integration tutorial: analysis

Consider the integral
int [ (e3y + 2) / e5y ] dy
This is an indefinite integral, so we need to find the most general antiderivative of the integrand f(y).
To find an antiderivative of f(y), we go through our list of integration methods:
  1. Recognize elementary antiderivatives
  2. Rewrite the integrand to make it easier
  3. Use substitution to reverse the chain rule or simplify the integrand
  4. Use integration by parts
  5. Use inspection to see the value of a definite integral
to find one that works for this integrand. In this case, only one method is appropriate. We can rewrite the integrand: split the integrand into two parts and use properties of exponents to combine the numerator and denominators of the resulting ratios of exponentials to give an expression that is more easily integrable. This is shown below.
Rewriting:
Split the integrand into two parts and use properties of exponents to combine the numerator and denominators of the resulting ratios of exponentials to rewrite the integral:
[ (e3y + 2) / e5y ] = e-2y + 2e-5y.
This can be broken into separate integrals,
int [ (e3y + 2) / e5y ] dy =inte-2ydy+int2e-5ydy
which can be evaluated using substitution (of "ax"), and substitution (of "ax"), respectively, to obtain
inte-2ydy+int2e-5ydy = (-(1/2) e-2y) + (-(2/5) e-5y) + C.

Explanation for rewritten term(s)
Substitution (of "ax")
Let w = -2 y. Then w' = -2, so (1/(-2)) dw = dy. The integral can therefore be rewritten as
int e-2y dy = int ew (1/(-2)) dw = -(1/2) ew + C
Thus, substituting back for w,
int e-2y dy = -(1/2) e-2y + C

Substitution (of "ax")
Let w = -5 y. Then w' = -5, so (1/(-5)) dw = dy. The integral can therefore be rewritten as

int 2e-5y dy = int 2ew (1/(-5)) dw = -(2/5) ew + C
Thus, substituting back for w,
int 2e-5y dy = -(2/5) e-5y + C

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integration analysis
Last Modified: Wed Feb 6 13:53:59 EST 2002
Comments to glarose@umich.edu
©2002 Gavin LaRose, UM Math Dept.