Topic 2
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
The has two parts. Part 1: if is continuous, . So an integral with a variable limit is a function you can differentiate. Part 2: if and the is continuous on , then .
5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.
1Find an antiderivative using the basic integral table
e.g. “Evaluate (no limits: the answer ends in )”
Find an antiderivative using the basic integral table
e.g. “Evaluate (no limits: the answer ends in )”- 1Rewrite the integrand as a sum of table forms
Split fractions, write roots as powers. Identities: , , .
- 2Antidifferentiate term by term
For : and . Also .
- 3Add , or solve for from the given value
- 4Check by differentiating
This is also how to answer “is this an antiderivative?” questions.
Remember: Rewrite, table, plus C, check.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Rewrite the integrand as a sum of table forms
.
- 2Antidifferentiate term by term
.
- 3Add , or solve for from the given value
.
- 4Check by differentiating
Derivative: ✓.
Evaluate .
- 1Rewrite the integrand as a sum of table forms
, so .
- 2Antidifferentiate term by term
.
- 3Add , or solve for from the given value
.
- 4Check by differentiating
Derivative: ✓.
Find the antiderivative of that satisfies .
- 1Rewrite the integrand as a sum of table forms
.
- 2Antidifferentiate term by term
.
- 3Add , or solve for from the given value
, so .
- 4Check by differentiating
✓.
Common mistakes3
- Forgetting to divide by the inner constant: .
- Integrating a quotient or product piece by piece: . Rewrite first.
- The chain rule does not run backwards: is not an antiderivative of . Differentiate to check.
2Evaluate a definite integral using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
e.g. “Evaluate ”
Evaluate a definite integral using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
e.g. “Evaluate ”- 1Check is continuous on
If is undefined or has an asymptote inside , FTC Part 2 does not apply: say so. For a piecewise , split the integral at each break.
- 2Find an antiderivative
No needed: it cancels.
- 3Compute
Remember: Continuous? Antiderivative. Top minus bottom.
See it in a problem4 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Check is continuous on
A polynomial minus : continuous everywhere.
- 2Find an antiderivative
.
- 3Compute
.
Evaluate .
- 1Check is continuous on
on , so the integrand is continuous there.
- 2Find an antiderivative
, so .
- 3Compute
.
Evaluate , where for and for .
- 1Check is continuous on
Both pieces are continuous on their parts, so split at : .
- 2Find an antiderivative
Antiderivatives and .
- 3Compute
.
Evaluate using FTC Part 2, or explain why it does not apply.
- 1Check is continuous on
is undefined at , which is inside . Not continuous.
- 2Find an antiderivative
Carrying on anyway: is an antiderivative only on pieces that avoid .
- 3Compute
The formula would give : negative for a positive integrand, so it is wrong.
FTC Part 2 does not apply: the integrand is not continuous at , inside .
Common mistakes3
- Applying FTC across a discontinuity: is not . A positive integrand cannot give a negative value.
- Computing : it is always top limit minus bottom limit.
- Plugging the limits into instead of .
3Differentiate an integral with variable limits using FTC Part 1
e.g. “Find if ”
Differentiate an integral with variable limits using FTC Part 1
e.g. “Find if ”- 1Name the integrand and the limits ,
If is a factor inside the integrand, pull it out of the integral first. Then use the product rule.
- 2Upper limit: plug into , times
- 3Subtract: plug into , times
A constant limit contributes 0.
- 4Simplify, or evaluate at the point
Remember: Top in, times its derivative; minus bottom in, times its derivative.
See it in a problem4 worked examples
Find if .
- 1Name the integrand and the limits ,
, , .
- 2Upper limit: plug into , times
.
- 3Subtract: plug into , times
The lower limit is constant: subtract .
- 4Simplify, or evaluate at the point
.
Find if .
- 1Name the integrand and the limits ,
, , .
- 2Upper limit: plug into , times
The upper limit is constant: .
- 3Subtract: plug into , times
.
- 4Simplify, or evaluate at the point
.
Let . Find .
- 1Name the integrand and the limits ,
, , .
- 2Upper limit: plug into , times
.
- 3Subtract: plug into , times
.
- 4Simplify, or evaluate at the point
.
If for all , find .
- 1Name the integrand and the limits ,
Integrand , limits and . Differentiate both sides of the equation.
- 2Upper limit: plug into , times
Left side: . Right side: .
- 3Subtract: plug into , times
The lower limit is constant: . So .
- 4Simplify, or evaluate at the point
.
Common mistakes3
- Forgetting the chain rule factor when the limit is not just .
- Missing the minus sign when is in the lower limit: .
- Integrating first. You never need an antiderivative of here, and often it has no formula.
4Find where an integral function is increasing, or its max and min
e.g. “Let . Find the interval(s) on which is increasing”
Find where an integral function is increasing, or its max and min
e.g. “Let . Find the interval(s) on which is increasing”- 1Find with FTC Part 1
- 2Solve
Factors like or are always positive: ignore them.
- 3Make a sign chart for
- 4Read off increasing, decreasing, max and min
to is a max; to is a min. If it is the only sign change on the whole domain, it is the absolute one.
Remember: FTC, zeros, sign chart, read.
See it in a problem2 worked examples
Let . Find the intervals on which is increasing.
- 1Find with FTC Part 1
.
- 2Solve
, so at .
- 3Make a sign chart for
on , on , on .
- 4Read off increasing, decreasing, max and min
Increasing on ; decreasing on and .
is increasing on .
Find the minimum value of . Express your answer as an integral.
- 1Find with FTC Part 1
.
- 2Solve
, so only at .
- 3Make a sign chart for
for and for .
- 4Read off increasing, decreasing, max and min
It is the only sign change, from to . So the absolute min is at , where .
The minimum value is , at .
Common mistakes2
- Checking the sign of the integrand alone when the limit is . The factor can change sign too.
- Giving the location when the question asks for the minimum value (or the reverse).
5Evaluate a limit of a Riemann sum by turning it into an integral
e.g. “Evaluate by interpreting it as a limit of Riemann sums”
Evaluate a limit of a Riemann sum by turning it into an integral
e.g. “Evaluate by interpreting it as a limit of Riemann sums”- 1Find and
: the is .
- 2Write the integral , with
- 3Evaluate it with an antiderivative
Remember: Spot the integral, then FTC.
See it in a problem3 worked examples
Evaluate .
- 1Find and
, .
- 2Write the integral , with
.
- 3Evaluate it with an antiderivative
.
Evaluate .
- 1Find and
, .
- 2Write the integral , with
.
- 3Evaluate it with an antiderivative
.
Evaluate .
- 1Find and
: , , term .
- 2Write the integral , with
.
- 3Evaluate it with an antiderivative
, so .
Common mistakes2
- Leaving a stray outside : every belongs to .
- Using when the interval starts at .
Need the formulas? Must memorize · Flashcards
