Topic 2

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

The has two parts. Part 1: if ff is continuous, ddx∫axf(t) dt=f(x)\dfrac{d}{dx}\displaystyle\int_a^x f(t)\,dt = f(x). So an integral with a variable limit is a function you can differentiate. Part 2: if F′=fF' = f and the ff is continuous on [a,b][a, b], then ∫abf(x) dx=F(b)−F(a)\displaystyle\int_a^b f(x)\,dx = F(b) - F(a).

5 kinds of question. Open the one you are stuck on.

1

Find an antiderivative using the basic integral table

e.g. “Evaluate ∫… dx\displaystyle\int \dots\,dx (no limits: the answer ends in +C+C)”
  1. 1
    Rewrite the integrand as a sum of table forms

    Split fractions, write roots as powers. Identities: tan⁡2x=sec⁡2x−1\tan^2 x = \sec^2 x - 1,  sin⁡2x=12(1−cos⁡2x)\ \sin^2 x = \tfrac{1}{2}(1 - \cos 2x),  cos⁡2x=12(1+cos⁡2x)\ \cos^2 x = \tfrac{1}{2}(1 + \cos 2x).

  2. 2
    Antidifferentiate term by term

    For a>0a > 0: ∫dxa2+x2=1aarctan⁡xa\displaystyle\int \frac{dx}{a^2 + x^2} = \frac{1}{a}\arctan\frac{x}{a} and ∫dxa2−x2=arcsin⁡xa\displaystyle\int \frac{dx}{\sqrt{a^2 - x^2}} = \arcsin\frac{x}{a}. Also ∫dxx=log⁡∣x∣\displaystyle\int \frac{dx}{x} = \log|x|.

  3. 3
    Add +C+C, or solve for CC from the given value
  4. 4
    Check 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 ∫x2−3x dx\displaystyle\int \frac{x^2 - 3}{\sqrt{x}}\,dx.

  1. 1
    Rewrite the integrand as a sum of table forms

    x2−3x=x3/2−3x−1/2\dfrac{x^2 - 3}{\sqrt{x}} = x^{3/2} - 3x^{-1/2}.

  2. 2
    Antidifferentiate term by term

    25x5/2−3⋅2x1/2=25x5/2−6x\dfrac{2}{5}x^{5/2} - 3 \cdot 2x^{1/2} = \dfrac{2}{5}x^{5/2} - 6\sqrt{x}.

  3. 3
    Add +C+C, or solve for CC from the given value

    25x5/2−6x+C\dfrac{2}{5}x^{5/2} - 6\sqrt{x} + C.

  4. 4
    Check by differentiating

    Derivative: x3/2−3x−1/2x^{3/2} - 3x^{-1/2} ✓.

Answer:

25x5/2−6x+C\dfrac{2}{5}x^{5/2} - 6\sqrt{x} + C

Common mistakes3
  • Forgetting to divide by the inner constant: ∫cos⁡3x dx=13sin⁡3x+C\displaystyle\int \cos 3x\,dx = \tfrac{1}{3}\sin 3x + C.
  • Integrating a quotient or product piece by piece: ∫fg≠∫f∫g\displaystyle\int \frac{f}{g} \neq \frac{\int f}{\int g}. Rewrite first.
  • The chain rule does not run backwards: sin⁡(x2)2x\dfrac{\sin(x^2)}{2x} is not an antiderivative of cos⁡(x2)\cos(x^2). Differentiate to check.
2

Evaluate a definite integral using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

e.g. “Evaluate ∫abf(x) dx\displaystyle\int_a^b f(x)\,dx”
  1. 1
    Check ff is continuous on [a,b][a, b]

    If ff is undefined or has an asymptote inside [a,b][a, b], FTC Part 2 does not apply: say so. For a piecewise ff, split the integral at each break.

  2. 2
    Find an antiderivative FF

    No +C+C needed: it cancels.

  3. 3
    Compute F(b)−F(a)F(b) - F(a)

Remember: Continuous? Antiderivative. Top minus bottom.

See it in a problem4 worked examples

Evaluate ∫0π/2(6x2−cos⁡x) dx\displaystyle\int_0^{\pi/2}\left(6x^2 - \cos x\right)\,dx.

  1. 1
    Check ff is continuous on [a,b][a, b]

    A polynomial minus cos⁡x\cos x: continuous everywhere.

  2. 2
    Find an antiderivative FF

    F(x)=2x3−sin⁡xF(x) = 2x^3 - \sin x.

  3. 3
    Compute F(b)−F(a)F(b) - F(a)

    F(π2)−F(0)=2⋅π38−1−0=π34−1F\left(\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right) - F(0) = 2\cdot\dfrac{\pi^3}{8} - 1 - 0 = \dfrac{\pi^3}{4} - 1.

Answer:

π34−1\dfrac{\pi^3}{4} - 1

Common mistakes3
  • Applying FTC across a discontinuity: ∫03dx(x−2)2\displaystyle\int_0^3 \frac{dx}{(x - 2)^2} is not −32-\tfrac{3}{2}. A positive integrand cannot give a negative value.
  • Computing F(a)−F(b)F(a) - F(b): it is always top limit minus bottom limit.
  • Plugging the limits into ff instead of FF.
3

Differentiate an integral with variable limits using FTC Part 1

e.g. “Find F′(x)F'(x) if F(x)=∫g(x)h(x)f(t) dtF(x) = \displaystyle\int_{g(x)}^{h(x)} f(t)\,dt”
  1. 1
    Name the integrand f(t)f(t) and the limits g(x)g(x), h(x)h(x)

    If xx is a factor inside the integrand, pull it out of the integral first. Then use the product rule.

  2. 2
    Upper limit: plug h(x)h(x) into ff, times h′(x)h'(x)
  3. 3
    Subtract: plug g(x)g(x) into ff, times g′(x)g'(x)

    A constant limit contributes 0.

  4. 4
    Simplify, 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 F′(x)F'(x) if F(x)=∫1x21+t3 dtF(x) = \displaystyle\int_1^{x^2}\sqrt{1 + t^3}\,dt.

  1. 1
    Name the integrand f(t)f(t) and the limits g(x)g(x), h(x)h(x)

    f(t)=1+t3f(t) = \sqrt{1 + t^3},  g(x)=1\ g(x) = 1,  h(x)=x2\ h(x) = x^2.

  2. 2
    Upper limit: plug h(x)h(x) into ff, times h′(x)h'(x)

    1+(x2)3⋅2x\sqrt{1 + (x^2)^3}\cdot 2x.

  3. 3
    Subtract: plug g(x)g(x) into ff, times g′(x)g'(x)

    The lower limit is constant: subtract 00.

  4. 4
    Simplify, or evaluate at the point

    F′(x)=2x1+x6F'(x) = 2x\sqrt{1 + x^6}.

Answer:

F′(x)=2x1+x6F'(x) = 2x\sqrt{1 + x^6}

Common mistakes3
  • Forgetting the chain rule factor h′(x)h'(x) when the limit is not just xx.
  • Missing the minus sign when xx is in the lower limit: ddx∫xaf(t) dt=−f(x)\dfrac{d}{dx}\displaystyle\int_x^a f(t)\,dt = -f(x).
  • Integrating first. You never need an antiderivative of ff here, and often it has no formula.
4

Find where an integral function is increasing, or its max and min

e.g. “Let f(x)=∫axg(t) dtf(x) = \displaystyle\int_a^x g(t)\,dt. Find the interval(s) on which ff is increasing”
  1. 1
    Find F′(x)F'(x) with FTC Part 1
  2. 2
    Solve F′(x)=0F'(x) = 0

    Factors like e−x2e^{-x^2} or 1+x41 + x^4 are always positive: ignore them.

  3. 3
    Make a sign chart for F′F'
  4. 4
    Read 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 F(x)=∫0x9−t21+t2 dtF(x) = \displaystyle\int_0^x \frac{9 - t^2}{1 + t^2}\,dt. Find the intervals on which FF is increasing.

  1. 1
    Find F′(x)F'(x) with FTC Part 1

    F′(x)=9−x21+x2F'(x) = \dfrac{9 - x^2}{1 + x^2}.

  2. 2
    Solve F′(x)=0F'(x) = 0

    1+x2>01 + x^2 > 0, so F′(x)=0F'(x) = 0 at x=±3x = \pm 3.

  3. 3
    Make a sign chart for F′F'

    F′<0F' < 0 on (−∞,−3)(-\infty, -3),  F′>0\ F' > 0 on (−3,3)(-3, 3),  F′<0\ F' < 0 on (3,∞)(3, \infty).

  4. 4
    Read off increasing, decreasing, max and min

    Increasing on (−3,3)(-3, 3); decreasing on (−∞,−3)(-\infty, -3) and (3,∞)(3, \infty).

Answer:

FF is increasing on (−3,3)(-3, 3).

Common mistakes2
  • Checking the sign of the integrand alone when the limit is h(x)h(x). The factor h′(x)h'(x) can change sign too.
  • Giving the location when the question asks for the minimum value (or the reverse).
5

Evaluate a limit of a Riemann sum by turning it into an integral

e.g. “Evaluate lim⁡n→∞1n∑j=1n…\displaystyle\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{1}{n}\sum_{j=1}^{n}\dots by interpreting it as a limit of Riemann sums”
  1. 1
    Find Δx\Delta x and xj=a+j Δxx_j = a + j\,\Delta x

    jn2=jn⋅1n\dfrac{j}{n^2} = \dfrac{j}{n}\cdot\dfrac{1}{n}: the 1n\dfrac{1}{n} is Δx\Delta x.

  2. 2
    Write the integral ∫abf(x) dx\displaystyle\int_a^b f(x)\,dx, with b=a+n Δxb = a + n\,\Delta x
  3. 3
    Evaluate it with an antiderivative

Remember: Spot the integral, then FTC.

See it in a problem3 worked examples

Evaluate lim⁡n→∞∑j=1n2n(1+2jn)3\displaystyle\lim_{n\to\infty}\sum_{j=1}^{n}\frac{2}{n}\left(1 + \frac{2j}{n}\right)^3.

  1. 1
    Find Δx\Delta x and xj=a+j Δxx_j = a + j\,\Delta x

    Δx=2n\Delta x = \dfrac{2}{n},  xj=1+2jn\ x_j = 1 + \dfrac{2j}{n}.

  2. 2
    Write the integral ∫abf(x) dx\displaystyle\int_a^b f(x)\,dx, with b=a+n Δxb = a + n\,\Delta x

    ∫13x3 dx\displaystyle\int_1^3 x^3\,dx.

  3. 3
    Evaluate it with an antiderivative

    [x44]13=81−14=20\left[\dfrac{x^4}{4}\right]_1^3 = \dfrac{81 - 1}{4} = 20.

Answer:

2020

Common mistakes2
  • Leaving a stray jn\dfrac{j}{n} outside ff: every jn\dfrac{j}{n} belongs to xjx_j.
  • Using b=n Δxb = n\,\Delta x when the interval starts at a≠0a \neq 0.

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