Calculus Assignment: Integration and U-Substitution

This assignment presents detailed solutions to problems involving antiderivatives,

indefinite integrals, and integration by u-substitution. Each solution follows the

fundamental principles outlined in standard calculus texts and instructional resources

(Herman & Strang, 2024; The Organic Chemistry Tutor, 2018a, 2018b, 2021a, 2021b).

All necessary steps are shown to ensure clarity and reproducibility.

Question 1: Find the antiderivative of each function, providing all necessary steps.

I. f(x) = 1/4 – (2/5)x³

To find the antiderivative, we apply the power rule for integration, which states

that ∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n+1) + C for n ≠ –1 (Herman & Strang, 2024; The Organic Chemistry

Tutor, 2021b). We integrate term by term:

∫[1/4 – (2/5)x³] dx = ∫(1/4) dx – ∫(2/5)x³ dx

= (1/4)x – (2/5)(x⁴/4) + C

= x/4 – x⁴/10 + C

Therefore, the antiderivative is F(x) = x/4 – x⁴/10 + C, where C is the constant of

integration.

II. f(x) = 3cos(x) – 4sec²(x)

We use the standard antiderivative formulas: ∫cos(x) dx = sin(x) + C and ∫sec²(x)

dx = tan(x) + C (Herman & Strang, 2024; The Organic Chemistry Tutor, 2018a).

∫[3cos(x) – 4sec²(x)] dx = 3∫cos(x) dx – 4∫sec²(x) dx

Thus, F(x) = 3sin(x) – 4tan(x) + C.

III. f(x) = 2√x – 3/(2√x)

First, rewrite the function using rational exponents: f(x) = 2x^(1/2) – (3/2)x^(–

1/2). Applying the power rule to each term (The Organic Chemistry Tutor, 2021b):

∫[2x^(1/2) – (3/2)x^(–1/2)] dx = 2∫x^(1/2) dx – (3/2)∫x^(–1/2) dx

= 2[x^(3/2)/(3/2)] – (3/2)[x^(1/2)/(1/2)] + C

= (4/3)x^(3/2) – 3x^(1/2) + C

= (4/3)x√x – 3√x + C

Hence, F(x) = (4/3)x√x – 3√x + C.

IV. f(x) = cos(x)e^(sin(x))

This function requires u-substitution. We let u = sin(x), so that du = cos(x) dx

(Herman & Strang, 2024; The Organic Chemistry Tutor, 2021a). Substituting into the

integral:

∫cos(x)e^(sin(x)) dx = ∫e^u du

= e^u + C

= e^(sin(x)) + C

Therefore, F(x) = e^(sin(x)) + C.

Question 2: Evaluate the following integrals with all the required steps.

I. ∫(5e^(2x) – 1/(x√x)) dx
 We rewrite the second term using a rational exponent: 1/(x√x) = 1/x^(3/2) = x^(–

3/2). For the exponential term, we use ∫e^(kx) dx = e^(kx)/k + C (Herman & Strang,

2024).

∫(5e^(2x) – x^(–3/2)) dx = 5∫e^(2x) dx – ∫x^(–3/2) dx

= 5[e^(2x)/2] – [x^(–1/2)/(–1/2)] + C

= (5/2)e^(2x) + 2x^(–1/2) + C

= (5/2)e^(2x) + 2/√x + C

Thus, the integral equals (5/2)e^(2x) + 2/√x + C.

II. ∫(sin(2x) – 2cos(x)) dx

Using the antiderivative ∫sin(kx) dx = –cos(kx)/k + C and ∫cos(x) dx = sin(x) + C

(The Organic Chemistry Tutor, 2018b):

∫(sin(2x) – 2cos(x)) dx = ∫sin(2x) dx – 2∫cos(x) dx

= –cos(2x)/2 – 2sin(x) + C

Therefore, the result is –(1/2)cos(2x) – 2sin(x) + C.

III. ∫3sec(x)tan(x) dx

Recalling that the derivative of sec(x) is sec(x)tan(x), it follows that ∫sec(x)tan(x)

dx = sec(x) + C (Herman & Strang, 2024). Therefore:

∫3sec(x)tan(x) dx = 3∫sec(x)tan(x) dx

= 3sec(x) + C

Hence, the integral evaluates to 3sec(x) + C.

IV. ∫(3/x – 2/(2x–1)) dx

let u = 2x – 1, so du = 2 dx, meaning dx = du/2 (The Organic Chemistry Tutor, 2021a).

∫(3/x – 2/(2x–1)) dx = 3∫(1/x) dx – 2∫(1/(2x–1)) dx

= 3ln|x| – 2 · (1/2)ln|2x–1| + C

= 3ln|x| – ln|2x–1| + C

Thus, the integral equals 3ln|x| – ln|2x–1| + C.

Question 3: Use appropriate substitution to evaluate the following integrals with all

the required steps.

I. ∫(5sec²x)/(3 + tan(x)) dx

We recognize that the derivative of tan(x) is sec²(x), which appears in the

numerator. Let u = 3 + tan(x), so du = sec²(x) dx (Herman & Strang, 2024; The Organic

Chemistry Tutor, 2021a).

Let u = 3 + tan(x) → du = sec²(x) dx

∫(5sec²x)/(3 + tan(x)) dx = 5∫(1/u) du

= 5ln|u| + C

= 5ln|3 + tan(x)| + C

Therefore, the integral evaluates to 5ln|3 + tan(x)| + C.

II. ∫(a³x³)/√(a² – a⁴x⁴) dx, where a is constant

Let u = a² – a⁴x⁴. Then du = –4a⁴x³ dx, which gives x³ dx = –du/(4a⁴). This

substitution simplifies the radical expression in the denominator (The Organic Chemistry

Tutor, 2021a).
 Let u = a² – a⁴x⁴ → du = –4a⁴x³ dx → x³ dx = –du/(4a⁴)

∫(a³x³)/√(a² – a⁴x⁴) dx = a³ ∫(1/√u)(–du/(4a⁴))

= –(1/(4a)) ∫u^(–1/2) du

= –(1/(4a)) · [2u^(1/2)] + C

= –(1/(2a))√u + C

= –(1/(2a))√(a² – a⁴x⁴) + C

Thus, the integral equals –(1/(2a))√(a² – a⁴x⁴) + C.

III. ∫cos(x)sin⁴(x) dx

Let u = sin(x), so du = cos(x) dx. This substitution converts the integral into a

simple power rule application (Herman & Strang, 2024; The Organic Chemistry Tutor,

2021a).

Let u = sin(x) → du = cos(x) dx

∫cos(x)sin⁴(x) dx = ∫u⁴ du

= u⁵/5 + C

= sin⁵(x)/5 + C

Hence, the integral evaluates to (1/5)sin⁵(x) + C.

IV. ∫(4x³ + 2x)e^(x⁴+x²) dx

Observe that the exponent is x⁴ + x², and its derivative is 4x³ + 2x, which matches

the factor outside the exponential. Let u = x⁴ + x², so du = (4x³ + 2x) dx (The Organic

Chemistry Tutor, 2021a).

Let u = x⁴ + x² → du = (4x³ + 2x) dx

∫(4x³ + 2x)e^(x⁴+x²) dx = ∫e^u du

= e^(x⁴+x²) + C

Therefore, the integral equals e^(x⁴+x²) + C.

Conclusion

Through these exercises, we have demonstrated the systematic application of

integration rules, including the power rule, exponential and logarithmic integration,

trigonometric antiderivatives, and u-substitution. Each problem reinforces the importance

of algebraic simplification and careful identification of substitution candidates before

applying calculus techniques (Herman & Strang, 2024; The Organic Chemistry Tutor,

2021a). Mastery of these foundational skills is essential for progressing to more advanced

topics such as definite integrals, applications of integration, and differential equations.

References

1. Herman, E., & Strang, G. (2024). Calculus volume 1. OpenStax, Rice University.

[Link]

2. The Organic Chemistry Tutor. (2018, March 8). Basic integration problems [Video].

YouTube. [Link]

3. The Organic Chemistry Tutor. (2018, March 8). Indefinite integral [Video].

YouTube. [Link]

4. The Organic Chemistry Tutor. (2018, March 10). Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Part 1 [Video]. YouTube. [Link]

5. The Organic Chemistry Tutor. (2018, March 10). Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Part 2 [Video]. YouTube. [Link]

[Video]. YouTube. [Link]

7. The Organic Chemistry Tutor. (2021, April 21). Antiderivatives [Video]. YouTube.

[Link]