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Section 13.1 Antiderivatives

Question 1 – What is an antiderivative?
Question 2 – What are the antiderivatives of some basic functions?
Question 3 - How do we find the antiderivative of functions that are combinations of basic
functions?
Question 4 - How do we find the value of the arbitrary constant?

Question 1 – What is an antiderivative?

Key Terms
Antiderivative Antidifferentiation
Summary
In earlier chapters, we learned how to take the derivative of a function. We had many rules
(especially the Power Rule for derivatives) that allowed us to take a function like f ( x )  x 2  4 x
and to find its derivative f ( x)  2 x  4 . This process, called differentiation, helps us to compute
derivatives of functions.
In this question, we look at the reverse process called antidifferentiation. Now we start from the
derivative and then compute the function the derivative came from. This function is called the
antiderivative.

For the functions pictured above, we would say the antiderivative of f ( x)  2 x  4 is

f ( x)  x 2  4 x .

We can often deduce the antiderivative from our knowledge of derivative rules. In the case
above, we know the derivative reduces the power by one. So the antiderivative must do the
opposite or add one to the power. Knowledge of the derivative rules can often get us very close
to the antiderivative. We can always fine tune our educated guesses by taking the derivative of
the antiderivative.
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d
When taking derivatives, we used the symbol   to indicate that we want to take the
dx
derivative of the expression in brackets. For the example above, we would write
d 2
 x  4 x   2 x  4
dx 

For antiderivatives, we use the symbol    dx to indicate the antiderivative of the function in
parentheses. So, we could write

  2 x  4  dx  x  4x  C
2

To indicate that the antiderivative of 2 x  4 is x 2  4 x . An arbitrary constant C is added to the

antiderivative because there are many antiderivatives of 2 x  4 . Each antiderivative has a
different constant symbolized by the C.
Notes
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Guided Example Practice

Find the antiderivative of f ( x)  3x 2  2 x  5 . 1. Find the antiderivative of

f ( x)  5 x 4  4 x 3  2
Solution Since you are given the derivative, you
need to reverse the rules for derivatives. In this
case, you are reversing the Power Rule
d n
 x   n x n 1
dx
Examine each term carefully and ask yourself,
“What would you take the derivative of to get
each term in 3 x 2  2 x  5 ?”

Based on your experience with derivatives, you

would probably realize that the derivative of x 3 is
3x 2 and that the derivative of x 2 is 2x . But
what about the last term?

Since the derivative of 5x is 5, we can deduce

the antiderivative to be
f ( x)  x3  x 2  5 x  C
where C is some unknown constant.

Guided Example Practice

Find each integral 2. Find each integral

 5x  10 p q dp
4 9
a. z dz a. .

Solution The variable in this antiderivative is z.

Because of this, we can ignore 5x 4 and focus on
the antiderivative of z. Rephrasing this, ask
yourself, “What would you take the derivative of
to get z?” Certainly, the power must be one
higher so would z 2 work?

Close, but the derivative of z 2 is 2z . So, try

d 1 2
1 2
z . Since  z   z , the antiderivative is
2
dz  2 

 5 x z dz  5 x  12 z 2  C
4 4
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 5x  10 p q dq
4 9
b. z dx b. .

Solution In this antiderivative the variable is x.

We can consider the z a constant and simply look
for the antiderivative of 5x 4 . This antiderivative
is x5 . Putting this together, we get

 5x z dx  x zC
4 5

Notes
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Question 2 – What are the antiderivatives of some basic functions?

Key Terms
Antiderivative

Summary
The rules for taking derivatives can be reversed to obtain the antiderivative rules. From Section
11.4, here are the derivative rules.

d d n d x
 ax  b   a  x   nx n 1 e   e x
dx dx   dx  

d x d 1 1 d 1
 a    ln a  a x  log a  x     ln  x   
dx dx ln  a  x dx x

The corresponding antiderivative rules are

x n 1
 a dx  ax  C  x dx  e dx  e x  C
x
n
 C for n  1
n 1

ax 1
 a dx  ln(a)  C  x dx  ln( x)  C for x  0
x

Notes
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Guided Example Practice

x x
12 20
Evaluate dx 1. Evaluate dx

Solution Apply the Power Rule for

Antiderivatives,

x n 1
 x dx  C
n

n 1

with n = 12. This gives

x13
 x dx  C
12

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Guided Example Practice

Evaluate  2. Evaluate 
3 4
z dz x dx

Solution To apply the Power Rule for

Antiderivatives, rewrite the root 3 z  z 3 . This
1

will give us,

z 3 1
1

 z dz  13  1  C
1
3

4
z 3

 C
4
3

3 43
 z C
4
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Guided Example Practice

1 1
Evaluate t 5
dt 3. Evaluate u 3
du

Solution To apply the Power Rule for

1
Antiderivatives, rewrite 2  t 2 . This will give
t
us,
t 2 1
 t dt  2  1  C
2

t 1
 C
1
1
 C
t

Guided Example Practice

1 4. Evaluate  3 x dx
Evaluate  z dz
Solution Like the last guided example, we might
1
try to write  z 1 . However, the Power Rule
z
for Antiderivatives does not apply when n = -1.
Instead we apply a different rule,
1
 x dx  ln( x)  C for x  0
but with a different variable. Using z instead of x
gives
1
 z dz  ln( z )  C for z  0
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Question 3 – How do we find the antiderivative of functions that are combinations of basic
functions?
Key Terms
Antiderivative
Summary
Constants are all but ignored by the derivative. A similar property exists for antiderivatives that
says for any real number constant a,

a f ( x ) dx  a  f ( x ) dx

In effect, we can ignore the constant when taking an antiderivative and tack it on at the end.
Another property exists for breaking more complicated antiderivatives into smaller pieces. If you
have a sum or difference of functions,

  f ( x)  g ( x)  dx   f ( x)dx   g ( x)dx
This means that we can break up sums and differences and compute the antiderivatives of the
resulting pieces.
Notes
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Guided Example Practice

1 1. Evaluate  5P 2 dP
Evaluate  2 x dx
Solution The constant may be moved outside of
the antiderivative and then we may take the
antiderivative:
1 1 1
 2 x dx  2  x dx
1
 ln  x   C for x  0
2

Guided Example

 2x  5 x 2  2 x  7  dx
4
Evaluate

Solution Our rules for constants and sums or differences to break the polynomial into smaller pieces.
The pieces can be evaluated with the Power Rule for Antiderivatives and the Constant Rule for
Antiderivativess:
  2 x  5x  2 x  7  dx  2 x dx  5 x dx  2 x dx   7dx
4 2 4 2

x5 x3 x2
2  5  2  7x  C
5 3 2
2 5 5 3
 x  x  x2  7 x  C
5 3

Practice

 6x  7 x 2  10 x  5  dx
3
2. Evaluate
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Guided Example

Evaluate  10 z  z 4  7 z  2  dz

Solution Multiply the factors out and apply the Power Rule for Antiderivatives:

10 z  z  7 z  2  dz   10 z 5  70 z 2  20 z  dz
4

 10  z 5dz  70  z 2 dz  20  z dz

z6 z3 z2
 10  70  20  C
6 3 2
5 6 70 3
 z  z  10 z 2  C
3 3

Practice

x  1  x  1 dx
2
3. Evaluate
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Guided Example Practice

x3  2 x x 1
Evaluate  dx 1. Evaluate  dx
x x

Solution Divide the x in the denominator into

each term in the numerator and then apply
antiderivative rules:

x3  2 x  x3 2 x 
 x dx    x  x  dx
   x 2  2  dx

  x 2 dx   2 dx

x3
  2x  C
3
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Question 4 – How do we find the value of the arbitrary constant?

Key Terms
Antiderivative
Summary
All of our antiderivative rules for basic functions contain an arbitrary constant C. This is because
when we take the derivative of constants, the result is zero. For instance,

d 2
 x  4 x  1  2 x  4
dx 
d 2
 x  4 x  10   2 x  4
dx 
d 2
 x  4 x  99   2 x  4
dx 
Each derivative results in the same function. If we reverse the process, we can get many different
antiderivatives. These antiderivatives differ by a constant. We would indicate this by writing

  2 x  4  dx  x  4x  C
2

To single out a particular antiderivative, you need some information about it. Suppose I know
that the antiderivative must pass through (2, 22). This means that when I put x = 2 into the
antiderivative, the resulting y value should be y = 22:

22  4  2   C  22

If we solve this for C we have the value of the constant:

12  C  22

C  10

So f ( x )  x 2  4 x  10 is the antiderivative of f ( x)  2 x  4 that passes through (2, 22).

Notes
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Guided Example Practice

The derivative of a function f (x) is 1. The derivative of a function f (x) is

f ( x)  5 x  12 f ( x )  2 x  6

Find the function f (x) that passes through (2, 7). Find the function f (x) that passes through (5, 10).

Solution The antiderivative of this function is

5
f ( x )  x 2  12 x  C
2
To make sure the function passes through (2, 7),
substitute x = 2 into f (x) and set the result equal
to 7:
5 2
f (2)   2   12  2   C  7
2
Solve this equation for C to give,

5 2
 2   12  2   C  7
2
10  24  C  7
14  C  7
C  21

So, the function f (x) that passes through (2, 7) is

5 2
f ( x)  x  12 x  21
2
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Guided Example Practice

Find the cost function if the marginal cost is 2. Find the cost function if the marginal cost is
given given
C ( x )  x1.1  5 C ( x)  2 x  25

and 5 units costs $359.69. and 10 units costs $367.20.

Solution To find the cost function, we need to

compute the antiderivative of C ( x) ,

C ( x)    x1.1  5 dx

  x1.1 dx   5 dx
x 2.1
  5x  C
2.1

To make sure 5 units costs $359.69, substitute x =

5 into the cost function and set the resulting
expression equal to 359.69:

 5
2.1

C (5)   5  5  C  359.69
2.1

Now solve the equation for C:

5
2.1

 5  5   C  359.69
2.1
13.984  25  C  359.69
38.984  C  359.69
C  320.706

Put this constant into the antiderivative to yield

x 2.1
C ( x)   5 x  320.706
2.1

Where the constant has been rounded to three

decimal places.
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Guided Example Practice

Find the demand function p(x) for the marginal 3. Find the demand function p(x) for the
revenue function marginal revenue function

R( x )  0.3 x 2  0.4 x  112 R( x )  0.6 x 2  0.8 x  127

Assume that if no items are sold, the revenue is 0. Assume that if no items are sold, the revenue is 0.

Solution Start by finding the revenue function

from the marginal revenue function. Take the
antiderivative of the marginal revenue to get

R( x)    0.3x 2  0.4 x  112  dx

 0.1x3  0.2 x 2  112 x  C

We can find the value of C from the fact that

revenue is zero when nothing is sold. This tells us
that R (0)  0 . Put this information into the
revenue function and solve for C:

R (0)  0.1 0   0.2  0   112  0   C  0

3 2

This leads to C = 0 and the resulting revenue

function is

R ( x)  0.1x 3  0.2 x 2  112 x

The demand function p(x) is related to revenue

R(x) by the equation
R ( x)  x p ( x)
Solving for p(x) gives
R( x)
p ( x) 
x
Substitute the revenue into this equation to get

0.1x3  0.2 x 2  112 x

p( x) 
x
0.1x 0.2 x 2 112 x
3
  
x x x
 0.1x  0.2 x  112
2