/* global React, Shape, Peek, Cite, ENT */ const { useState: useStatePr } = React; function ProcedurePage({ peekPattern = "drawer" }) { const [expanded, setExpanded] = useStatePr(2); const [peeked, setPeeked] = useStatePr(null); const open = (e) => setPeeked(e); const close = () => setPeeked(null); const steps = [ { n: "01", title: "Identify a composite structure", content: { recognize: "An expression of the form ∫ f(g(x)) · g′(x) dx, where g(x) appears inside another function and its derivative appears as a factor.", ex: "u = x² appears inside sin(x²); its derivative 2x appears (up to constant) outside." } }, { n: "02", title: "Choose u = g(x) — the inner function", content: { math: "u = x²", prose: "Pick u so that du absorbs as much of the integrand as possible. Hint: pick u to be whatever's inside another function, or whose derivative appears multiplied." } }, { n: "03", title: "Compute du = g′(x) dx", expand: true, content: { math: "du = 2x dx, so x dx = ½ du", prose: "This is the place where du and the original dx must reconcile. If du has a constant you don't have in the integrand, divide both sides by it. If you can't get the integrand to express in u and du alone, the substitution doesn't work — pick a different u.", author: "Authored by Aiyana Two-Crows · 2024-11" } }, { n: "04", title: "Rewrite the integral entirely in u", content: { math: "∫ sin(u) · ½ du = ½ ∫ sin(u) du", prose: "If any x remains, the substitution is incomplete. Go back and rethink u." } }, { n: "05", title: "Integrate with respect to u", content: { math: "= −½ cos(u) + C", prose: "A standard antiderivative table lookup." } }, { n: "06", title: "Substitute back: u → g(x)", content: { math: "= −½ cos(x²) + C", prose: "Always undo the substitution. The answer should be in the original variable." } }, { n: "07", title: "Verify by differentiation", content: { math: "d/dx [−½ cos(x²)] = −½ · (−sin(x²)) · 2x = x sin(x²) ✓", prose: "Differentiate your answer and check it matches the integrand. The chain rule reappears here, which is why this verification works." } }, ]; return (
← calculus / procedures
procedure proc.calc.u_substitution
procedure · differential calculus · 7 steps

u-Substitution

Use when an integral has the form ∫ f(g(x)) · g′(x) dx — composition with the inner function's derivative present as a multiplicative factor. This is the integral form of the .

{/* WORKED EXAMPLE */}
§

Worked example

ex.calc.u_sub.0
source integral
∫ x · sin(x²) dx
{steps.map((s, i) => { const isExpanded = i === expanded; return (
!isExpanded && setExpanded(i)}> {!isExpanded ? ( <>
{s.n}
{s.title}
) : ( <>
{s.n}
{s.title}
{s.content.recognize && (
recognize {s.content.recognize}
)} {s.content.ex && (
in this case {s.content.ex}
)} {s.content.math && (
execute
{s.content.math}
)} {s.content.prose && (
why {s.content.prose}
)} {s.content.author && (
authored {s.content.author}
)}
)}
); })}
{/* TRY-IT slot */}
§

Try it on your own integral

live
your integral
the platform walks you through, no answer reveal
prompt 01 What's the inner function g(x) here?
you 3x
platform Good. Compute du.
you du = 3 dx
); } window.ProcedurePage = ProcedurePage;