LESSON 1.

1: THE INDEFINITE INTEGRAL

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, the students must be able to:

1. define indefinite integral;

2. find the indefinite integral of a given algebraic function.

LESSON PROPER

Through integration we will reverse the process of differentiation. Where we used

differential calculus to calculate and interpret the rate of change, integral calculus will show us
how to use the rate of change of a quantity to find the quantity's values.

Definition: A function F is an antiderivative or an indefinite integral of the function f if the

derivative F’ = f. We use the notation

𝑭(𝒙) = ∫ 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙

to indicate that F is an indefinite integral of f. Using this notation, we have

𝑭(𝒙) = ∫ 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒙 𝒊𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒇 𝑭′ (𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒙)

The indefinite integral

∫ 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙

• This is read "the indefinite integral of f(x) with respect to x"

• It represents the set of all antiderivatives of f
• The function f that is being integrated is called the integrand
• The variable x is called the variable of integration
 The process of finding the indefinite integral is called integration or integrating f(x). If
we need to be specific about the integration variable we will say that we are integrating f(x)
with respect to x.

One of the more common mistakes that students make with integrals (both indefinite and
definite) is to drop the dx at the end of each integral. Think of the integral sign and the dx as a
set of parentheses. You already know and are probably quite comfortable with the idea that
every time you open a parenthesis you must close it. With integrals, think of the integral sign as
an “open parenthesis” and the dx as “close parenthesis”. If you drop the dx it won’t be clear
where the integrand ends.

Changing the integration variable in the integral simply changes the variable in the
answer. It is important to notice however that when we change the integration variable in the
integral we also changed the differential (dx, dt, or dw) to match the new variable.

Another use of the differential at the end of integral is to tell us what variable we are
integrating with respect to. At this stage that may seem unimportant since most of the integrals
that we’re going to be working with here will only involve a single variable. However, if you are
on a degree track that will take you into multi-variable calculus this will be very important at that
stage since there will be more than one variable in the problem. You need to get into the habit of
writing the correct differential at the end of the integral so when it becomes important in those
classes you will already be in the habit of writing it down.

To see why this is important take a look at the following two integrals.

∫ 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 ∫ 2𝑡 𝑑𝑥

The first integral is simple enough.

∫ 2𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 𝐶

The second integral is also fairly simple, but we need to be careful. The dx tells us that we are
integrating x’s. That means that we only integrate x’s that are in the integrand and all other
variables in the integrand are considered to be constants. The second integral is then,

∫ 2𝑡 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑡𝑥 + 𝐶

So, it may seem silly to always put in the dx, but it is a vital bit of notation that can cause us to
get the incorrect answer if we neglect to put it in.
PROPERTIES OF THE INDEFINITE INTEGRAL

1. ∫ 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑢 + 𝑐
2. ∫(𝑑𝑢 + 𝑑𝑣 + ⋯ + 𝑑𝑧) = ∫ 𝑑𝑢 + ∫ 𝑑𝑣 + ⋯ + ∫ 𝑑𝑧
3. ∫ 𝑐𝑑𝑢 = 𝑐 ∫ 𝑑𝑢

THE POWER FORMULA

𝒖𝒏+𝟏
𝒏
∫𝒖 = + 𝒄 , 𝑛 ≠ −1
𝒏+𝟏

Examples: Integrate the following.

1. ∫(𝑥 3 − 4𝑥) 𝑑𝑥

Apply the second property, distribute the integral symbol and dx to each term we have,

= ∫ 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 4𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Apply the third property to simplify further, we have,

= ∫ 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 − 4 ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Apply the power formula,

𝑥4 𝑥2
= −4∙ +𝑐
4 2

Simplifying the result further,

𝒙𝟒
= − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒄
𝟒
2. ∫(6𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 1)𝑑𝑥

Apply the second property, distribute the integral symbol and dx to each term we have,

= ∫ 6𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 4𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑑𝑥

Apply the third property to simplify further, we have,

= 6 ∫ 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑥 − 4 ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑑𝑥

Apply the power formula,

𝑥4 𝑥2
=6∙ −4∙ +𝑥+𝑐
4 2

Simplifying the result further,

𝟑𝒙𝟒
= − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙 + 𝒄
𝟐

𝑑𝑣
3. ∫ 𝑣2

Rewrite the given as:

= ∫ 𝑣 −2 𝑑𝑣

Apply the power formula,

𝑣 −2+1
=
−2 + 1

𝑣 −1
= +𝑐
−1

Simplify the result,

−1
= +𝑐
𝑣
 1
4. ∫ (√𝑡 − ) 𝑑𝑡
√𝑡

Rewrite the given as:

1
= ∫ √𝑡 𝑑𝑡 − ∫ 𝑑𝑡
√𝑡
1 1
= ∫ 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 − ∫ 1 𝑑𝑡
𝑡2
1 −1
= ∫ 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 − ∫ 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡

Apply the power formula,

1 −1
𝑡 2+1 𝑡 2 +1
= −
1 1
+ 1 −
2 2+1

3 1
𝑡2 𝑡2
= −
3 1
2 2

Simplify the result by taking the reciprocal of the denominator,

3
2𝑡 2 1
= − 2𝑡 2 + 𝑐
3

5. ∫(𝑧 + 3)4 𝑑𝑧

You may introduce another variable to represent the binomial (u-substitution).

Let u = z + 3

Take the derivative of both sides

du = dz

Therefore, the given becomes,

∫ 𝑢4 𝑑𝑢
 Apply the power formula,
𝑢5
= +𝑐
5

By substitution,
(𝑧 + 3)5
= +𝑐
5

𝑑𝑥
6. ∫ (2𝑥−7)4

Let u = 2x – 7

du = 2 dx

Dividing both sides by 2,

𝑑𝑢
= 𝑑𝑥
2

Thus,

𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑥
∫ = ∫ 24
(2𝑥 − 7)4 𝑢

𝑑𝑢
= ∫ 𝑢−4 ∙
2
1
Apply property number 3, move out of the integral symbol,
2

1
= ∫ 𝑢−4 ∙ 𝑑𝑢
2

Apply the power formula,

1 𝑢−4+1
= ∙
2 −4 + 1

1 𝑢−3
= ∙
2 −3
 1
= − ∙ 𝑢−3
6

Eliminate the negative exponents,

1
= − +𝑐
6𝑢3

By substitution,

1
= − +𝑐
6(2𝑥 − 7)3

𝑥 4 + 𝑎4
7. ∫ 𝑑𝑥
𝑥2

Separate the terms as,

𝑥 4 + 𝑎4 𝑥4 𝑎4
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑑𝑥
𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑥2

= ∫ 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑎4 ∫ 𝑥 −2 𝑑𝑥

Apply the power formula,

𝑥 2+1 𝑥 −2+1
= + 𝑎4 ∙
2+1 −2+1

𝑥3 𝑥 −1
= + 𝑎4 ∙
3 −1

Simplify the results,

𝑥 3 𝑎4
= − +𝑐
3 𝑥

8. ∫(𝑥 6 − 7𝑥)4 𝑑𝑥

Simplify the given by factoring,

∫(𝑥 6 − 7𝑥)4 𝑑𝑥 = ∫[𝑥 (𝑥 5 − 7)]4 𝑑𝑥

Distribute the exponent outside,

= ∫ 𝑥 4 (𝑥 5 − 7)4 𝑑𝑥

Simplify by introducing another variable.

Let u = 𝑥 5 − 7

Differentiate both sides,

du = 5x4 dx

Divide both sides by 5,

𝑑𝑢
= 𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥
5

By substitution, we have

𝑑𝑢
= ∫ 𝑢4 ∙
5

Apply property number 3,

1
= ∫ 𝑢4 𝑑𝑢
5

Apply the power formula,

1 𝑢5
= ∙
5 5

1
= ∙ 𝑢5 + 𝑐
25

By substitution,
 1 5
= (𝑥 − 7)5 + 𝑐
25