How do you integrate int 4 e^x ln x dx using integration by parts?

1 Answer
Apr 4, 2016

You can try, but you'll find that this integral can produce an infinity of integrals if you keep applying integration by parts over and over.

Explanation:

Integration by parts is:
intudv=uv-intvdu
A helpful acronym for choosing the u of IbP is LIATE :
L - logarithmic (ex. lnx, log_3x)
I - inverse trigonometric (ex. tan^(-1)x, arcsin(x))
A - algebraic (ex. x^2, 1/x)
T - trigonometric (ex. sinx, cosx)
E - exponential (ex. e^x, 2^x)

In our case, we have a logarithmic (lnx) and exponential (4e^x) function. In our LIATE list, logarithmic functions come first, so our u will be lnx. That means everything else, namely 4e^xdx will be dv:
u=lnx->(du)/dx=1/x->du=1/xdx
dv=4e^xdx->intdv=int4e^xdx->v=4e^x

Applying the parts formula:
int4e^xlnxdx=(lnx)(4e^x)-int4e^x1/xdx
color(white)(XX)=4e^xlnx-4inte^x1/xdx

We have to do integration by parts a second time for the new integral 4inte^x1/xdx:
u=1/x->(du)/dx=-1/x^2->du=-1/x^2dx
dv=e^xdx->intdv=inte^xdx->v=e^x

Applying what we found:
int4e^xlnxdx=4e^xlnx-4(1/xe^x-inte^x(-1/x^2dx))
color(white)(XX)=4e^xlnx-4(e^x/x+inte^x1/x^2dx)

Ahhhhh! We have to use another integration by parts! But before you do, notice what's going on. Each time we integrate by parts, we end up with something like e^x1/x in a new integral. This is, in fact, a pattern. If we keep integrating by parts, we'll get one integral after another, in the form int(-1)^n(e^x/x^n)dx - and it will never stop. So this integral continues on forever with no solution.