1.5 Substitution
Learning Objectives
- Use substitution to evaluate indefinite integrals.
- Use substitution to evaluate definite integrals.
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus gave us a method to evaluate integrals without using Riemann sums. The drawback of this method, though, is that we must be able to find an antiderivative, and this is not always easy. In this section, we examine a technique, called integration by substitution, that helps finding antiderivatives. Specifically, this method allows to find antiderivatives when the integrand is the result of a chain-rule derivative.
At first, the approach to the substitution procedure may not appear very obvious. However, it is primarily a visual task—that is, the integrand shows you what to do; it is a matter of recognizing the form of the function. So, what are we supposed to see? We are looking for an integrand of the form
For example, in the integral
we have
and
Then,
and we see that our integrand is in the correct form.
The method is called substitution because we substitute part of the integrand with the variable
and part of the integrand with
. It is also referred to as change of variables because we are changing variables to obtain an expression that is easier to work with for applying the integration rules.
Substitution for Indefinite Integrals
Let
where
is continuous, let
be continuous over the range of
, and let
be an antiderivative of
Then,
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{cc}\ds \int f\left(g\left(x\right)\right){g}^{\prime }(x)\,dx \hfill &\ds =\int f\left(u\right)du\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =F\left(u\right)+C\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =F\left(g\left(x\right)\right)+C.\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-e46bba3a896d152c34202fbd019d3f06_l3.png)
Proof
Let
,
,
, and
be as specified in the theorem. Then
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{cc}\ds \frac{d}{\,dx }\Big(F\left(g\left(x\right)\right)\Big)\hfill &\ds ={F}^{\prime }(g\left(x\right)){g}^{\prime }(x)\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =f\left(g\left(x\right)\right){g}^{\prime }(x).\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-25134c7be97cb42873e942735add2c21_l3.png)
This means that
is an antiderivative of
and hence
![]()
Since
and
is an antiderivative of
, we have that
, which completes the proof. □
In practice, when we perform a substitution, we might not know what
is right away, and we use a change of variable
to replace
with a simpler integral
that we then evaluate. This step can be viewed as substituting
and
. For us,
and
are just parts of integral notation. However, in a more rigorous mathematical analysis, they are called differentials that have a proper definition. Without going into details, we notice that if
, then the formula
agrees with the Leibniz’s notation
for the derivative
of
with respect to
. Indeed,
, and the above formula can be obtained by “multiplying” both sides by
. This, one more time, confirms a deep connection between the differential calculus and the integral calculus.
Returning to the problem we looked at originally, we let
and then
Rewriting the integral in terms of
, we obtain:

Using the power rule for integrals, we have
![]()
Substituting the original expression for
back into the solution, we get
![]()
We can generalize the procedure in the following Problem-Solving Strategy.
Problem-Solving Strategy: Integration by Substitution
- Look carefully at the integrand and select an expression
within the integrand to set equal to
. Quite often, we select
so that
is also part of the integrand. - Substitute
and
into the integral. - We should now be able to evaluate the integral with respect to
. If the integral can’t be evaluated we need to go back and select a different expression to use as
. - Evaluate the integral in terms of
. - Replace
with
to write the result in terms of
.
Using Substitution to Evaluate an Indefinite Integral
Use substitution to evaluate ![]()
Solution
The first step is to choose an expression for
. We choose
because then
and we already have
in the integrand. Write the integral in terms of
:
![]()
Now we can evaluate the integral with respect to
and then return to the variable
:
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{ll}\ds \int {u}^{4}du\hfill &\ds =\frac{{u}^{5}}{5}+C\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\frac{{\left(3{x}^{2}+4\right)}^{5}}{5}+C.\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-1e5750f710ef447dc239a01c53ab26fe_l3.png)
Analysis
As usual, we can check our answer by taking the derivative of the result of integration to see if we really obtain the integrand. We have
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{ll}\ds \\[5mm] \hfill \left(\dfrac{{\left(3{x}^{2}+4\right)}^{5}}{5}+C\right)'&\ds =\left(\frac{1}{5}\right)5{\left(3{x}^{2}+4\right)}^{4}(3x^2+4)'\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds ={\left(3{x}^{2}+4\right)}^{4}(6x).\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-e78ddcf48df948d79e43305c06c3eac1_l3.png)
This is exactly the expression in the integrand we started with, which means that our answer is correct.
Use substitution to evaluate ![]()
Answer
![]()
Sometimes we need to adjust the constants in our integral if they don’t match up exactly with the expressions we are substituting.
Using Substitution with Alteration
Use substitution to evaluate the indefinite integral ![]()
Solution
Let
and
Now we have a problem because
and the original expression has only
We have to alter our expression for
or the integral in
will be twice as large as it should be. Multiplying both sides of the
equation by
solves this problem:
![]()
We can then write the integral in terms of
as follows:
![]()
Integrating the expression in
by rewriting
as
and using the power rule for integrals, we obtain:
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{ll}\ds \frac12\int\sqrt u\, du\hfill &\ds =\frac{1}{2}\int {u}^{1\text{/}2}\,du\hfill \\[5mm]&\ds =\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\frac{{u}^{3\text{/}2}}{\frac{3}{2}}+C\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\left(\frac{2}{3}\right){u}^{3\text{/}2}+C\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\frac{1}{3}{u}^{3\text{/}2}+C\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\frac{1}{3}{\left({z}^{2}-5\right)}^{3\text{/}2}+C.\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-30b544f85a333dfbe29c1d0aa944c443_l3.png)
Use substitution to find the antiderivative of ![]()
Answer
![]()
Hint
Multiply the
equation by ![]()
Using Substitution with Integrals of Trigonometric Functions
Use substitution to evaluate the integral ![]()
Solution
First, we note that we can rewrite the integral as
, that is, we can combine the numerator with
. Since the denominator is a power of
and the derivative of
is
it is natural to take
Then
and hence
. Substituting into the integral, we have
![]()
Evaluating the integral, we get
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{ll}\ds - \int \frac{1}{{u}^{3}}\,du\hfill &\ds = - \int {u}^{-3}\,du\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds = - \left(-\frac{1}{2}\right){u}^{-2}+C=\frac12u^{-2}+C.\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-14184594dc714d513e8ca88c9c7965ea_l3.png)
Putting the answer back in terms of
, we get
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{cc}\ds \int \frac{\text{sin}\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}(t)}{{\text{cos}}^{3}(t)}\,dt\hfill &\ds =\frac{1}{2} u^{-2}+C\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\frac{1}{2}\big(\cos(t)\big)^{-2}+C.\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-08bb3a598f33ea0215219f8eb86e5b56_l3.png)
Use substitution to evaluate the integral ![]()
Answer
![]()
In a similar way, one can use a substitution to derive a formula for
. Indeed, rewriting
as
and taking
, we get that
and hence
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{cc}\ds \int \tan(x)\,dx &\ds=\int\dfrac{\sin(x)}{\cos(x)}\,dx=\int\dfrac{1}{\cos(x)}\sin(x)\,dx\\[5mm] &\ds=\int \frac1u(-du)=-\int \frac1u\,du=-\ln|u|+C.\hfill\end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-459698d4fcefc4c115468033eb3ce0ae_l3.png)
Going back to the variable
, we get
![]()
The answer is also commonly given in the form
, which is, in fact, the same since
![]()
and hence by the properties of logarithms (
),
.
Likewise, a substituion of
, allows to establish the formula
Other trigonometric integrals that can be evaluated using a substitution are
and
. However, their evaluation is not straightforward and requires using a trick. To find
, we multiply and divide the integrand by
:

As crazy as it might seem, it helps because the derivative of the denominator is precisely equal to the numerator. That is, if we set
, then
, and hence
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \begin{array}{ll}\ds\int \sec(x)\, dx&\ds=\int\frac{\sec^2(x)+\sec(x)\tan(x)}{\sec(x)+\tan(x)}\,dx=\int \frac{du}{u}=\ln|u|+C\\[5mm]&\ds=\ln|\sec(x)+\tan(x)|+C.\end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-387fdae189b845e5416d72b143312f42_l3.png)
To evaluate
one can either multiply the integrand by
or by
, and then make the corresponding change of variable. This results in seemingly different answers of
and
. To see that they are, in fact, the same, one needs to use the trigonometric formula
together with the rules of logarithms (
and
):
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \begin{array}{ll}\ds\ln|\csc(x)+\cot(x)|+\ln|\csc(x)-\cot(x)|&\ds=\ln\left|\big(\csc(x)+\cot(x)\big)\big(\csc(x)-\cot(x)\big)\right|\\[5mm]&\ds=\ln\left|\csc^2(x)-\cot^2(x)\right|=\ln(1)=0, \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-5a35e28d141809a48c1b1dd1a3de113c_l3.png)
and hence
.
Because of the significance of the above formulas, especially in Section 3.2 Trigonometric Integrals, we gather all of them in a single statement below.
Basic Trigonometric Integrals That Use a Substitution
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \begin{array}{ll} \ds\int \tan(x)\,dx &\ds=\ds-\ln|\cos(x)|+C=\ln|\sec(x)|+C\\[5mm] \ds\int \cot(x)\,dx &\ds=\ds\ln|\sin(x)|+C\\[5mm] \ds \int \sec(x)\,dx &\ds=\ds\ln|\sec(x)+\tan(x)|+C\\[5mm] \ds \int \csc(x)\,dx &\ds=\ds-\ln|\csc(x)+\cot(x)|+C=\ln|\csc(x)-\cot(x)|+C\end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-bdbb61c4145efdf992ada071da6fd43f_l3.png)
Sometimes we need to manipulate an integral in ways that are more complicated than just multiplying or dividing by a constant. After the substitution is completed,
should be the only variable in the integrand. In some cases, to achieve this, we need to solve for the original variable in terms of
. We illustrate how it works in the next example.
Evaluating an Indefinite Integral Using a Substitution
Use substitution to find the antiderivative of ![]()
Solution
If we let
then
But this does not account for the
in the numerator of the integrand. We need to express
in terms of
to complete the substitution. If
then
Now we can rewrite the integral in terms of
:
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{ll}\ds \int \frac{x}{\sqrt{x-1}}\,dx \hfill &\ds =\int \frac{u+1}{\sqrt{u}}du\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\int \left(\sqrt{u}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{u}}\right)du\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\int \left({u}^{1\text{/}2}+{u}^{-1\text{/}2}\right)du.\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-83eb06eb7c1b197b3568eb3b5b864c2f_l3.png)
Then we integrate in the usual way, replace
with the original expression, and factor and simplify the result. Thus,
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{cc}\ds \int \left({u}^{1\text{/}2}+{u}^{-1\text{/}2}\right)du\hfill &\ds =\frac{2}{3}{u}^{3\text{/}2}+2{u}^{1\text{/}2}+C\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\frac{2}{3}{\left(x-1\right)}^{3\text{/}2}+2{\left(x-1\right)}^{1\text{/}2}+C\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-7e90e811ab94d451af699820b64a4067_l3.png)
Use substitution to evaluate the indefinite integral ![]()
Answer
![]()
Substitution for Definite Integrals
Substitution can be used with definite integrals, too. However, using substitution to evaluate a definite integral requires a change to the limits of integration. If we change variables in the integrand, the limits of integration change as well.
Substitution for Definite Integrals
Let
,
be continuous over an interval
, and let
be continuous over the range of
Then,

Although we will not formally prove this theorem, we justify it with some calculations here. From the substitution rule for indefinite integrals, if
is an antiderivative of
we have
![]()
Then
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{cc}\ds \int\limits_{a}^{b}f\left(g\left(x\right)\right){g}^{\prime }(x)\,dx \hfill &\ds ={F\left(g\left(x\right)\right)}\Big|_{x=a}^{x=b}\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =F\left(g\left(b\right)\right)-F\left(g\left(a\right)\right)\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds ={F\left(u\right)}\Big|_{u=g\left(a\right)}^{u=g\left(b\right)}\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\int\limits_{g\left(a\right)}^{g\left(b\right)}f\left(u\right)du,\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-ae1a7e1deed2347954bbff53b8c7b597_l3.png)
and we have the desired result.
Using Substitution to Evaluate a Definite Integral
Use substitution to evaluate 
Solution
Take
. Then
and hence
. To adjust the bounds of integration, note that
corresponds to
and
corresponds to
. We then obtain
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \begin{array}{ll}\ds \int\limits_0^1 (x^3+1) e^{x^4+4x} \,dx \hfill&\ds =\int\limits_0^5 \frac14 e^u du\hfill\\[5mm]&\ds =\frac14 e^u\Big|_0^5\hfill\\[5mm]&\ds =\frac{e^5-1}{4}.\end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-f43ca6b1da240b76e58fc522ce4fe889_l3.png)
Use substitution to evaluate 
Answer
![]()
Hint
Take
.
Using Substitution with a Trigonometric Function
Use substitution to evaluate 
Solution
Let
Then,
and we have that
. To adjust the limits of integration, we note that when
and when
So our substitution gives
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{cc}\ds \int\limits_{1\text{/}2}^{1}\frac{\sin\left({\frac1x}\right)}{x^2}\,dx \hfill &\ds =\int\limits_{2}^{1}\sin(u)\cdot (-1)du\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =(\cos(u)){}\Big|_{2}^{1}\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\cos(1)-\cos(2)\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-2ea0325679e3b2a307af6dddeff2fae9_l3.png)
Analysis
Use substitution to evaluate 
Answer
![]()
Hint
Take
.
Evaluating a Definite Integral using Substitution
Use substitution to evaluate 
Solution
Let
and then
Since the original function has
, we need to “split”
from it to combine with
, that is, we write
, and then
. Multiplying both sides of
by
, we obtain that
, and so to proceed with the chosen substitution, we need to express
in terms of
. Since we defined
as
, we have that
, and hence
. Finally, to adjust the limits of integration, note that when
and when
Then

Evaluating the integral, we obtain
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{ll}\ds -\frac13\int\limits_{1}^{0}u^4(1-u)du\hfill &\ds =-\frac13\int\limits_1^0(u^4-u^5)du\hfill\\[5mm]&\ds =\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)\left(\frac{{u}^{5}}{5}-\frac{u^6}6\right){}\Big|_{1}^{0}\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =-\frac{1}{3}\left[(0-0)-\left(\frac15-\frac16\right)\right]\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds =\frac{1}{90}.\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-55d8bbea299057645ec316df59d807a4_l3.png)
Use substitution to evaluate the definite integral 
Answer
![]()
Hint
Take
.
Key Concepts
- Substitution is a technique that simplifies the integration of functions that are the result of a chain-rule derivative. The term ‘substitution’ refers to changing variables or substituting the variable
and
for appropriate expressions in the integrand. - When using substitution for a definite integral, we also have to change the limits of integration.
Key Equations
- Substitution with Indefinite Integrals

- Substitution with Definite Integrals

Exercises
In the following exercises, evaluate the indefinite integral using the indicated substitution.
1. ![]()
Answer
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2. ![]()
3. ![]()
Answer
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4. ![]()
5. ![]()
Answer
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6. ![]()
7. ![]()
Answer
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8. ![]()
9. ![]()
Answer
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10. ![]()
In the following exercises, use a suitable change of variables to evaluate the indefinite integral.
11. ![]()
Answer
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12. ![]()
13. ![]()
Answer
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14. ![]()
15. ![]()
Answer
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16. ![]()
17. ![]()
Answer
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18. ![]()
19. ![]()
Answer
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20. ![]()
21. ![]()
Answer
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22. ![]()
23. ![]()
Answer
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24. ![]()
25. ![]()
Answer
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26. ![]()
27. ![]()
Answer
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In the following exercises, use a change of variables to evaluate the definite integral.
28. 
29. 
Answer
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30. 
31. 
Answer
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32. 
33. 
Answer
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34. 
35. 
Answer
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36. 
37. 
(Hint: Write
in terms of
and
and make a substitution
)
Answer

In the following exercises, evaluate the indefinite integral
with constant
using a substitution. Then, graph the function and the antiderivative over the indicated interval. If possible, estimate a value of
that would need to be added to the antiderivative to make it equal to the definite integral
with
being the left endpoint of the given interval.
38. [T]
over ![]()
39. [T]
over ![]()
Answer

The antiderivative is
Since the antiderivative is not continuous at
one cannot find a value of
that would make
work as a definite integral.
40. [T]
over ![]()
41. [T]
over ![]()
Answer
![Two graphs. The first is the function f(x) = sin(x) / cos(x)^3 over [-5pi/16, 5pi/16]. It is an increasing concave down function for values less than zero and an increasing concave up function for values greater than zero. The second is the fuction f(x) = ½ sec(x)^2 over the same interval. It is a wide, concave up curve which decreases for values less than zero and increases for values greater than zero.](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/sites/27/2022/08/CNX_Calc_Figure_05_05_206-5.jpg)
The antiderivative is
You should take
so that ![]()
42. [T]
over ![]()
43. [T]
over ![]()
Answer

The antiderivative is
One should take ![]()
44. If
in
what can you say about the value of the integral?
45. Is the substitution
in the definite integral
okay? If not, why not?
Answer
No, because the integrand is discontinuous at ![]()
In the following exercises, use a change of variable to show that each definite integral is equal to zero.
46. 
47. 
Answer
the integral becomes 
48. 
49. 
Answer
the integral becomes 
50. 
51. 
Answer
the integral becomes
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \ds \begin{array}{ll}\ds\int\limits_{1}^{-1}u\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}\text{cos}\left(\pi \left(1-u\right)\right)(-1)du\hfill&\ds =\int\limits_{1}^{-1}u(-\cos(u))(-1)du\hfill \\[5mm] &\ds=\int\limits_{1}^{-1}u\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}\text{cos}\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}(u)du\hfill=-\int\limits_{-1}^{1}u\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}\text{cos}\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}(u)\,du=0\hfill \end{array}](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/quicklatex/quicklatex.com-6864501fc6dad71468c52631b4c1115c_l3.png)
since the integrand is odd.
52. 
53. Show that the average value of
over an interval
is the same as the average value of
over the interval
for ![]()
Answer
Setting
and
we obtain

54. Find the area under the graph of
between
and
where
,
is fixed, and evaluate the limit as ![]()
55. Find the area under the graph of
between
and
where
and
is fixed. Evaluate the limit as ![]()
Answer

As
the limit is
if
and the limit does not exist and has a trend of
if ![]()
56. The area of a semicircle of radius 1 can be expressed as
Use the substitution
to express the area of a semicircle as the integral of a trigonometric function. You do not need to compute the integral.
57. The area of the top half of an ellipse with a major axis that is the
-axis from
to
and with a minor axis that is the
-axis from
to
can be written as
Use the substitution
to express this area in terms of an integral of a trigonometric function. You do not need to compute the integral.
Answer

58. [T] The following graph is of a function of the form
Estimate the coefficients
and
, and the frequency parameters
and
. Use these estimates to approximate 
![A graph of a function of the given form over [0, 2pi], which has six turning points. They are located at just before pi/4, just after pi/2, between 3pi/4 and pi, between pi and 5pi/4, just before 3pi/2, and just after 7pi/4 at about 3, -2, 1, -1, 2, and -3. It begins at the origin and ends at (2pi, 0). It crosses the x axis between pi/4 and pi/2, just before 3pi/4, pi, just after 5pi/4, and between 3pi/2 and 4pi/4.](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/sites/27/2022/08/CNX_Calc_Figure_05_05_201-5.jpg)
59. [T] The following graph is of a function of the form
Estimate the coefficients
and
and the frequency parameters
and
. Use these estimates to approximate 
![The graph of a function of the given form over [0, 2pi]. It begins at (0,1) and ends at (2pi, 1). It has five turning points, located just after pi/4, between pi/2 and 3pi/4, pi, between 5pi/4 and 3pi/2, and just before 7pi/4 at about -1.5, 2.5, -3, 2.5, and -1. It crosses the x axis between 0 and pi/4, just before pi/2, just after 3pi/4, just before 5pi/4, just after 3pi/2, and between 7pi/4 and 2pi.](https://pressbooks.openedmb.ca/app/uploads/sites/27/2022/08/CNX_Calc_Figure_05_05_202-5.jpg)
Answer

Glossary
- change of variables
- the substitution of a variable for an expression in the integrand
- integration by substitution
- a technique for integration that allows integration of functions that are the result of a chain-rule derivative