There is no general algorithm to symbolically compute all integrals. All we have are partial algorithms which consist of big rulebooks for the cases we’ve already solved.
It also turns out we can’t even verify, in general, the result of integration:
Suppose you are given two functions, f(x) and G(x), and are told that G(x) is an antiderivative of f(x). So then you let g(x) = G’(x), the derivative of G(x).
Now if G(x) is truly an antiderivative of f(x) then we must have g(x) = f(x) but unfortunately the problem of determining whether two functions are equal is undecidable (a consequence of the halting problem).
It also turns out we can’t even verify, in general, the result of integration:
Suppose you are given two functions, f(x) and G(x), and are told that G(x) is an antiderivative of f(x). So then you let g(x) = G’(x), the derivative of G(x).
Now if G(x) is truly an antiderivative of f(x) then we must have g(x) = f(x) but unfortunately the problem of determining whether two functions are equal is undecidable (a consequence of the halting problem).