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Antiderivatives and The Indefinite Integral

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2. Antiderivatives and The Indefinite Integral

by M. Bourne

We wish to perform the opposite process to differentiation. This is called "antidifferentiation" and later, we will call it
"integration".

Example 1

If we know that

dy
= 3x2
dx
​

and we need to know the function this derivative came from, then we "undo" the differentiation process. (Think: "What
would I have to differentiate to get this result?")

dy
y = x3 is ONE antiderivative of = 3x2
​

dx
There are infinitely many other antiderivatives which would also work, for example:

y = x3 + 4

y = x3 + π

y = x3 + 27.3

In general, we say y = x3 + K is the indefinite integral of 3x2 . The number K is called the constant of integration.

Note: Most math text books use C for the constant of integration, but for questions involving electrical engineering, we
prefer to write "+K", since C is normally used for capacitance and it can get confusing.

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Notation for the Indefinite Integral

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We write: ∫ 3x2 dx = x3 + K and say in words: CHAT NOW 💬

"The integral of 3x 2 with respect to x equals x 3 + K."

The Integral Sign

The ∫ sign is an elongated "S", standing for "sum". (In old German, and English, "s" was often written using this
elongated shape.) Later we will see that the integral is the sum of the areas of infinitesimally thin rectangles.

∑ is the symbol for "sum". It can be used for finite or infinite sums.

∫ is the symbol for the sum of an infinite number of infinitely small areas (or other variables).

This "long s" notation was introduced by Leibniz when he developed the concepts of integration.

Other Notation for Integrals

Note: Sometimes we write a capital letter to signify integration. For example, we write F(x) to mean the integral of f(x). So
we have:

F (x) = ∫ f (x) dx

Example 2

Find ∫ (x2 − 5) dx

Answer

We now learn some important general rules for integration.

A. Integral of a Constant

∫ k dx = kx + K

(k and K are constants.)

The integral of a constant is that constant times x, plus a constant.

Example 3

Find ∫ 4 dx

Answer

B. Integral of a Power of x
xn+1
∫ xn dx = + K (This is true as long as n ≠ −1)
n+1
​

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1/18/23, 3:05 AM 2. Antiderivatives and The Indefinite Integral

For the integral of a power of x: add 1 to the power and divide by the new number.

Example 4
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Integrate ∫ x5 dx

Answer

The Constant of Integration

Don't forget the "+ K" (or, alternatively, "+ C"). This constant of integration is vital in later applications of the indefinite
integral.

Example 5

Integrate ∫ 8x6 dx

Answer

Example 6

Integrate dy = (5x2 − 4x + 3) dx

Answer

Example 7

∫ 7x6 dx

Answer

Example 8
5
∫ (3x2 + x− ) dx
x3
​ ​

Answer

Example 9

∫
3
x2 dx
​

Answer

Example 10
dy
A particular curve has its derivative given by = 3x2 − 2x.
​

dx
We are told that the curve passes through the point (2, 5). Find the equation of the curve.
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1/18/23, 3:05 AM 2. Antiderivatives and The Indefinite Integral

Answer

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Here is a graph of the curve we found in Example 10:
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Notice the curve passes through the point (2, 5).

Example 11

Consider this integration:

∫ (2x4 − 5) x3 dx
6

This is different to the other exercises above!

6
The expression we have to integrate containts (2x4 − 5) , which is a function of a function, and we have that x3 at the
end. We cannot do this integration using the rules we have learned so far.

In this case, we have to do the reverse of the Chain Rule, which we met in the section on differentiation.

We introduce a new rule for integrating cases like these.

C. Power Formula for Integration

un+1
∫ un du = +K
n+1
​

(This is true if n ≠ −1)

This requires a substitution step, where u(x) is some function of x.

Now back to the problem to see how to apply this formula.

Integrate ∫ (2x4 − 5) x3 dx .
6

Answer

More substitution examples

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Example 12

∫ (x3 − 2) (3x2 ) dx
6
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Answer

Example 13
x
Find ∫ dx using a substitution.
x2
​

+9 ​

Answer

Example 14
′
Given y = 2x + 1, find the function y = f (x) which passes through the point (0, 2).
​

Answer

Here is the graph of the answer we found in Example 14. You can see it passes through (2, 0).

f(x)
10
8
6
4
2
x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
Graph of y, passing through (2, 0).

Note: You will see "+K" and "+C" in this work. Most textbooks use + C.

It's a good idea to always use +K if you are answering electrical problems.

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1/18/23, 3:05 AM 2. Antiderivatives and The Indefinite Integral

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