Basic Mathematics

Denite Integration
R Horan & M Lavelle

The aim of this package is to provide a short self

assessment programme for students who want to
be able to calculate basic denite integrals.

Copyright
c 2004 [email protected] , [email protected]

Last Revision Date: September 9, 2005 Version 1.0

 Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Denite Integration
3. The Area Under a Curve
4. Final Quiz
Solutions to Exercises
Solutions to Quizzes

The full range of these packages and some instructions,

should they be required, can be obtained from our web
page Mathematics Support Materials.
Section 1: Introduction 3

1. Introduction
It is possible to determine a function F (x) from its derivative f (x) by
calculating the anti-derivative or integral of f (x), i.e.,
Z
dF
if = f (x) ; then F (x) = f (x)dx + C
dx

where C is an integration constant (see the package on indenite

integration). In this package we will see how to use integration to
calculate the area under a curve.
As a revision exercise, try this quiz on indenite integration.
R
Quiz Select the indenite integral of (3x2 12 x)dx with respect to x
1 3
(a) 6x +C; (b) x3 x2 + C ;
2 2
1 2 1 2
(c) x + x + C ;
2
(d) x3 x +C:
4 4
Hint: If n 6= 1 ; the integral of xn is xn+1 =(n + 1).
Section 2: Denite Integration 4

2. Denite Integration
We dene the denite integral of the function f (x) with respect to
x from a to b to be
Z b b

f (x)dx = F (x) = F (b) F (a) ;
a a

where F (x) is the anti-derivative of f (x). We call a and b the lower

and upper limits of integration respectively. The function being inte-
grated, f (x), is called the integrand. Note the minus sign!
Note integration constants are not written in denite integrals since
they always cancel in them:
Z b b

f (x)dx = F (x)
a a
= (F (b) + C ) (F (a) + C )
= F (b) + C F (a) C
= F (b) F (a) :
Section 2: Denite Integration 5
R2
Example 1 Calculate the denite integral 1
x3 dx.
R a
From the rule axn dx = xn+1 we have
n+1
Z 
2
1 3+1 2
3
x dx = x 
1 3+1 1
2
1  1 1
= x4  =  24  11
4 1 4 4
1
=
4
 16 14 = 4 1 15
4
= :
4

Exercise 1. Calculate the following denite integrals: (click on the

green letters for the solutions)
R3 R2
(a) 0
xdx ; (b) 1
xdx ;
R2 R2
(c) 1
(x2 x)dx ; (d) 1
(x2 x)dx :
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 6

3. The Area Under a Curve

The denite integral of a function f (x) which lies above the x axis
can be interpreted as the area under the curve of f (x).
Thus the area shaded blue below
y

y = f (x)
A

x
0 a b

is given by the denite integral

Z b b

f (x)dx = F (x) = F (b) F (a) :
a a
This is demonstrated on the next page.
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 7

Consider the area, A, under the curve, y = f (x). If we increase

the value of x by x, then the increase in area, A, is approximately
y
A = y x ) A
x
= y:
Here we approximate the y
area of the thin strip by
a rectangle of width x
and height y . In the limit A A
as the strips become thin, x x+x
x
x ! 0, this means:
0
dA A
= lim = y:
dx x !0 x
The function (height of the curve) is the derivative of the area and
the area below the curve is an anti-derivative or integral of
the function.
N.B. so far we have assumed that y = f (x) lies above the x axis.
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 8
R3
Example 2 Consider the integral 0
xdx. The integrand y = x (a
straight line) is sketched below. The area underneath the line is the
blue shaded triangle. The area of any triangle is half its base times
the height. For the blue shaded triangle, this is
1 9
A= 33= :
2 2
y
y =x
3

A
x
0 3
As expected, the integral yields the same result:
Z 3 3
x2  32 02 9 9
xdx =  = = 0= :
0 2 0
2 2 2 2
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 9

Here is a quiz on this relation between denite integrals and the area
under a curve.
Quiz Select the value of the denite integral
Z 3
2dx ;
1
which is sketched in the following diagram:
y

y =2
2
A

x
0 1 3
(a) 6 ; (b) 2 ; (c) 4 ; (d) 8 :
Hint: 2 may be written as 2x , since x = 1.
0 0
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 10

Example 3 Consider the two lines: y = 3 and y = 3.

Let us integrate these functions in y 6
turn from x = 0 to x = 2. y = +3
3
a) For y = 3:
-
Z 2
2 
(+3)dx = 3x = 32 30 = 6 : 0 j j
0 0 1 2 x
and 6 is indeed the area of the rect- 3
angle of height 3 and length 2. y= 3

b) However, for y = 3:
Z 2
2 
( 3)dx = 3x = 32 ( 30) = 6 :
0 0
Although both rectangles have the same area, the sign of this result
is negative because the curve, y = 3, lies below the x axis. This
indicates the sign convention:
If a function lies below the x axis, its integral is negative.
If a function lies above the x axis, its integral is positive.
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 11

Exercise 2.

y 6

y1 (x)
A B 0 C D
-
x
y2 (x)

From the diagram above, what can you say about the signs of the
following denite integrals? (Click on the green letters for the solu-
tions)
RB RD
(a) A y1 (x)dx ; (b) B y1 (x)dx ;
R0 RD
(c) A y2 (x)dx ; (d) C y2 (x)dx :
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 12
R R a
Example 4 To calculate 2
6x2 dx, use axn dx = xn+1 . Thus
4
n+1
Z  2
2
6 2+1 
6x2 dx = x 
4 2+1 4
 
6  2  2
= x3  = 2x3 
3 4 4

= 2  ( 2)3 2  ( 4)3 = 16 + 128 = 112 :

Note that even though the integration range is for negative x (from
4 to 2), the integrand, f (x) = 6x2 , is a positive function. The
denite integral of a positive function is positive. (Similarly it is
negative for a negative function.)

Quiz Select the denite integral of y = 5x4 with respect to x if the

lower limit of the integral is x = 2 and the upper limit is x = 1
(a) 31 ; (b) 31 ; (c) 29 ; (d) 27 :
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 13

Exercise 3. Use the integrals listed below to calculate the following

denite integrals. (Click on the green letters for the solutions)

1
f (x) xn for n 6= 1 sin(ax) cos(ax) eax
x
R 1 1 1 1
f (x)dx xn+1 cos(ax) sin(ax) eax ln(x)
n+1 a a a

R9 p R1
(a) 4
3 tdt ; (b) 1
(x2 2x + 4)dx ;
R R3
(c) 0
sin(x)dx ; (d) 0
4e2x dx ;
R2 3 R
(e) 1
dt ; (f) 2 2 cos(4w)dw :
t 4
Section 3: The Area Under a Curve 14

Quiz Find the correct result for the denite integral

Z 2b
x2 dx :
a

8 3 1 3
(a) b a ; (b) 4b 2a ;
3 3
8 1 1 3 1 3
(c) b3 + a3 ; (d) b a :
3 3 3 3

Quiz Select the correct result for the denite integral

Z 3
1
dx ;
2 x2
from the answers oered below
1 1 1
(a) 1 ; (b) ; (c) ; (d) :
5 36 6
Section 4: Final Quiz 15

4. Final Quiz
Begin Quiz Choose the solutions from the options given.
1. What is the area under the curve of the following positive function
y = 10x4 + 3x2 between x = 1 and x = 2?
(a) 75 ; (b) 53 ; (c) 69 ; (d) 57 :
2. What is the denite integral of 3 sin(2x) from x = 0 to x = =2 ?
5
(a) 3 ; (b) 0 ; (c) 3 ; (d) :
2
3. Find
Rb
the (non-zero) value of b for which the denite integral
0
(2s 3)ds vanishes
(a) 1 ; (b) 5 ; (c) 3 ; (d) 2 :
R2
4. Select below the denite integral
p4 e
;2 e (c)dx0with respect to x.

2x


(a) 2 e4 e 4
; (b) 1
2
e4 ; (d) 1 e4 e 4 :
2

End Quiz
Solutions to Exercises 16

Solutions to Exercises
R
Exercise 1(a) To calculate 3
0
xdx,
use the formula
Z
1 n+1
xn dx = x
n+1
with n = 1. This yields
Z  
3
1 1+1 3 1 2 3
xdx = x  = 2x 
0 1+1 0 0
1 1
=
2
 (3) 2  (0)
2 2

1
=
2
 9 0 = 92 :

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 17
R2
Exercise 1(b) To calculate 1
xdx, use the formula for the indenite
integral Z
1
xn dx = xn+1
n+1
with n = 1. This yields
Z  
2
1 1+1 2 1 2 2
xdx = x  = x
1 1+1 1
2  1
1 1
=
2
 (2)2
2
 ( 1)2
1 1
=
2
 4
2
 (+1)
1 3
= 2 = :
2 2

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 18
R2
Exercise 1(c) To evaluate the denite integral
R 1
(x2 x)dx we
rewrite it as the sum of two integrals and use = xn dx 1
n+1 x
n+1 with
n = 2 in the rst integral and with n = 1 in the second one
Z Z  
2 2
1 2+1 2 1 1+1 2
2
x dx x dx = x  x 
1 1 2+1 1
1+1 1
2 2
1 3 1 2 
= x x
3 1 2 1
 
1 1 1 1
=
3
2 3 1
3 3
2
2 2 1
2 2

 
1 1 1 1
=
3
 8
3
 1
2
 4
2
 1
7 3 14 9 5
= = = :
3 2 6 6 6

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Exercises 19
R2
Exercise 1(d) To nd the integral 1
(x2 x)dx we rewrite it as the
sum of two integrals and use the result of the previous part to write
it as
Z 2 Z 2  
1 3 2 1 2 2
2
x dx x dx = x x
1 1 3  1 2  1
 
1 1 1 1
=
3
 23
3
 ( 1)3
2
 22
2
 ( 1)2
 
1
=
3
 8 + 13  1 12  4 21  1 = 93 23
3 3
= 3 = :
2 2

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Exercises 20

Exercise 2(a)
y 6

y1 (x)
A B 0 C D
-
x

R
The sign of the denite integral, AB y1 (x)dx, must be negative. This
is because the function y1 (x) is negative for all values of x between A
and B . The area is all below the x axis.
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 21

Exercise 2(b)
y 6

y1 (x)
A B 0 C D
-
x

R
The sign of the denite integral, BD y1 (x)dx, must be positive. This
is because, between the integration limits B and D, there is more area
above the x axis than below the x axis.
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 22

Exercise 2(c)
y 6

A B 0 C D
-
x
y2 (x)

R
The sign of the denite integral, A0 y2 (x)dx, must be positive. This
is because, between the integration limits A and 0, there is more area
above the x axis than below it.
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 23

Exercise 2(d)
y 6

A B 0 C D
-
x
y2 (x)

R
The sign of the denite integral, CD y2 (x)dx, must be negative. This
is because, between the integration limits C and D, the integrand
y2 (x) is always negative.
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 24
R9 p
Exercise 3(a) To calculate the denite integral 4
3 tdt we rewrite
it as Z 9 p Z 9
3 tdt =3 t1=2 dt
4 4
R 1 n+1
and use xn dx = x for n = 12
n+1
Z  9 
9
1 12 +1 9 1 3 2 32 9
3 = 3 1 =3 3  
1
t 2 dt t  t2 
 = 3 t
4 2
+1 4 2 4
3 4
9
3
= 2  (9) 2 2  (4) 2 = 2  (9 2 )3 2  (4 2 )3
3 3 1 1
= 2 t2 

4

= 2  (3)3 2  (2)3 = 2  27 2  8 = 54 16 = 38 :
N.B. dividing by a fraction is equivalent to multiplying by its inverse
(see the package on fractions).
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 25
R1
Exercise 3(b) To calculate the denite integral 1
(x2 2x +4)dx we
R1 R1 R1
rewrite it as a sum of integrals 1 x dx 2 
2
1
xdx + 4  1 1dx
R 1 n+1
and use xn dx = x with n = 2 in the rst integral,
n+1
Z 1  
1 2+1 1 1 3 1 1
2
x2 dx = x  = x  = 13 ( 1)3 = ;
1 2 + 1 1
3 1
3 3
with n = 1 in the second integral
Z  
1
1 1+1 1 1

2 xdx = 2  x  = x2  = 12 ( 1)2 = 0 ;
1 1+1 1 1

and with n = 0 in the last integral

Z  
1
1 0+1 1 1
4 1dx = 4  x  = 4x = 4 (1 ( 1)) = 8 :
1 0+1 1 1

Summing up these numbers we obtain 2=3 + 0 + 8 = 26=3.

Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 26
R
Exercise 3(c) To calculate the denite integral 0
sin(x)dx we note
from the table that
Z
1
sin(ax)dx = cos(x):
a
This yields (with a = 1)
Z  

sin(x)dx = cos(x)
0 0
= (cos( ) cos(0)) = (( 1) 1) = 2 :
N.B. It is worth emphasizing that the angles in calculus formulae for
trigonometric functions are measured in radians.
Click on the green square to return

Solutions to Exercises 27
R3
Exercise 3(d) To calculate the denite integral 0
4e2x dx , write
Z 3 Z 3
4e2x dx = 4  e2x dx
0 0

and use from the table

Z
1
eax dx = eax :
a
This gives for a = 2
Z  
3
1 3 3
4 e
2x
dx = 4  e2x  = 2e2x 
0 2 0 0
(23)
= 2e 2e(20)
= 2e6 2e0 = 2e6 2  1 = 2e6 2:

Click on the green square to return


Solutions to Exercises 28
R2 3
Exercise 3(e) To evaluate the denite integral 1
dt we write
t
Z Z
2
3 2
1
dt =3 dt
1 t 1 t
and use Z
1
dt = ln(t) :
t
This yields
Z 2
2
1 
3 dt = 3  ln(t)
1 t 1
= 3  ln(2) 3  ln(1)
= 3  ln(2) 30
= 3 ln(2) :
N.B. ln(0) = 1 , since e0 = 1 .
Click on the green square to return 
Solutions to Exercises 29
R
Exercise 3(f) To nd the denite integral 2
4
2 cos(4w)dw use
Z  Z 
2 2
2 cos(4w)dw = 2  cos(4w)dw :
 
4 4
R 1
and cos(ax)dx = sin(x) . This gives for a = 4
a
Z   
2 1 2 1 2
2 cos(4w)dw = 2  sin(4w) = sin(4w)

4
4 
4
2 
4
1  1 
= sin(4  ) sin(4  )
2 2 2 4
1 1
= sin(2 ) sin( )
2 2
1 1
=
2
 0
2
 0 = 0:

Click on the green square to return 

Solutions to Quizzes 30

Solutions to Quizzes R
Solution to Quiz: To nd the indenite integral (3x2 1
2
x)dx we
use the sum rule for integrals, rewriting it as the sum of two integrals
Z Z Z
1 1
(3x 2
x) dx = 3x dx + ( x) dx
2
2 Z Z
2
1
= 3 x dx 2
x dx :
2
R
Using xn dx = n+1 1
xn+1 ; n 6= 1 with n = 2 in the rst integral and
with n = 1 in the second one gives
Z Z
1 1 1+2 1
3 x dx
2
2
x dx = 3 
1+2
x  1 x1+1 + C
2 1+1
3 1 1 2
= x3 x2 + C = x3 x +C:
3 2(1 + 1) 4
Check that dierentiation of this result gives 3x2 12 x. End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes 31

Solution to Quiz: Using 2 = 2x0 , the integral

Z Z 3
3 3 
2dx = 2 x0 dx = 2x
1 1 1
= 23 21=6 2
= 4:
Indeed from the diagram
y

y =2
2
A

x
0 1 3
the area under the curve between the integration limits is the area of
a square of side 2. This has area 2  2 = 4. End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes 32

Solution to Quiz: The denite integral of y = 5x4 with respect to x

if the lower limit of the integral is x = 2 and the upper limit x = 1
can be written as Z 1
5x4 dx :
2
B
RB a 
From the basic result n
A ax dx = xn+1  we obtain
n+1 A
Z  1  1
1
5 5  
5x4 dx = x  = x5 
2 5 2 2

= ( 1)5 ( 2)5
= 1 ( 32)
= 1 + 32 = 31 :
Note that since the integrand 5x is positive for all x, the negative
4

suggested solutions could not be correct. End Quiz

Solutions to Quizzes 33
R 2b
Solution to Quiz: To calculate the denite integral a x2 dx use
the basic indenite integral
Z
1 n+1
xn dx = x :
n+1
with n = 2. This gives
Z  
2b
1 (2+1) 2b 1 3 2b
x2 dx = x  = 3x 
a 2+1 a a
1 1
=
3
 (2b) 3  (a)
3 3

1
=
3
 (2)3  b3 13  a3
1
=
3
 8  b3 13  a3
8 3 1 3
= b a :
3 3
End Quiz
Solutions to Quizzes 34

Solution to Quiz: To evaluate the denite integral

Z Z
3
1 3
dx = x 2
dx
2 x2 2

RB 1 n+1 B
use n
A x dx = x  with n = 2
n+1 A
Z  3
3
1 3 1 
x 2
dx = x 2+1  = x 1

2 ( 2 + 1) 2
( 1) 2
 
1 3 1 3 1 1
= ( 1)   =  = ( )
x 2 x 2 3 2
1 1 2 3
= + = +
3 2 6 6
2+3 1
= = :
6 6
End Quiz