First of all, the big picture: integration by parts is just the
product rule backwards. This integration technique, like all
integration techniques, is really just a differentiation technique in
reverse.
Consider the method of u-substitution, for example. That's just the chain rule in reverse.
Derivation of the integration by parts formula:
We start with the product rule:
Now integrate both sides:
We'll motivate this technique by considering an important example:
Integration by parts may need to be carried out multiple times:
sometimes the idea is to simplify the integral each time, until a
really simple one arises allowing us to calculate the final solution
(e.g. Example 6, p. 491). Sometimes it's something of a trick: we
compute the integral multiple times in order to return to the original
integral, allowing us to solve an equation for the original integral
(e.g. Example 4, p. 490).
Suggested strategy:
Choose u so that u' is simpler than u
itself.
Choose v' so that
can be evaluated.
Sometimes v'=1 is a good choice.
Of course, all this works with definite integrals:
Examples:
#9, p. 492 (sometimes the function to integrate is 1!)