Determining Which Integration Technique to Use

Calculus 2

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General Thought Process

When looking at the integrand, ask yourself the following:

  1. Is it a memorization rule, can it be rewritten, or is the derivative in the problem?

    Note: A rewrite might involve an algebraic manipulation (+1 -1 technique, multiplying by a conjugate, completing the square), using an identity, and more.

    Try U-Substitution.

  2. Is it a rational function whose denominator can be factored?

    Note: If the rational function is improper, you should perform long division.

    Try Partial Fraction Decomposition.

  3. Is it a product of two (usually of different type) functions?

    Note: A quotient can be turned into a product.

    Try Integration by Parts.

  4. Is it a product of sines and cosines, secants and tangents, or cosecants and cotangents?

    Try Trigonometric Integration.

  5. Is it in the form of a2b2x2a^2 - b^2x^2, b2x2a2b^2x^2 - a^2, or a2+b2x2a^2 + b^2x^2?

    Note: A square root of one of those forms is an ideal case for this technique.

    Try Trigonometric Substitution.

  6. If you can't seem to identify which technique would work best for the given integrand, try until you succeed.


Review Problems

Problem 1

Determine which technique to use to compute tanx dx\int \tan x \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 2

Determine which technique to use to compute 13x4lnx dx\int_1^3 x^4 \ln x \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 3

Determine which technique to use to compute 1(1x2)32 dx\int \frac{1}{(1-x^2)^\frac{3}{2}} \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 4

Determine which technique to use to compute sin3xcosx dx\int \sin^3 x \cos x \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 5

Determine which technique to use to compute 3x22x32x8 dx\int \frac{3x^2-2}{x^3-2x-8} \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 6

Determine which technique to use to compute 3x22x22x8 dx\int \frac{3x^2-2}{x^2-2x-8} \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 7

Determine which technique to use to compute x3e2x dx\int x^3 e^{-2x} \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 8

Determine which technique to use to compute 0π4tan5xsec3x dx\int_0^\frac{\pi}{4} \tan^5 x \sec^3 x \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 9

Determine which technique to use to compute 125x2 dx\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{25-x^2}} \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 10

Determine which technique to use to compute 1x29 dx\int \frac{1}{x^2-9} \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 11

Determine which technique to use to compute lnxx dx\int \frac{\ln x}{\sqrt{x}} \ dx. Now, compute it.

Problem 12

Determine which technique to use to compute lnx dx\int \ln x \ dx. Now, compute it.

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