Higher Maths
Integration

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Page sections

Topic content

  • Integrating an algebraic function which is, or can be simplified to, an expression of powers of \(x\)
  • Integration using the chain rule:
    • \(f(x)=(px+q)^n\small,\normalsize\ n\neq -1\)
    • \(f(x)=p\tiny\ \normalsize \text{cos}\small\,\normalsize(qx+r)\)
    • \(f(x)=p\tiny\ \normalsize \text{sin}\small\,\normalsize(qx+r)\)
  • Solving differential equations:
    • of the form \(\large\frac{dy}{dx}\normalsize=f(x)\)
    • from a given rate of change and initial conditions
  • Calculating definite integrals of functions with limits which are integers, radians, surds or fractions
  • Finding the area:
    • between a curve and the \(x\)-axis
    • between a straight line and a curve
    • between two curves.

Textbook page numbers

  • Zeta Higher Mathematics pp.174-191 and 199-204
  • Heinemann Higher Maths pp.164-185, 274-275 and 281-285
  • TeeJay Higher Maths pp.96-106 and 152-154

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Standard integrals

\(f(x)\) \(\displaystyle\int f(x)\,dx\)
\(\text{sin}\,ax\) \(-\large\frac{1}{a}\normalsize\,\text{cos}\,ax+C\)
\(\text{cos}\,ax\) \(\large\frac{1}{a}\normalsize\,\text{sin}\,ax+C\)

These are provided on the formulae list .

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Example 1 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Simple indefinite integration

Find \(\displaystyle\int\left(4\sqrt{x}-\small\frac{3}{x^2}\normalsize+1\right)\,dx \)

Example 2 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Simple indefinite integration

Find \(\displaystyle\int\small\frac{2x^4\,-\,5}{x^3}\normalsize\,dx\small,\,\) \(x\neq 0 \)

Example 3 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Simple definite integration

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int^{4}_{1}\small\frac{1}{3x^2}\normalsize\,dx\)

Example 4 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Simple definite integration

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int^{\sqrt{3}}_{\sqrt{2}}\:\left(4x^3-2x\right)\,dx\)

Example 5 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Integration using the chain rule

Find \(\displaystyle\int(2x+3)^5\,dx \)

Example 6 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Integration using the chain rule

Find \(\displaystyle\int\frac{4}{(9\,-\,x)^6}\,dx\small,\,\) \(x\neq 9\small.\)

Example 7 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Integrating a trigonometric function

Find \(\displaystyle\int 3\,\text{sin}\left(2x-\frac{\pi}{6}\right)\,dx \)

Example 8 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Integrating a trigonometric function

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int^{\large\frac{\pi}{6}\normalsize}_{0}5\,\text{cos}\left(3x+\frac{\pi}{4}\right)\,dx \)

Example 9 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Differential equations

For a function \(f\), defined on a suitable domain, it is known that:

  • \(f'(x)=\large\frac{3x\,-\,2}{\sqrt{x}}\normalsize\)
  • \(f(9)=45\)

Express \(f(x)\) in terms of \(x\).

Example 10 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Differential equations

A curve is such that \(\displaystyle\small\frac{dy}{dx}\normalsize =6x^2+\small\frac{1}{x^2}\small.\)
The curve passes through the point \((-1,\,3)\small.\)
Express \(y\) in terms of \(x\small.\)

Example 11 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Area between a curve and the \(\boldsymbol{x}\)-axis

Given that \(f(x)=3x^2-12\small,\) find the area enclosed by the graph of \(y=f(x)\) and the \(x\)-axis.

Example 12 (non-calculator)

Subtopic: Area between a straight line and a curve

Find the area enclosed by the parabola \(y=-x^2+2x\) and the straight line \(y=3x-12\small.\)

Example 13 (non-calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2017 Paper 1 Q13
Subtopic: Integration using the chain rule

Find \(\displaystyle\int\frac{1}{(5\,-\,4x)^{\frac12}}\,dx\small,\,\) \(x\lt\large\frac{5}{4}\small.\)

Example 14 (non-calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2018 Paper 1 Q10
Subtopic: Differential equations

Given that

  • \(\displaystyle\small\frac{dy}{dx}\normalsize =6x^2-3x+4\small,\) and
  • \(y=14\) when \(x=2\small,\)

express \(y\) in terms of \(x\small.\)

Example 15 (non-calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2019 Paper 1 Q11
Subtopic: Integrating a trigonometric function

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int^{\large\frac{\pi}{9}\normalsize}_{0}\text{cos}\left(3x-\small\frac{\pi}{6}\normalsize\right)\,dx\small.\)

Example 16 (calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2019 Paper 2 Q2
Subtopic: Simple indefinite integration

Find \(\displaystyle\int\left(6\sqrt{x}-4x^{-3}+5\right)\,dx\small.\)

Example 17 (non-calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2022 Paper 1 Q6
Subtopic: Integration using the chain rule

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int^{2}_{-5}(10-3x)^{-\large\frac{1}{2}\normalsize}\,dx\small.\)

Example 18 (non-calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2023 Paper 1 Q6
Subtopic: Simple indefinite integration

Find \(\displaystyle\int\left(2x^5-6\sqrt{x}\,\right)\,dx\small,\,\) \(x\geqslant 0\small.\)

Example 19 (calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2024 Paper 2 Q5
Subtopic: Integrating a trigonometric function

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int^{\large\frac{\pi}{7}\normalsize}_{0}\,\text{sin}\,5x\,dx\small.\)

Example 20 (calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2024 Paper 2 Q7
Subtopic: Area between two curves

The diagram shows the curve with equation \(y=x^3-6x^2+11x\) intersecting the curve with equation \(y=6+4x-2x^2\) at \(x\!=\!2\small.\)

Calculate the shaded area.

Example 21 (non-calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2025 Paper 1 Q12
Subtopic: Differential equations

Given that:

  • \(\displaystyle\small\frac{dy}{dx}\normalsize =6\,\text{cos}\,x+8\,\text{sin}\,2x\small,\) and
  • \(y=4\) when \(x=\large\frac{\pi}{6}\small,\)

express \(y\) in terms of \(x\small.\)

Example 22 (calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2025 Paper 2 Q3
Subtopic: Area between a curve and the \(\boldsymbol{x}\)-axis

The diagram shows the graph of \(y=x^2-2x+3\small.\)

Calculate the shaded area.

Example 23 (calculator)

SQA Higher Maths 2025 Paper 2 Q7
Subtopic: Integration using the chain rule

Find \(\displaystyle\int(3x+2)^7\,dx \)

Buy Higher practice papers

Hodder: Essential SQA Exam Practice 
Leckie: Higher Maths Practice Papers 

Past paper questions

Simple integration:
Specimen Paper 1 Q4
Specimen Paper 2 Q2
2019 Paper 2 Q2
2023 Paper 1 Q6
2025 Paper 1 Q3
Integrating a trigonometric function:
Specimen Paper 2 Q10
2015 Paper 2 Q7
2016 Paper 1 Q5
2019 Paper 1 Q11
2021 Paper 2 Q10(b)
2024 Paper 2 Q5
Integration using the chain rule:
2015 Paper 2 Q7
2016 Paper 1 Q5
2017 Paper 1 Q13
2018 Paper 1 Q14
2019 Paper 1 Q11
2021 Paper 1 Q7
2021 Paper 2 Q2
2022 Paper 1 Q6
2023 Paper 2 Q3
2025 Paper 2 Q7
Differential equations:
Specimen Paper 1 Q13
2015 Paper 1 Q15
2016 Paper 2 Q9
2018 Paper 1 Q10
2019 Paper 2 Q13
2021 Paper 2 Q10(b)
2022 Paper 2 Q6
2023 Paper 2 Q12
2025 Paper 1 Q12
Integrating to find areas:
Specimen Paper 2 Q5
2015 Paper 2 Q4
2016 P2 Q3 (with polynomials)
2017 Paper 1 Q10
2018 Paper 2 Q1
2019 Paper 1 Q8
2021 Paper 1 Q9
2021 Paper 2 Q6(b)
2022 Paper 2 Q4
2023 Paper 1 Q11
2023 Paper 2 Q8
2024 Paper 2 Q5
2024 Paper 2 Q7
2025 Paper 2 Q3
Other question types:
2015 Paper 1 Q12
2016 Paper 2 Q10
2017 Paper 1 Q15
2019 P1 Q15 (with trigonometry)
Pre-2015 Higher Maths specification:
Integration PPQs from 2000
Further Calculus PPQs from 2000

Buy our favourite textbook

Zeta Higher Mathematics
Clear and comprehensive.
Progressive exercises.
Includes answers.
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Integration worksheets

Calderglen High School workbook
Integration (with answers)
CJ Maths worksheet
Area under a curve
Essential Skills worksheets
1. Differential equations (Answers)
2. Definite integrals (Answers)
3. Further integration (Answers)
4. Integration practice (Answers)
5. Further calculus (Answers)
Mr Graham: unit practice worksheet
Trigonometry topics (Solutions)
HighSchoolMaths.co.uk worksheet
Basic integration
Hillhead High School worksheets
1. Area under a curve
2. Area between two graphs
3. Differential equations
4. Further integration
5. Mixed integration 1
6. Mixed integration 2
HSN exam questions worksheets
1. Integration (no answers)
2. Further calculus (no answers)
Madras College worksheets
1. Indefinite integrals (Answers)
2. Definite integrals (Answers)
3. Differential equations (Answers)
MyMathsGuy.com worksheets
1. Definite integrals (with answers)
2. Chain rule (with answers)
3. Differential equations (w/ answers)
4. Area under a curve (with answers)
Supplementary material
1. Integration 1 (no answers)
2. Finding areas (no answers)
3. Differential equations (no answers)
4. Cross-topic (no answers)

Buy Higher revision guides

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BrightRED: Higher Maths Study Guide 
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Notes and videos

Detailed notes – HSN
Detailed notes – Rothesay Academy
1. Integration
2. Further calculus
Revision notes – BBC Bitesize
1. Integration
2. Areas bounded by graphs
Notes – Airdrie Academy
1. Integration
2. Further calculus
Notes and examples – Maths Mutt
Mind maps – Firrhill High School
1. Integration
2. Further calculus
Notes and videos – Mistercorzi
1. Basic rules and techniques
2. Definite and special integrals
3. Applications of integration
Resources – MathsRevision.com
1. PowerPoint: Integration
2. Mind map: Integration
3. PowerPoint: Further calculus
4. Mind map: Further calculus
Videos – Larbert High School
1. Introduction
2. Further examples
3. Differential equations
4. Definite integrals
5. Area under a curve
6. Area between curves
7. Integrating sin and cos
8. Integrating with the chain rule
Videos – Maths180.com
1. Indefinite and definite integrals
2. Area under and between curves
Videos – Siōbhán McKenna
1. Integration
2. Further integration
Videos – Mr Thomas

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