int f(x) \, dx \]
Example: Evaluate the integral \[ \int 5 \sin \; x dx \] Solution:
According to the above rule
\[ \int 5 \sin (x) dx = 5 \int \sin(x) dx \]
\( \displaystyle \int \sin(x) dx \)   is given by 2.1 in table of integral formulas, hence
Hence \[ \displaystyle \int 5 \sin(x) dx = - 5 \cos x + C \]

3 - Integral of Sum of Functions.

\[ \int (f(x) + g(x)) \, dx = \int f(x) \, dx + \int g(x) \, dx \] Example: Evaluate the integral \[ \int (x + e^x) dx \] Solution:
According to the above property \[ \displaystyle \int (x + e^x) dx = \int x \; dx + \int e^x \; dx \] \( \int x \; dx \) is given by 1.3 and \( \displaystyle \int e^x \; dx \) by 4.1 in table of integral formulas, hence \[ \int (x + e^x) \; dx = \dfrac{x^2}{2}x + e^x + c \]


4 - Integral of Difference of Functions.

\[ \int (f(x) - g(x)) \, dx = \int f(x) \, dx - \int g(x) \, dx \]
Example: Evaluate the integral \[ \int (2 - 1/x) \; dx \]
Solution:
According to the above property \[ \displaystyle \int (2 - 1/x) dx = \int 2 \; dx - \int (1/x) \; dx \]
\( \int 2 \; dx \) is given by 1.2 and \( \int (1/x) \; dx \) by 1.4 in table of integral formulas, hence \[ \int (2 - 1/x) \; dx = 2x - \ln |x| + c \]

5 - Integration by Substitution.

\[ \int f(u) \frac{du}{dx} \, dx = \int f(u) \, du \]
Example: Evaluate the integral \[ \int (x^2 - 1)^{20} 2x \; dx \]
Solution:
Let \( u = x^2 - 1\), hence \( du/dx = 2x \) and the given integral can be written as \[ \int(x^2 - 1)^{20} \; 2x \; dx = \int u^{20} (du/dx) dx = \int u^{20} du \] which evaluates to \[ = \dfrac{u^{21}}{21} + c \] Substitute back \[ = \dfrac{(x^2 - 1)^{21}}{21} + c \]

6 - Integration by Parts.

\[ \int f(x) g'(x) \, dx = f(x)g(x) - \int f'(x) g(x) \, dx \]
Example: Evaluate the integral \[ \int \; x \; \cos x \; dx \]
Solution:
Let \( f(x) = x \) and \( g ' (x) = \cos x \) which gives \[ f ' (x) = 1 \) and \( g(x) = \sin x \] From integration by parts formula above, \[ \int \; x \cos x \; dx = x sin x - \int 1 \sin x dx \] \[ = x \sin x + \cos x + c \]

More Questions with Solutions

Use the table of integral formulas and the rules above to evaluate the following integrals. [Note that you may need to use more than one of the above rules for one integral].
1. \( \displaystyle \int (1 / 2) \ln \; (x) dx \)
2. \( \displaystyle \int (\sin (x) + x^5 ) \; dx \)
3. \( \displaystyle \int (\sinh (x) - 3) \; dx \)
4. \( \displaystyle \int x \sin (x) \; dx \)
5. \( \displaystyle \int \sin^{10}(x) \; \cos(x) dx \)

Solutions to the Above Questions

1.
Take the constant \( \frac{1}{2} \) outside the integral \[ \int \frac{1}{2} \ln(x) dx = \frac{1}{2} \int \ln(x) dx \] Use integration by parts Let \[ u = \ln(x) \quad \text{and} \quad dv = dx \] Then \[ du = \frac{1}{x} dx \quad \text{and} \quad v = x \] \[ \int u dv = uv - \int vdu \] Substitute: \[ \int \ln(x) dx = x\ln(x) - \int x \cdot \frac{1}{x} dx = x\ln(x) - \int 1 dx \] \[ \int \ln(x) dx = x\ln(x) - x + C \] \[ \int \frac{1}{2} \ln(x), dx = \frac{1}{2}\big(x\ln(x) - x\big) + C \] 2.

Use rule 3 (integral of a sum) to obtain:

\[ \int (\sin x + x^5) \, dx = \int \sin x \, dx + \int x^5 \, dx \]

We use formula 2.1 in the table of integral formulas to evaluate \( \int \sin x \, dx \) and rule 1 above to evaluate \( \int x^5 \, dx \). Hence:

\[ \int (\sin x + x^5) \, dx = -\cos x + \frac{x^6}{6} + c \] 3.

Use rule 4 (integral of a difference) to obtain:

\[ \int (\sinh x - 3) \, dx = \int \sinh x \, dx - \int 3 \, dx \]

We use formula 7.1 in the table of integral formulas to evaluate \( \int \sinh x \, dx \) and the integral of the constant 3 to obtain:

\[ \int (\sinh x - 3) \, dx = \cosh x - 3x + c \] 4.

The integrand is the product of two functions \( x \) and \( \sin x \). We use integration by parts (rule 6) as follows:

Let \( f(x) = x \), \( g'(x) = \sin x \), and hence \( g(x) = -\cos x \).

Then:

\[ \int x \sin x \, dx = f(x) g(x) - \int f'(x) g(x) \, dx = -x \cos x + \int \cos x \, dx \]

Using formula 2.2 in the table of integral formulas to evaluate \( \int \cos x \, dx \), we obtain:

\[ \int x \sin x \, dx = - x \cos x + \sin x + c \] 5.

Let \( u = \sin x \) and therefore \( du = \cos x \, dx \). Hence the given integral can be written as:

\[ \int \sin^{10} x \cos x \, dx = \int u^{10} \, du \]

Use rule 1 to write:

\[ \int u^{10} \, du = \frac{u^{11}}{11} + c \]

Substitute \( u = \sin x \) to obtain:

\[ \int \sin^{10} x \cos x \, dx = \frac{1}{11} \sin^{11} x + c \]

More References and Links

Table of Integral Formulas
integrals and their applications in calculus.
evaluate integrals.
Integration by Substitution.