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Math Coach Amy
Amy Ferguson Moncure

Basic Integration

Practice the most common integrals you need for Calculus 2.

Pythagorean Identities
\(\sin^{2}x + \cos^{2}x = 1\)
\(1 + \tan^{2}x = \sec^{2}x\)
\(1 + \cot^{2}x = \csc^{2}x\)

Power-Reduction Formulas
\(\sin^{2}x = \dfrac{1 – \cos 2x}{2}\)
\(\cos^{2}x = \dfrac{1 + \cos 2x}{2}\)

Worked Example

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int\cos x\,dx\)

1st: Recognize the basic form

The derivative of \(\sin x\) is \(\cos x\).

2nd: Integrate

\(\displaystyle\int\cos x\,dx = \sin x + C\)

Final answer

\(\sin x + C\)

Level 1

Easy

Direct basic integrals

1

\(\displaystyle\int\sec^{2}x\,dx\)

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1st: Recognize the form

The derivative of \(\tan x\) is \(\sec^{2}x\).

2nd: Integrate

\(\displaystyle\int\sec^{2}x\,dx = \tan x + C\)

Final answer

\(\tan x + C\)

2

\(\displaystyle\int e^{x}\,dx\)

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1st: Recognize the form

The derivative of \(e^{x}\) is \(e^{x}\).

2nd: Integrate

\(\displaystyle\int e^{x}\,dx = e^{x} + C\)

Final answer

\(e^{x} + C\)

3

\(\displaystyle\int\dfrac{1}{x}\,dx\)

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1st: Recognize the form

The derivative of \(\ln|x|\) is \(\dfrac{1}{x}\).

2nd: Integrate

\(\displaystyle\int\dfrac{1}{x}\,dx = \ln|x| + C\)

Why the absolute value?

\(\ln x\) is only defined for \(x > 0\), but \(\dfrac{1}{x}\) is defined for both positive and negative \(x\).

Using \(\ln|x|\) makes the antiderivative valid on both sides of zero:

• \(x > 0\) → \(\ln|x| = \ln x\)

• \(x < 0\) → \(\ln|x| = \ln(-x)\)

Final answer

\(\ln|x| + C\)

Level 2

Medium

Requires an identity or simple rewrite

1

\(\displaystyle\int\tan^{2}x\,dx\)

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1st: Use a Pythagorean identity

\(\tan^{2}x = \sec^{2}x – 1\)

2nd: Rewrite the integral

\(\displaystyle\int\tan^{2}x\,dx = \int(\sec^{2}x – 1)\,dx\)

3. Integrate term by term

\(\int\sec^{2}x\,dx – \int 1\,dx = \tan x – x + C\)

Final answer

\(\tan x – x + C\)

2

\(\displaystyle\int\sin^{2}x\,dx\)

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1st: Use the power-reduction formula

\(\sin^{2}x = \dfrac{1 – \cos 2x}{2}\)

2nd: Rewrite the integral

\(\displaystyle\int\sin^{2}x\,dx = \int\dfrac{1 – \cos 2x}{2}\,dx = \dfrac{1}{2}\int(1 – \cos 2x)\,dx\)

3. Integrate

\(\dfrac{1}{2}\left(x – \dfrac{1}{2}\sin 2x\right) + C = \dfrac{x}{2} – \dfrac{1}{4}\sin 2x + C\)

Final answer

\(\dfrac{x}{2} – \dfrac{1}{4}\sin 2x + C\)

3

\(\displaystyle\int\sec x\tan x\,dx\)

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1st: Recognize the form

The derivative of \(\sec x\) is \(\sec x\tan x\).

2nd: Integrate

\(\displaystyle\int\sec x\tan x\,dx = \sec x + C\)

Final answer

\(\sec x + C\)

4

\(\displaystyle\int\cos^{2}x\,dx\)

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1st: Use the power-reduction formula

\(\cos^{2}x = \dfrac{1 + \cos 2x}{2}\)

2nd: Rewrite and integrate

\(\dfrac{1}{2}\int(1 + \cos 2x)\,dx = \dfrac{1}{2}\left(x + \dfrac{1}{2}\sin 2x\right) + C\)

Final answer

\(\dfrac{x}{2} + \dfrac{1}{4}\sin 2x + C\)

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