Jessa May L.

Dulay

Power Rule for Integrals

Power rule allows us to find the indefinite integrals of a variety of functions like polynomials.
𝑥 𝑛+1
∫ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑛+1
+ 𝑐 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑛 ≠ −1

To apply the rule, simply take the exponent and add 1 then divide by the same value.

Example:

Find: ∫ 2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

First integral can be broken up one addition/subtraction and multiplication by constants.

Therefore:

∫ 2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 2𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 4𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
= 2∫ 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 + 4 ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

Now apply the power rule by adding 1 to each exponent, and then dividing by the same number.

2∫ 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 + 4 ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑥 3+1 𝑥 2+1
=2( )+ 4( )+ 𝑐
3+1 2+1

Next is simplify the expression.

𝑥 3+1 𝑥 2+1
= 2 ( 3+1 ) + 4 ( 2+1 ) + 𝑐

𝑥4 𝑥3 𝑥4 4𝑥 3
=2(4)+4 (3)+𝑐 = 2
+ 3
+𝑐

Find: ∫ 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 2𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 + 5𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

= 2 ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 + 5 ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑥 2+1 𝑥 2+1
= 2 ( 2+1 ) + 5 ( 2+1 ) + 𝑐

𝑥3 𝑥3
= 2 (3)+5 (3)+𝑐

2𝑥 3 5𝑥 3
= + +𝑐
3 3

𝑥 2+1 𝑥 1+1
Find: −2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 4 𝑑𝑥 = −2 ( ) +( ) − 4𝑥 + 𝑐
2+1 1+1

−2𝑥 3 𝑥2
= 3
+ 2
− 4𝑥 + 𝑐