IN1.

2: INTEGRATION OF
POLYNOMIALS
Antidifferentiation
Antidifferentiation is the reverse process from differentiation. Given a derivative f ′ ( x ) the task is to find the
original function f ( x) .
 x3   x3 
If f ( x ) =   then f ′ ( x ) =x 2 , therefore   is an antiderivative of x 2
 3  3
 x3   x3 
If f (=x )  + 1 then f ′ ( x ) =x 2   + 1 is an antiderivative of x
2

 3   
3
 x3   x3 
If f (=
x )  + 2  then f ′ ( x ) =x 2   + 2 is an antiderivative of x
2

 3   3
…….and so on.

Rule for powers of x

In general:

dy 1 n +1
If ==
xn , y x + c where c is a constant ( n ≠ −1 )
dx n +1

This rule applies for positive, negative and fractional values of n except n = −1

Examples
1.
dy
Given = 2 x find the antiderivative
dx
2 x1+1 add one to the power of x
=y +c
1+1 divide by the new power
=
y x 2 + c is the antiderivative add a constant

2. Given dy = 3 find the antiderivative.

dx
3 x 0+1
=y +c
0 +1 3 = 3 x x0, add one to the power of x
divide by the new power
=
y 3x + c add a constant

IN1.2 – Integration of Polynomials Page 1 of 4 June 2012

 dy
3. If = x −3 find y
dx
1
=y x −3+1 + c add one to the power of x
−3 + 1 divide by the new power
add a constant
1
=y +c
−2 x 2

1
4. If f ′( x) = x 2
find f ( x)
1
+1
x
( x)
2

f= 1
+1
+c add one to the power of x
2 divide by the new power
3 add a constant
2x 2
f (=
x) +c
3

See Exercise 1

The indefinite integral

The symbol ∫ stands for “the integral of” and may be used to indicate that we wish to find an antiderivative.

For example

∫ x dx
4
reads

the integral of x4 with respect to x,

Operational rules
zc b g b gh
f x ± g x dx = z bg z bg
f x dx ± g x dx

∫ kf ( x )dx = k ∫ f ( x ) dx
Polynomials
Using the rule for finding the antiderivative of xn

• add one to the power

1
∫ x dx = n + 1 x
n +1
n
+c (n ≠ −1) • divide by the new power

• add a constant

c is called the constant of integration.

Examples
1.
∫(x + 4 ) dx =
Integrate each term separately
∫ x dx + ∫ 4dx
3 3

x4
= + 4x + c Only one constant of integration is needed
4
IN1.2 – Integration of Polynomials Page 2 of 4 June 2012
2.
 1  1  1 
∫  3x
dx = 3 ∫ 
 x
dx Use ∫ kf ( x )dx = k ∫ f ( x ) dx
 1
1 − 12 1  x2  Write in index form
3∫
=x dx +c
3  12  Integrate
 
2
= x +c Simplify
3

3.
3s 4 − s 3 + 7
∫ s2 = ∫ ( 3s − s + 7 s −2 )ds
2
ds
Simplify – divide each term by s2 ( s ≠ 0)
3 2
3s s 7
= − − +c Integrate
3 2 s
2
s 7
= s3 − − + c Simplify
2 s

 
∫(x + 2 x −2 + 7 )dx
2
∫  x + + 7 dx=
3 3


2
x 2
4 Write 2
as 2x −2
x x
4. = − 2 x −1 + 7 x + c
4
4 Integrate
x 2
= − + 7x + c
4 x

See Exercise 2

Integrals of the form ( ax + b )

n

1
∫ ( ax + b ) ( ax + b ) + c
n +1
(n ≠ −1)
n
dx =
a ( n + 1)

The function in brackets must be linear. This rule cannot be used with expressions such as dax + bi .
2 n

Examples
1.
(8x − 5)
10

∫ (8 x − 5) dx +c
9
= a = 8, b = −5, n = 9
8 ×10
(8x − 5)
10

= +c
80
2.
(7 − 2x)
4

∫ ( 7 − 2x ) dx = +c
3
a = −2, b = 7, n = 3
−2 × 4
(7 − 2x)
4

= +c
−8
See Exercise 3

IN1.2 – Integration of Polynomials Page 3 of 4 June 2012

Exercises
Exercise 1
Find an antiderivative of
2 1
−
(a) x3 (b) s8 (c) x (d) x −5 (e) a3 (f) s −2 (g) p 2

Exercise 2
Find the following integrals.
 1 
∫ 3x dx ∫ ( 4x − 2 x3 + 9 )dx ∫  x +
2 5 2
(a) (b) (c) dx
x2 
 4 x5 − 2 x3 + 9   2 
(d) ∫ (5 x + 1 dx ) (e) ∫ 
 2
dx

(f) ∫  s +
 3 s3 
ds

 3x + 1   t − 2t + 1 
4 3
(g) ∫  dx (h) ∫  dt
x   2t 2 

Answers
x4 s9 2x x x −4 1
1(a) (b) (c) (d) =
4 9 3 −4 −4 x 4
5
1
3a 3 1
(e) (f) − s −1 =
− (g) 2 p2
5 s

2 x6 x4 x3 1
2.(a) x +c3
(b) − + 9x + c (c) − +c
3 2 3 x
6 4
10 x x x x 9x s2 4
(d) + x+c (e) − + +c (f) − +c
3 3 4 2 2 3 s
t3 t2 1
(g) + c 2 x ( x + 1) + c
2 x x + 2 x= (h) − − +c
6 2 2t

( 5 x + 1) 2 ( x − 9) ( x − 9) (8 − 4 x )
5 4

3 (a) +c (b) +c (c) +c

25 3 −4
4
3 ( 5x + 8) 3 3 ( 5x + 8) 3 ( 5x + 8) ( 3x − 2 )
8
1
(d) +c (e) +c = (f) +c
− ( x + 3)
2
20 20 12
(g) ( 2 x + 3) + c

IN1.2 – Integration of Polynomials Page 4 of 4 June 2012