32 ESci 113: Calculus for Engineers II

Lesson 1.2: Integration Notation

Lesson Summary
Indefinite integration is the inverse of differentiation and given this definition
indefinite integration is also called the antidifferentiation. This lesson focuses
first on reversing the process of finding derivatives. Then the idea of it being
also the indefinite integral and its notation will be introduced. And this lesson
will end by deriving the basic integration formulas from the basic
differentiation rules.

Learning Outcomes
1. Express the general form of the antiderivatives of a function.
2. Solve simple differential equations using the integral notation.
3. Determine the integral of some functions using the basic integration
formulas.

Motivation Question
Discuss all the information that is contained in an indefinite integral.

Discussion
In differentiation, we do not have to write “the derivative of ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ”; instead, we
use the notation

݀
ሾ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻሿ Derivative of ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ
݀‫ݔ‬

Now to denote the general form of antiderivatives of a function, ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ, in terms

of ‫ݔ‬, we write

General form of
antiderivative of
න ݂ሺ‫ ݔ‬ሻ݀‫ݔ‬ ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ, or
Indefinite integral of
݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ

(1.12) න ݂ ሺ‫ ݔ‬ሻ݀‫ ݔ‬ൌ ‫ ܨ‬ሺ‫ ݔ‬ሻ ൅ ‫ܥ‬

Equation (1.12) is read as “the antiderivative of ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ equals ‫ܨ‬ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ plus ‫ܥ‬.” As
discussed in the previous section, the equation is also read as “the indefinite
integral of ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ equals ‫ܨ‬ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ plus ‫ܥ‬.”
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But as we observe the notations for derivative and antiderivative, it is not

readily apparent that they are inverses. Unlike the case with sine function
whose inverse function is arcsine,

Sine is the inverse

•‹ሺ•‹ିଵ ‫ ݔ‬ሻ ൌ ‫ݔ‬
of arcsine

So, let us look at it this way starting with a simple differential equation

݀‫ݕ‬ Given,
(1.14) ൌ ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ
݀‫ݔ‬ Derivative Form

Rewriting Equation (1.15) in its differential form by multiplying both sides by

݀‫ݔ‬

Differential form of
(1.15) ݀‫ ݕ‬ൌ ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ݀‫ݔ‬
Equation (1.14)

Equation (1.15) is read as “differential of ‫ ݕ‬equals differential of ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ.” And

since ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ is defined by ‫ݔ‬, the differential ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ has differential of ‫ ݔ‬attached to
it. Take note of the distinction between Equations (1.14) and (1.15). These
two equations are the same but just of different forms.

Let us recall from the previous section that solution to differential equations
are functions. And in the case of Equation (1.14), the differential of the
function ‫ ݕ‬that would solve the equation must be equal to ࢌሺ࢞ሻࢊ࢞. The
operation called antidifferentiation (or indefinite integration) is used to
solve this equation. This operation is denoted by the integral sign ‫ ׬‬. We
integrate both sides,

න ݀‫ݕ‬ ൌ න ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ݀‫ݔ‬

(1.16) ‫ݕ‬ ൌ ‫ ܨ‬ሺ‫ ݔ‬ሻ ൅ ‫ܥ‬ General solution

Therefore

Integration is inverse
(1.17) න ݀‫ݕ‬ ൌ ‫ݕ‬
of differentiation

Equation (1.17) shows that ‫ ׬‬and ݀ cancel out, the same way that sine and
arcsine negated each other’s effects in Equation (1.12). With the use of the
differential form of the equation, it is now clear that

‫׬‬ is inverse of ݀

And the role of ݀‫ ݔ‬in

݀
ሾ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻሿ
݀‫ݔ‬
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 34 ESci 113: Calculus for Engineers II

and in

න ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ݀‫ݔ‬

is to indicate that the variable of differentiation and antidifferentiation (or

indefinite integration), respectively, is ‫ݔ‬. Figure 2 summarizes the details of
the general solution of Equation (1.15).

Integral sign

Integrand

Variable of Integration

An antiderivative of ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ

Constant of Integration

‫ ݕ‬ൌ න ݂ ሺ‫ ݔ‬ሻ݀‫ ݔ‬ൌ ‫ ܨ‬ሺ‫ ݔ‬ሻ ൅ ‫ܥ‬

Indefinite Integral
Figure 2. General solution of ݀‫ ݕ‬ൌ ݂ሺ‫ݔ‬ሻ݀‫ݔ‬

At this point, it is clear that “general of antiderivatives” and “indefinite integral”

mean the same thing. The former name is too long that it is impractical to
keep using. Hence, we will be calling the expression in Equation (1.12) as
indefinite integral.

Assessment
1. Why symbol is the inverse of ‫? ׬‬
2. How many derivatives can a function have?
3. How many antiderivatives can a function have?
4. What is the role of ݀‫ ݔ‬in the notation ‫݂ ׬‬ሺ‫ ݔ‬ሻ݀‫?ݔ‬
5. What is the solution to a differential equation?
6. What does the word indefinite stand for in the name indefinite
integral?
7. What is the difference between the derivative and the differential
form?
8. Verify the statement by showing that the derivative of the right side
equals the integrand of the left side.
ͳʹ ͵
a. න ൬െ ହ ൰ ݀‫ ݔ‬ൌ ସ ൅ ‫ܥ‬
‫ݔ‬ ‫ݔ‬
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 For instructional purposes only • 1st Semester SY 2020-2021 35

ͳ ଷ
b. නሺ‫ ݔ‬െ ʹሻ ሺ‫ ݔ‬൅ ʹሻ݀‫ ݔ‬ൌ ‫ ݔ‬െ Ͷ‫ ݔ‬൅ ‫ܥ‬
͵

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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. CET.ESC SLG20-03