Calculus II The Indefinite Integral: Definition (Antiderivative)
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Richard GomezCalculus II The Indefinite Integral: Definition (Antiderivative)
Uploaded by
Richard GomezCalculus II The Indefinite Integral
Recall that there are two main parts of Calculus
1. Derivatives: Measures instantaneous change
2. Integrals: Measures cumulative amounts
We are now ready to begin part 2. It begins with the study of the
reverse operation of taking the derivative.
Definition (Antiderivative)
A primitive or antiderivative of a function f (x ) is function F (x )
such that F 0 (x ) = f (x ).
Example: Find an antiderivative of x 3 , by trial and error.
Solution: Initial guess: x 4 (since derivation decreases the degree
of a power function by 1):
d 4
x = 4 x 3.
dx
d 1 4 1
Thus: ( x ) = (4x 3 ) = x3 .
dx 4 4
d ( 1x 4
Note: − 7) = x3
dx 4
All functions F (x ) = 4 x 4 + C , C any constant, are antiderivatives.
1
Did we find all antiderivatives?
Theorem
Let F (x ) be an antiderivative of the function f (x ) defined on
(a, b). Then any antiderivative on (a, b) of f (x ) is of the
form F (x ) + C for some constant C .
Proof: Let G (x ) be another antiderivative of F (x ). Set
H(x ) = G (x ) − F (x ). Then
H 0 (x ) = G 0 (x ) − F 0 (x ) = f (x ) − f (x ) = 0.
We claim that H(x ) must be a constant function. For, if it would
be not, there exist (at least) two points x = u and x = v in (a, b)
with H(u) = H(v ). By the mean value theorem there exists then a
point x = c in (u, v ) such that
H (u ) − H (v
) = H 0 (c).
u−v
But since H(u) = H(v ) this would mean H 0 (c) = 0, a
contradiction. Thus H(x ) = C for some constant C . This
implies G (x ) = F (x ) + C . q.e.d.
Definition (Indefinite Integral)
R
The indefinite integral or general antiderivative f (x )dx of a
function f (x ) stands for all possible antiderivatives of f (x )
defined on Zan interval, i.e.
f (x ) dx = F (x ) + C , where C is a
constant and F (x ) is an arbitrary antiderivative of f (x ).
Z
Notation: In the expression f (x )dx , the function f (x ) is called
the integrand and dx is a differential (in its symbolic meaning).
The constant C as above is called the constant of integration.
The indefinite
R b integral should not be confused with the definite
integral f (x ) dx which we will consider
R next week and is
a
defined as a limit of a sum. The symbol is a stretched S and
reminds about the Sum. We will also explain the relation between
the indefinite and the definite integral.
Power Rule: The indefinite integral of a power function
f (x ) = x n , where n = −1 is
Z
n 1
x dx = x n+1 + C .
n+ 1
Raise the exponent by 1 and divide by the raised exponent.
Example: Find the indefinite integral of the following functions:
x 14
a) f (x ) = x Z
f (x ) dx = +C
13 14
√ 1/2 x3/2 2x 3/2
b) f (x ) = x=x Z
f (x ) dx = +C= +C
3/2 3
Z
1 x− 2 1
c) f (x ) 3 = x −3 f (x ) dx = +C= − 2
+C
= x −2 2x
Z
d) f (x ) = 1= x f (x ) dx = x + C
0
Table of Indefinite Integrals
R
f (x ) f (x )dx R
f (x ) f (x )dx
1 x+ C
x n+1 sec2 x tan x + C
xn + C, n 1
n+ 1= sec x tan x sec x + C
1
ln |x | + C 1 x
x a +C
ax ln a
ex ex + C 1
arctan x + C
1+ x2
sin x − cos x + C 1
√ arcsin x + C
1−x2
cos x sin x + C
Proof by derivation.
Example: Find an antiderivative of cos(3x ).
Solution:
R
Since cos x dx = sin x + C we try sin(3x ) with fudge factor3 1 :
1 sin(3x ). Indeed ( 1 sin(3x 0 = 1 cos(3x ) · 3 = cos(3x ).
3 3 3
))
So 13 sin(3x ) is an antiderivative.
The guess and fudge method applies to functions of the form
f (ax + b), where a and b are constants.
Z
1
f (ax + b)dx = F (ax + b) +
C
a
where F (x ) is an antiderivative of f (x ).
Example:
Z
1
a) sin(2x − π)dx = − cos(2x − π) + C
2
Z 5−3x
1 5−3x
b) e dx = − e +C
3
Rules for the indefinite integral
1) Constant factor rule:
Z Z
k · f (x ) dx = k f (x ) dx
·
Proof: (kF (x ))0 = k · F 0 (x ).
2) Sum and difference rule:
Z Z Z
(f (x ) ± g (x )) dx f (x ) dx ± g (x ) dx
=
Proof: (F (x ) ± G (X ))0 = F 0 (x ) ± G 0 (x ).
Z
Example: Find (e 3x + 7x −1 ) dx .
Solution:
Z Z
= e 3x dx + 7 1
x −1 dx by rule 1) and
2)
= e 3x + 7 ln |x | + C
3
Z
1
Example: Find + (3x + 7)5 dx .
x−2
Solution:
(3x + 7)6
= ln |x − 2| + +C
6·3
Z
dx
Example: Find
1+ x2
Solution:
Z
1 dx
=
1+ x2
= arctan x + C
Application to differential equations
Example: Find a function f (x ) such that
f 0 (x ) = 6x (1 − x ) and f (0) = 1.
Solution:
f (x ) is an antiderivative of 6x (1 − x ). Thus:
Z
f (x ) = 6x (1 − x )
Z dx
=
(6x − 6x 2 ) dx
x2 x3
= 6· −6· +C
2 3
= 3x 2 − 2x 3 + C
When x = 0: f (0) = 1
⇔ 3 · 0 − 2 · 0 + C = 1 ⇔ C = 1.
f (x ) = 3x 2 − 2x 3 + 1
Example: A body falls to the ground. During the fall, it feels a
constant acceleration of g where g = 32 ft/sec2 . At time t = 0 the
body has the height y0 and the velocity v0 . Find a formula for the
the height y in terms of t.
Solution:
Let y = y (t) be the height function, v = v (t) = dt be the velocity
dy
function and a = a(t) = dt be the acceleration function.
dv
We have a(t) = −g (downward acceleration).
Since v is an antiderivative of a(t) one has:
Z Z
v = −g dt = −g 1 dt = −gt + C
v (0) = v0 ⇒ 0 + C = v0 ⇒ C = v0
Thus: v = −gt + v0 .
Since y is an antiderivative of v (t) one has:
Z
t2
y = (−gt + v0 ) dt = + v0 t + C
2
−g
y (0) = y0 ⇒ 0 + 0 + C = y0 ⇒ C = y0
Thus: y = g t22 + v0t + y0 .
