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What is integration?
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What is integration?
Integration is the opposite (inverse) of differentiation.
It is the process of finding the expression of a function (antiderivative) from an expression of the function's derivative (gradient function).
What does the symbol mean?
The symbol means "integrate".
E.g. means integrate (or 'find the integral of') with respect to
State the formula for integrating powers of x.
The formula for integrating powers of x is
Where:
is the constant of integration
This formula is in the exam formula booklet.
What is the constant of integration?
The constant of integration is a constant term that appears in every indefinite integral, representing the fact that a function has infinitely many antiderivatives.
The constant of integration is usually written as '' at the end of the indefinite integral.
True or False?
When integrating , the result for is multiplied by the constant .
True.
When integrating , the result for is multiplied by the constant .
What is the integral of a constant ?
The integral of a constant is ( if it is an indefinite integral).
True or False?
When integrating a power of x, the power is decreased by 1.
False.
When integrating a power of x, the power is increased by 1.
(The power is decreased by 1 when differentiating powers of x.)
True or False?
The formula for integrating is valid for all possible values of .
False.
The formula for integrating is not valid for .
It is valid for all other values of .
How do you integrate a sum or difference of powers of x?
To integrate a sum or difference of powers of x, integrate each term individually using the power rule and combine the results.
I.e. the integral of a sum or difference of terms is equal to the sum or difference of the integrals of the individual terms.
True or False?
To find the integral of a product like , find the integrals of the individual factors (and ) and multiply them together.
False.
To find the integral of a product like , you first need to expand the brackets to get . Then that can be integrated as usual using the powers of formula.
Similarly, you cannot find the integral of a quotient (fraction) by finding the integrals of the numerator and denominator and then dividing.
True or False?
The formula for integrating powers of , , can be used when the power is any rational number.
False.
The formula for integrating powers of , , can be used when the power is any rational number except -1.
I.e., you cannot use the formula to integrate
What is a definite integral?
A definite integral is an integral with specified upper and lower limits, used to calculate the exact area under a curve.
True or False?
The constant of integration is needed in definite integration.
False.
The constant of integration is not needed in definite integration.
(If it were included, it would just cancel out.)
What is meant by the area under a curve?
The area under a curve refers to the area bounded by:
the graph of ,
the x-axis,
and two vertical lines and .
What are the limits of integration?
Limits of integration (or integration limits) are the upper and lower bounds of a definite integral, determining the interval over which the integration is performed.
E.g. in the definite integral
is the lower integration limit
is the upper integration limit
True or False?
The y-axis can be one of the boundaries when finding the area under a curve.
True.
The y-axis can be one of the boundaries when finding the area under a curve
In this case the corresponding integration limit would be .
How can you find the constant of integration if a point on the curve is known?
To find the constant of integration when a point on the curve is known:
substitute the x- and y-coordinates of the point into the general antiderivative equation,
then solve for the constant of integration C.
True or False?
Modern graphic calculators (GDCs) will always produce exact answers for definite integrals.
False.
Modern graphic calculators (GDCs) may not always produce exact answers for definite integrals, and care should be taken when interpreting results.
What information is needed to evaluate a definite integral using a GDC?
To evaluate a definite integral using a GDC, you need:
the function to be integrated (integrand),
the lower integration limit,
and the upper integration limit.
How can you use a GDC to find the area under a curve graphically?
To find the area under a curve graphically using a GDC:
Plot the function.
Select the area or integral option.
Input or select the lower and upper limits on the graph.
What is the significance of roots of the equation when finding limits for calculating an area under a curve?
Roots of the equation represent the x-coordinates of the point(s) where the graph of crosses the x-axis.
These x-coordinates will sometimes be used as limits when finding an area under a curve.
True or False?
When finding the area under a straight line, the only possible method is to use integration.
False.
Definite integration can find the area under a line (and integration may be preferred for consistency with other area calculations). Just use the equation of the line as the 'equation of the curve' in the integral.
However the area under a straight line will be either a right triangle or a trapezoid (trapezium). It may therefore be easier to use the area formulae for those 2D shapes to work out the area.