First year:

(I) Integration: areas

b

Basic integration

The symbol

f ( x)dx
a

means area of the set situated between the graph of f , the line of equation x = a and the line of equation x = b . Its easier to understand this notion through an example:

x axis, the

( x 1)(3 x)dx
1

is the area of the set situated between the

x axis, the

graph of f and the vertical lines of equation x = 1 , x = 2 .

(II)

Basic Rules

Integration is, intuitively, the opposite of differentiation. Mathematically, we say that if there exists a function F such that
d F ( x) = f ( x ) dx

then

f ( x)dx = F (b) F (a) .

a

The result above is sometimes called the fundamental theorem of calculus.

When you are asked to integrate a function f , the trick is to find this function F. If such a function F exist, then instead of saying a function F such that
d F ( x) = f ( x ) , we usually say dx
F ( x ) = f ( x ) dx

Lets have a look at an example: Calculate:

2 xdx .
1

The first step is to find

xdx .

We know that the derivative of x 2 is 2 x , so that we have It remains now to calculate the actual value of the integral:

2 xdx = x

2 xdx = [ x
1

2 2 1

] = 2 2 12 = 3.

So far so good? Now try to calculate the following integral:

xdx .
1

Here are a few examples: 3 x dx =

x4 4
3 0

5dx = [5 x]
0

= 5 3 5 0 = 15.
x8 = 20 .

2 7 2 x8 x dx = 5 5 8

The general rule is

n x dx =

x n +1 . n +1

(III)

Exercises

Find the following integrals: -

dx
4

3 x

dx

x
1

dx