Streamlining applications of integration by parts in teaching applied calculus

Abstract

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>Integration by parts can be applied in various ways for obtaining solutions for different types of integrations and hence it is taught in all calculus courses in the world. However, the coverage and discourse of various applications of integration by parts in most textbooks, often packed into one section, lack a cohesion of progression for solving different types of integrals. Students may be confused by such incohesive presentation of the method and applications in the textbooks. Based on the author's experiences and practices in teaching applied calculus for undergraduate engineering and education students since 2013, a streamlined approach in teaching integration by parts has been gradually developed to the current state and ready to be shared with the mathematics teaching and learning communities. This streamlined approach allows integration by parts to be applied to solve complicated and integrated problems in a progressive way so that students can improve efficacy in their use of integration by parts gradually. This approach also makes communications easier with students on particular problems involving integration by parts.</p>