1.

4 Indefinite Integrals
1. Quote. At the end of some indefinite distance there was always a confused spot, into
which her dream died.
(Gustave Flauber, French novelist, 1821-1880)
2. Reminder. The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part 2:.
If f is continuous on [a, b], then
Z b
f (x)dx = F (b) F (a)
a

where F is any antiderivative of f , that is a function such that F 0 = f .

3. Problem. So, to be able to evaluate an integral, we need a way to find any antiderivative
F of the given function f . How do we find antiderivatives?

4. A new name for an old idea...

R

Definition (Indefinite Integral). The symbol f (x)dx is called an indefinite integral, and it represents an antiderivative of f . That is,
Z
f (x)dx = F (x) means F 0(x) = f (x)

5. Warning! It could be confusing: The notation

f (x)dx is used to represent

the set of all antiderivatives of f

Z
f (x)dx = {F : F 0 = f }
a single function that is an antiderivative of f .

6. Integrals you should know:

Z
Z
cf (x)dx = c f (x)dx
Z
kdx = kx + C

Z
n+1
x
+ C (n 6= 1)
xndx =
n
+
1
Z
Z
exdx = ex + C
Z
Z
sin xdx = cos x + C
Z
Z
sec2 xdx = tan x + C
Z
Z
sec x tan xdx = sec x + C
Z
Z
dx
= tan1 x + C
2
x +1

Z
[f (x) + g(x)]dx =

Z
f (x)dx +

dx
= ln |x| + C
x
ax
x
+C
a dx =
ln a
cos xdx = sin x + C
csc2 xdx = cot x + C
csc x cot xdx = csc x + C

dx
= sin1 x + C
1 x2

g(x)dx

7. Examples. Find the following indefinite integrals:

Z
(a) x2/3dx
Z
(b) t2(3 4t5)dt
Z
(c) (u 1)(u2 + 3)du
Z
(d) (4ev sec2 v)dv
Z
cos z
dz
(e)
1 cos2 z

8. The Net Change Theorem. The integral of a rate of change is the net change:
Z b
F 0(x)dx = F (b) F (a)
a

9. Example. If f (x) is
slope of a hiking trail at a distance of x miles from the start of
Z the
4
the trail, what does
f (x)dx represent?
2

10. Example. (Linear Motion of a Particle)

A particle is moving along a line with the acceleration (in m/s2) a(t) = 2t + 3 and the
initial velocity v(0) = 4 m/s with 0 t 3. Find
(a) the velocity at time t,
(b) the distance traveled during the given time interval.