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Integration by parts comes from the product rule. Choose u so differentiating it simplifies the remaining integral.
Worked example 1
Evaluate ∫012xexdx.
u=x,du=dx; dv=2exdx,v=2ex
∫2xexdx=2xex−2ex+C
[2ex(x−1)]01=0−(−2)=2
Answer:2
Worked example 2
Evaluate ∫0π3xsinxdx.
u=x,du=dx; dv=3sinxdx,v=−3cosx
∫3xsinxdx=−3xcosx+3sinx+C
F(π)−F(0)=3π−0=3π≈9.42
Answer:3π≈9.42
Idea 2 of 3
Logarithmic integrands
For lnx, use dv=dx and u=lnx. The derivative becomes x1.
Worked example 1
Evaluate ∫1e2lnxdx.
u=lnx,du=x1dx; dv=2dx,v=2x
F(x)=2(xlnx−x)
F(e)−F(1)=2[e(0)+1]=2
Answer:2
Worked example 2
Evaluate ∫1e23lnxdx.
u=lnx,du=x1dx; dv=3dx,v=3x
F(x)=3(xlnx−x)
F(e2)−F(1)=3[e2(1)+1]=3(e2+1)≈25.17
Answer:3(e2+1)≈25.17
Idea 3 of 3
Repeated integration by parts
A polynomial times an exponential may require repeated applications until the polynomial differentiates away.
Worked example 1
Evaluate ∫012x2exdx.
u=x2,du=2xdx; dv=2exdx,v=2ex
∫2x2exdx=2x2ex−4∫xexdx
F(x)=2ex(x2−2x+2)
F(1)−F(0)=2e−4=2(e−2)≈1.44
Answer:2(e−2)≈1.44
Worked example 2
Evaluate ∫013x2exdx.
u=x2,du=2xdx; dv=3exdx,v=3ex
∫3x2exdx=3x2ex−6∫xexdx
F(x)=3ex(x2−2x+2)
F(1)−F(0)=3e−6=3(e−2)≈2.15
Answer:3(e−2)≈2.15
Resource alignment: Larson & Edwards, Calculus of a Single Variable, Tenth Edition, §8.2,p. 515. Explanations, diagrams and numerical practice variants are original MathLab content aligned to this section.