DEFINITE INTEGRAL and THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM of CALCULUS

DEFINITION (Definite Integral) If 𝑓 is a function defined for 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏, we divide the interval

𝑏−𝑎
[𝑎, 𝑏] into 𝑛 subintervals of equal width Δ𝑥 = . We let 𝑥0 (= 𝑎), 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 (= 𝑏) be the
𝑛
endpoints of these subintervals and we let 𝑥1∗ , 𝑥2∗ , … , 𝑥𝑛∗ be any sample points in these subintervals,
so 𝑥𝑖∗ lies in the 𝑖𝑡ℎ subinterval [𝑥𝑖−1 , 𝑥𝑖 ]. Then the definite integral of 𝒇 from 𝒂 to 𝒃 is
𝑏 𝑛

∫ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = lim ∑ 𝑓(𝑥𝑖∗ )∆𝑥

𝑎 𝑛→∞
𝑖=1

Provided that this limit exists and gives the same value for all possible choices of sample points. If it
does exist, we say that 𝑓 is integrable on [𝑎, 𝑏].

Note: The sum

𝑛

∑ 𝑓 (𝑥𝑖∗ )∆𝑥
𝑖=1

is a called a Riemann Sum after the German mathematician Bernhard Riemann (1826–1866).
It says that the definite integral of an integrable function can be approximated to within any
desired degree of accuracy by a Riemann sum.

If 𝑓 happens to be positive, then the Riemann sum can be interpreted as a sum of areas of
approximating rectangles.

𝑏
Also, we see that the definite integral ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 can be interpreted as the area under the
curve 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥) from 𝑎 to 𝑏.
DEFINITION If 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) is nonnegative and integrable over a closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏], then the area
under the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) over [𝑎, 𝑏] is the integral of 𝑓 from 𝑎 to 𝑏,
𝑏
𝐴 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
𝑎

If 𝑓 takes on both positive and negative values, then the Riemann sum is the sum of the areas
of the rectangles that lie above the 𝑥-axis and the negatives of the areas of the rectangles
that lie below the 𝑥-axis (the areas of the blue rectangles minus the areas of the pink
rectangles).

When we take the limit of such Riemann sums, we get the situation illustrated below.

A definite integral can be interpreted as a net area, that is, a difference of areas:
𝑏
∫ 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = 𝐴1 − 𝐴2
𝑎

where 𝐴1 is the area of the region above the 𝑥-axis and below the graph of 𝑓 , and 𝐴2 is the
area of the region below the 𝑥-axis and above the graph of 𝑓.

THEOREM If 𝑓 is integrable on [𝑎, 𝑏], then

𝑏 𝑛

∫ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = lim ∑ 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) ∆𝑥
𝑎 𝑛→∞
𝑖=1

𝑏−𝑎
where ∆𝑥 = and 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑎 + 𝑖∆𝑥.
𝑛

Properties of the Definite Integral

𝑏 𝑎
1. ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 = − ∫𝑏 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥
𝑎
2. If 𝑓 (𝑎)is defined, ∫𝑎 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 = 0
𝑏 𝑏
3. ∫𝑎 𝑘𝑓(𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 = 𝑘 ∫𝑎 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 where 𝑘 is any constant
 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
4. ∫𝑎 [𝑓 (𝑥 ) ± 𝑔(𝑥)] 𝑑𝑥 = ∫𝑎 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 ± ∫𝑎 𝑔(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑏 𝑐 𝑏
5. ∫𝑎 𝑓(𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 = ∫𝑎 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 + ∫𝑐 𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑑𝑥 where 𝑐 ∈ (𝑎, 𝑏)

1 4 1
Example Suppose that ∫−1 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = 5, ∫1 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = −2 and ∫−1 ℎ(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 7. Then
1 4
• ∫4 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = − ∫1 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = −(−2) = 2
1 1 1
• ∫−1[2𝑓(𝑥) + 3ℎ(𝑥 )] 𝑑𝑥 = 2 ∫−1 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 + 3 ∫−1 ℎ(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = 2(5) + 3(7) = 31
4 1 4
• ∫−1 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫−1 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 + ∫1 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = 5 + (−2) = 3

10 8 10
Example Suppose that ∫0 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = 17 and ∫0 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = 12, find ∫8 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥.

Solution Using Property 5, we have

8 10 10
∫ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 + ∫ 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥
0 8 0

so,
10 10 8
∫ 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 − ∫ 𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = 17 − 12 = 5
8 0 0

THEOREM The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part 1

𝑥
If 𝑓 is continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏], then 𝐹(𝑥 ) = ∫𝑎 𝑓 (𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 is continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏] and
differentiable on (𝑎, 𝑏) and its derivative is 𝑓(𝑥 ):
𝑑 𝑥
𝐹 ′(𝑥) = 𝑑𝑥 ∫𝑎 𝑓 (𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑓(𝑥 ).

THEOREM The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part 2

If 𝑓 is continuous over [𝑎, 𝑏] and 𝐹 is any antiderivative of 𝑓 on [𝑎, 𝑏], then

𝑏
∫ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑑𝑥 = 𝐹 (𝑏) − 𝐹(𝑎)
𝑎

Example
𝜋
1. ∫0 cos 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = sin 𝑥|𝜋0 = sin 𝜋 − sin 0 = 0
0 𝜋
2. ∫−𝜋 sec 𝑥 tan 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = sec 𝑥 10−𝜋 = sec 0 − sec − 4 = 1 − √2
4 4

4 3 4 4 4 4 4
3. ∫1 (2 √𝑥 − 𝑥 2) 𝑑𝑥 = [𝑥 3⁄2 + 𝑥] = [(4)3⁄2 + 4] − [(1)3⁄2 + 1] = [8 + 1] − [5] = 4
1
 1 𝑑𝑥 1
4. ∫0 = ln|𝑥 + 1| | = ln 2 − ln 1 = ln 2
𝑥+1 0
1 𝑑𝑥 𝜋 𝜋
5. ∫0 = tan−1 𝑥 |10 = tan−1 1 − tan−1 0 = −0 = 4.
𝑥 2 +1 4

6. What is wrong with the following calculation?

3
1 𝑥 −1 3 1 4
∫ 2
𝑑𝑥 = | = − −1 =−
−1 𝑥 −1 −1 3 3

THEOREM Substitution in Definite Integrals

If 𝑔′ is continuous on the interval [𝑎, 𝑏] and 𝑓 is continuous on the range of 𝑔(𝑥 ) = 𝑢, then
𝑏 𝑔(𝑏)
∫ 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) ⋅ 𝑔′(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑢) 𝑑𝑢.
𝑎 𝑔(𝑎)

1
Example Evaluate ∫−1 3𝑥 2 √𝑥 3 + 1 𝑑𝑥

Solution 1 Transform the integral and evaluate the transformed integral with the transformed
limits. Let 𝑢 = 𝑥 3 + 1, 𝑑𝑢 = 3𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥. When 𝑥 = −1, 𝑢 = (−1)3 + 1 = 0.

When 𝑥 = 1, 𝑢 = (1)3 + 1 = 2.
1 2 2
∫−1 3𝑥 2 √𝑥 3 + 1 𝑑𝑥 = ∫0 √𝑢𝑑𝑢 = 3 𝑢3⁄2 |20

2 2 4√2
= 3 [23⁄2 − 03⁄2 ] = 3 [2√2] = 3

Solution 2 Transform the integral as an indefinite integral, integrate, change back to 𝑥, and use
the original 𝑥-limits. Let 𝑢 = 𝑥 3 + 1, 𝑑𝑢 = 3𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥.
2 2
∫ 3𝑥 2 √𝑥 3 + 1 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑢3⁄2 + 𝐶 = (𝑥 3 + 1)3⁄2 + 𝐶
3 3

1 2 1 2 4√2
∫−1 3𝑥 2 √𝑥 3 + 1 𝑑𝑥 = 3 (𝑥 3 + 1)3⁄2 |−1 = 3
[(13 + 1)3⁄2 − ((−1)3 + 1)3⁄2 ] =
3

2 𝑑𝑥
Example Evaluate ∫1 (3−5𝑥 2 )2

1
Solution Let 𝑢 = 3 − 5𝑥. Then 𝑑𝑢 = −5𝑑𝑥, so 𝑑𝑥 = − 5 𝑑𝑢. When 𝑥 = 1, 𝑢 = −2 and when
𝑥 = 2, 𝑢 = −7. Thus
2
𝑑𝑥 1 −7 𝑑𝑢 1 1 −7 1 −7
∫ 2 2
= − ∫ = − [− ] = |
1 (3 − 5𝑥 ) 5 −2 𝑢2 5 𝑢 −2 5𝑢 −2

1 1 1 1
= (− + ) =
5 7 2 14