Integration

SUBSTITUTION I .. f (ax + b)

Graham S McDonald
and Silvia C Dalla

A Tutorial Module for practising the integra-

tion of expressions of the form f (ax + b)

● Table of contents
● Begin Tutorial

c 2004 g.s.mcdonald@salford.ac.uk
 Table of contents
1. Theory
2. Exercises
3. Answers
4. Standard integrals
5. Tips
Full worked solutions
Section 1: Theory 3

1. Theory

Consider an integral of the form

R
f (ax + b)dx

where a and b are constants. We have here an unspecified function f

of a linear function of x
du du
Letting u = ax + b then =a, and this gives dx =
dx a
This allows us to change the integration variable from x to u

Z Z
du
f (ax + b)dx = f (u)
a

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Section 1: Theory 4

The final result is

1
R R
f (ax + b)dx = a f (u) du

where u = ax + b

This is a general result for integrating functions of a linear function

of x

Each application of this result involves dividing by the coefficient

of x and then integrating

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Section 2: Exercises 5

2. Exercises
Click on EXERCISE links for full worked solutions (10 exercises in
total).

Perform the following integrations:

Exercise 1.
Z
(2x − 1)3 dx

Exercise 2.
Z
cos(3x + 5)dx

Exercise 3.
Z
e5x+2 dx

● Theory ● Standard integrals ● Answers ● Tips

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Section 2: Exercises 6

Exercise 4.
Z
sinh 3x dx

Exercise 5.
Z
dx
2x − 1
Exercise 6.
Z
dx
1 + (5x)2
Exercise 7.
Z
sec2 (7x + 1)dx

● Theory ● Standard integrals ● Answers ● Tips

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Section 2: Exercises 7

Exercise 8.
Z
sin(3x − 1)dx

Exercise 9.
Z
cosh(1 + 2x)dx

Exercise 10.
Z
tan(9x − 1)dx

● Theory ● Standard integrals ● Answers ● Tips

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Section 3: Answers 8

3. Answers
1 4
1. 8 (2x − 1) + C ,
1
2. 3 sin(3x + 5) + C ,
1 5x+2
3. 5e +C,
1
4. 3 cosh 3x + C ,
1
5. 2 ln |2x − 1| + C ,
1 −1
6. 5 tan 5x + C ,
1
7. 7 tan(7x + 1) + C ,
8. − 31 cos(3x − 1) + C ,
1
9. 2 sinh(1 + 2x) + C ,
10. − 91 ln | cos(9x − 1)| + C.

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Section 4: Standard integrals 9

4. Standard integrals
R R
f (x) f (x)dx f (x) f (x)dx
n xn+1 n 0 [g(x)]n+1
x n+1 (n 6= −1) [g (x)] g (x) n+1 (n 6= −1)
1 g 0 (x)
x ln |x| g(x) ln |g (x)|
x ax
e ex a x
ln a (a > 0)
sin x − cos x sinh x cosh x
cos x sin x cosh x sinh x
tan x − ln
 |cos x| tanh x ln cosh x 
cosec x ln tan x2  cosech x ln tanh x2 
sec x ln |sec x + tan x| sech x 2 tan−1 ex
sec2 x tan x sech2 x tanh x
cot x ln |sin x| coth x ln |sinh x|
sin2 x x
2 −
sin 2x
4 sinh2 x sinh 2x
4 − x2
cos2 x x
2 +
sin 2x
4 cosh2 x sinh 2x
4 + x2

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Section 4: Standard integrals 10

R R
f (x) f (x) dx f (x) f (x) dx
 
1 1
tan−1 x 1 1  a+x 
a2 +x2 a a a2 −x2 2a ln  a−x  (0 < |x| < a)
 
1 1  x−a 
(a > 0) x2 −a2 2a ln  x+a  (|x| > a > 0)

 √ 
2 2
√ 1 sin−1 x √ 1 ln  x+ aa +x  (a > 0)

a2 −x2 a a2 +x2
 √ 
2 2
(−a < x < a) √ 1 ln  x+ xa −a  (x > a > 0)

x2 −a2

√ a2
√ a2
h √ i
sinh−1 x a2 +x2
 −1 x

x


a2 − x2 2 sin a a2 +x2 2 a + a2

√ i √ h √ i
a2
a2 −x2
− cosh−1
2 2
+x x
+ x xa2−a


a2 x2 −a2 2 a

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Section 5: Tips 11

5. Tips

● STANDARD INTEGRALS are provided. Do not forget to use these

tables when you need to

● When looking at the THEORY, STANDARD INTEGRALS, AN-

SWERS or TIPS pages, use the Back button (at the bottom of the
page) to return to the exercises

● Use the solutions intelligently. For example, they can help you get
started on an exercise, or they can allow you to check whether your
intermediate results are correct

● Try to make less use of the full solutions as you work your way
through the Tutorial

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Solutions to exercises 12

Full worked solutions

Exercise
Z 1.
(2x − 1)3 dx
du du
Let u = 2x − 1 then = 2 and dx =
dx 2
Z Z Z
3 3 du 1
∴ (2x − 1) dx = u = u3 du
2 2
11 4
= u +C
24
1
= (2x − 1)4 + C .
8
Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
where a = 2 and f (u)du is u3 du.
R R

Return to Exercise 1
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Solutions to exercises 13

Exercise 2.
Z
cos(3x + 5)dx

du du
Let u = 3x + 5 then = 3 and dx =
dx 3
Z Z Z
du 1
∴ cos(3x + 5)dx = cos u · = cos u du
3 3
1
= sin u + C
3
1
= sin(3x + 5) + C .
3

Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
R R
where a = 3 and f (u)du is cos udu. Return to Exercise 2
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Solutions to exercises 14

Exercise 3.
Z
e5x+2 dx

du du
Let u = 5x + 2 then = 5 and dx =
dx 5
Z Z Z
du 1
∴ e5x+2 dx = eu = eu du
5 5
1 u
= e +C
5
1 5x+2
= e +C.
5

Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
R R u
where a = 5 and f (u)du is e du. Return to Exercise 3

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Solutions to exercises 15

Exercise 4.
Z
sinh 3x dx

du du
Let u = 3x then = 3 and dx =
dx 3
Z Z Z
du 1
∴ sinh 3x dx = sinh u · = sinh u du
3 3
1
= cosh u + C
3
1
= cosh 3x + C .
3

Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
R R
where a = 3 and f (u)du is sinh u du. Return to Exercise 4
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Solutions to exercises 16

Exercise 5.
Z
dx
2x − 1
du du
Let u = 2x − 1 then = 2 and dx =
dx 2
Z Z Z
dx du 1 1 du
∴ = · =
2x − 1 u 2 2 u
1
= ln |u| + C
2
1
= ln |2x − 1| + C .
2
Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
where a = 2 and f (u)du is du
R R
u .
Return to Exercise 5

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Solutions to exercises 17

Exercise 6.
Z
dx
1 + (5x)2
du du
Let u = 5x then = 5 and dx =
dx 5
Z Z Z
dx du 1 1 du
∴ = · =
1 + (5x)2 1 + u2 5 5 1 + u2
1
= tan−1 u + C
5
1
= = tan−1 5x + C .
5
Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
R R du
where a = 5 and f (u)du is 1+u 2 du. Return to Exercise 6

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Solutions to exercises 18

Exercise 7.
Z
sec2 (7x + 1)dx

du du
Let u = 7x + 1 then = 7 and dx =
dx 7
Z Z
1
∴ sec2 (7x + 1)dx = sec2 u du
7
1
= tan u + C
7
1
= tan(7x + 1) + C .
7
Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
where a = 7 and f (u)du is sec2 udu.
R R

Return to Exercise 7
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Solutions to exercises 19

Exercise 8.
Z
sin(3x − 1)dx

du du
Let u = 3x − 1 then = 3 and dx =
dx 3
Z Z
1
∴ sin(3x − 1)dx = sin u du
3
1
= − cos u + C
3
1
= − cos(3x − 1) + C .
3
Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
R R
where a = 3 and f (u)du is sin udu.

Return to Exercise 8
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Solutions to exercises 20

Exercise 9.
Z
cosh(1 + 2x)dx

du du
Let u = 1 + 2x then = 2 and dx =
dx 2
Z Z
du
∴ cosh(1 + 2x)dx = cosh u
2
1
= sinh u + C
2
1
= sinh(1 + 2x) + C .
2
Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
R R
where a = 2 and f (u)du is cosh u du.

Return to Exercise 9
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Solutions to exercises 21

Exercise 10.
Z
tan(9x − 1)dx

du du
Let u = 9x − 1 then = 9 and dx =
dx 9
Z Z Z
du 1
∴ tan(9x − 1) dx = tan u · = tan u du
9 9
1
= − ln | cos u| + C
9
1
= − ln | cos(9x − 1)| + C .
9
Note. The final result can also be obtained using the general pattern:
Z Z
1
f (ax + b) dx = f (u) du
a
R R
where a = 9 and f (u)du is tan u du.

Return to Exercise 10
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