MHT-CET Maths · Teaching notes
Indefinite Integration — MHT-CET Maths
Indefinite Integration is one of the densest MHT-CET Maths chapters — 121 PYQs across 2021–2025, and the HARDEST by difficulty mix (about 60% are HARD). It is pure technique: there is no theory to memorise, only a toolbox of methods and the judgement to pick the right one. The chapter teaches in six movements, each one resting on the tools laid down before it: (1) Foundations — what an antiderivative is, the +C, the standard-formula table, the linear-argument (1/a) rule, and the algebra you do BEFORE integrating; (2) Substitution — the single highest-yield method (44 PYQs), built on the f'(x)/f(x) → log pattern and the reciprocal / take-out-the-power substitutions that dominate the hard end; (3) Trigonometric Integrals I — the standard tan/cot/sec/cosec results, power-reduction, identity simplification, and reducing an inverse-trig argument to a linear function of x; (4) Rational Functions and Partial Fractions — standard quadratic forms, completing the square, the numerator split, and decomposition (the arctan/arcsin/log machinery the next movement leans on); (5) Trigonometric Integrals II — the chapter's hard core: the half-angle (Weierstrass) substitution, the product-of-sines split, the trig-to-partial-fraction bridge, the divide-by-cos-squared move, and the fractional-power tan trick; (6) Integration by Parts — LIATE, the cyclic integrals, and the recurring eˣ[f(x)+f'(x)] family. Every PYQ is tagged — learn the pattern, drill the bank, recover the marks.
Subtopic notes
Foundations — Antiderivatives, the +C, and Standard Formulae
8 PYQsIntegration is differentiation run backwards: given a rate of change, recover the function — plus an unknown constant C that no derivative can pin down.
Open note
Integration by Substitution — the Workhorse Method
51 PYQsSpot an inner function whose derivative also appears in the integrand, substitute to rename it, and the integral collapses to a standard form.
Open note
Trigonometric Integrals I — Powers and Identities
12 PYQsRewrite powers and sums of trig functions using identities until what remains is a standard integral.
Open note
Rational Functions and Partial Fractions
27 PYQsBreak a rational integrand into simple standard pieces — arctan/log quadratic forms, completed squares, and partial fractions.
Open note
Trigonometric Integrals II — Rational Forms and Substitutions
35 PYQsThe hard trig core — fractions in sine and cosine, handled by the half-angle (Weierstrass) substitution, the divide-by-cosine-squared move, the fractional-power tangent trick, and numerator-matching.
Open note
Integration by Parts
26 PYQsIntegrate a product by trading it for an easier integral — choose u by LIATE, and watch for the cyclic and eˣ[f+f'] shortcuts.
Open note
PYQ weightage by concept
32 concepts · 159 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
32 concepts · 159 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Finding C from a Boundary Condition | 2 | 1% |
| Reconstruct the Function, Then Integrate | 2 | 1% |
| Linearity and Algebraic Pre-processing | 1 | 1% |
| Antiderivative and the Constant of Integrationfoundation | — | — |
| The Standard-Formula Tablefoundation | — | — |
| The Linear-Argument Rule (replace x with ax + b)foundation | — | — |
| Trigonometric Simplification Toolkitfoundation | — | — |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Substitution Rule | 16 | 10% |
| Root and Linear-Radical Substitutions | 11 | 7% |
| Reciprocal and Take-out-the-Power Substitutions | 7 | 4% |
| Exponential and Special Substitutions | 7 | 4% |
| Power of a Function times its Derivative | 2 | 1% |
| The f'(x)/f(x) → log Pattern | 1 | 1% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Simplification before Integrating | 4 | 3% |
| Power Reduction with Pythagorean Identities | 2 | 1% |
| Simplify the Inverse-Trig Argument First | 1 | 1% |
| The Standard tan, cot, sec, cosec Integralsfoundation | — | — |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Partial-Fraction Decomposition | 11 | 7% |
| Completing the Square | 2 | 1% |
| Linear Numerator over a Quadratic (Numerator Split) | 2 | 1% |
| Standard Quadratic Denominator Forms | 1 | 1% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Fractional-Power tan Trick | 10 | 6% |
| Numerator as Denominator + its Derivative | 6 | 4% |
| Divide by cos²x for a + b·sin²x Forms | 3 | 2% |
| Product of Two Shifted Sines (or Cosines) | 3 | 2% |
| The Half-Angle (Weierstrass) Substitution | 2 | 1% |
| Trig to Partial Fractions (substitute, then decompose) | 2 | 1% |
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The eˣ[f(x) + f'(x)] Family | 13 | 8% |
| Integration by Parts and the LIATE Rule | 6 | 4% |
| Cyclic Integrals (Return-to-Self) | 3 | 2% |
| Integrals of √(quadratic) — Standard Results (syllabus reference)foundation | — | — |
| Generalised (Tabular) By-Parts — a shortcutfoundation | — | — |
Formula & revision sheet
32 formulas · 35 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
32 formulas · 35 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formulas (7)
- Antiderivative and the Constant of Integration · Indefinite integral
- The Standard-Formula Table · Power rule (the most-used row)
- The Linear-Argument Rule (replace x with ax + b) · Linear-argument rule
- Linearity and Algebraic Pre-processing · Linearity of integration
- Finding C from a Boundary Condition · Solving for the constant
- Reconstruct the Function, Then Integrate · Composition of a function with itself
- Trigonometric Simplification Toolkit · The collapses you reach for most
Watch out for (9)
- Never drop the +C on an indefinite integral→ Antiderivative and the Constant of Integration
- The power rule excludes→ The Standard-Formula Table
- Only LINEAR insides get the 1/a shortcut→ The Linear-Argument Rule (replace x with ax + b)
- Divide before you integrate an improper fraction→ Linearity and Algebraic Pre-processing
- Solve for C only AFTER integrating→ Finding C from a Boundary Condition
- Build f explicitly before integrating→ Reconstruct the Function, Then Integrate
- (half-angle) vs (power-reduction)→ Trigonometric Simplification Toolkit
- The root of a perfect square is a MODULUS→ Trigonometric Simplification Toolkit
- — mind which way the half-angle shifts→ Trigonometric Simplification Toolkit
Formulas (6)
- The Substitution Rule · Substitution rule
- The f'(x)/f(x) → log Pattern · Logarithmic integral
- Power of a Function times its Derivative · Power-of-a-function rule
- Root and Linear-Radical Substitutions · Linear-radical substitution
- Reciprocal and Take-out-the-Power Substitutions · The reciprocal substitution
- Exponential and Special Substitutions · Exponential substitution
Watch out for (6)
- Adjust for the missing constant→ The Substitution Rule
- Engineer the numerator into f'(x) + leftover→ The f'(x)/f(x) → log Pattern
- n = −1 is NOT this rule→ Power of a Function times its Derivative
- Re-express EVERY x, including dx→ Root and Linear-Radical Substitutions
- Pick the sign of t = x ± k/x from the numerator→ Reciprocal and Take-out-the-Power Substitutions
- Towers: substitute the INNER exponential→ Exponential and Special Substitutions
Formulas (4)
Watch out for (4)
- ∫sec and ∫cosec are NOT plain logs of sec/cosec→ The Standard tan, cot, sec, cosec Integrals
- Keep one sec²x to pair with the tan-power→ Power Reduction with Pythagorean Identities
- Try an identity before a substitution→ Identity Simplification before Integrating
- Reduce the argument BEFORE integrating→ Simplify the Inverse-Trig Argument First
Formulas (4)
Watch out for (5)
- x⁴ + bx² + c → try t = x ± k/x→ Standard Quadratic Denominator Forms
- Factor the sign on x² before completing the square→ Completing the Square
- Split the numerator BEFORE completing the square→ Linear Numerator over a Quadratic (Numerator Split)
- Improper fraction? Divide before decomposing→ Partial-Fraction Decomposition
- Repeated factor needs every power→ Partial-Fraction Decomposition
Formulas (6)
- The Half-Angle (Weierstrass) Substitution · Weierstrass substitution
- Divide by cos²x for a + b·sin²x Forms · After dividing by cos²x
- Product of Two Shifted Sines (or Cosines) · Shifted-angle split
- Trig to Partial Fractions (substitute, then decompose) · The bridge
- The Fractional-Power tan Trick · The reduction (m + n even)
- Numerator as Denominator + its Derivative · Decomposition of the numerator
Watch out for (6)
- Weierstrass is for a + b·sin/cos, not a + b·sin²→ The Half-Angle (Weierstrass) Substitution
- Three sin/cos denominators, three substitutions→ Divide by cos²x for a + b·sin²x Forms
- Split it — don't reach for Weierstrass→ Product of Two Shifted Sines (or Cosines)
- No spare cos/sin → no bridge→ Trig to Partial Fractions (substitute, then decompose)
- Check m + n is an even integer first→ The Fractional-Power tan Trick
- Convert tan-fractions to sin/cos first→ Numerator as Denominator + its Derivative
Formulas (5)
- Integration by Parts and the LIATE Rule · Integration by parts
- Cyclic Integrals (Return-to-Self) · The cyclic result
- The eˣ[f(x) + f'(x)] Family · The eˣ[f + f'] shortcut
- Integrals of √(quadratic) — Standard Results (syllabus reference) · Square root of a quadratic — the three results
- Generalised (Tabular) By-Parts — a shortcut · Tabular by-parts series
Watch out for (5)
- A lone log or inverse-trig still uses parts→ Integration by Parts and the LIATE Rule
- Stop after two rounds — don't loop forever→ Cyclic Integrals (Return-to-Self)
- Use identities to expose f + f'→ The eˣ[f(x) + f'(x)] Family
- Syllabus result, not a current bank pattern→ Integrals of √(quadratic) — Standard Results (syllabus reference)
- Only for a polynomial first function→ Generalised (Tabular) By-Parts — a shortcut