How do you integrate int x^3 sin x dx using integration by parts?

1 Answer
Aug 13, 2016

For the integration of a product of two functions (First function)*(Second function) = f(x),

int f(x)*dx = (First function)*int (Second function)*dx - int (d/dx(First function)*int(Second function)*dx.

This is called integration by parts.

Explanation:

The choice of first function and second function is arbitrary in case of most functions.

Here, we have f(x) = x^3*Sin x and we will choose x^3 as the first function and Sin x as the second.

Thus, int f(x)*dx = int x^3*Sin x*dx

implies int f(x)*dx = x^3 int Sin x*dx - int (d(x^3)/dx*int Sin x*dx)*dx

= -x^3*Cos x + int 3x^2*Cos x*dx

= -x^3*Cos x + 3[x^2int Cos x*dx - int (d/dx(x^2) intCos x*dx)*dx]

= -x^3*Cos x + 3[x^2Sin x - int 2xSin x*dx]

= -x^3*Cos x + 3[x^2Sin x - 2(x int Sin x*dx - int (d/dx(x)int Sin x*dx)*dx]

= -x^3Cos x + 3[x^2Sin x - 2(-xCos x + int Cos x*dx)]

= -x^3Cos x + 3[x^2Sin x + 2xCos x - 2Sin x]

Since it is an indefinite integral, we add an arbitrary constant to it.

int x^3Sin x*dx = - x^3Cos x + 3x^2Sin x + 6xCos x - 6Sin x + C where C is the integration constant.