Introduction to Integration

Integration is a way of adding slices to find the whole.

Integration can be used to find areas, volumes, central points and many useful
things. But it is easiest to start with finding the area under the curve of a function
like this:

What is the area under y = f(x) ?

Slices

We could calculate the function at a few points

and add up slices of width ∆x like this (but the
answer won't be very accurate):

We can make ∆x a lot smaller and add up many

small slices (answer is getting better):
And as the slices approach zero in width, the
answer approaches the true answer.

We now write dx to mean the ∆x slices are

approaching zero in width.

That is a lot of adding up!

But we don't have to add them up, as there is a "shortcut". Because ...

... finding an Integral is the reverse of finding a Derivative.

(So you should really know about Derivatives before reading more!)

Like here:

Example: What is an integral of 2x?

Integral

We know that the derivative of x2 is 2x ... 2x x 2 

Derivative

... so an integral of 2x is x2

You will see more examples later.

Notation
 Slices along x
The symbol for "Integral" is a
stylish "S"
(for "Sum", the idea of summing
2x dx
slices): Function we want
Integral Symbol
to integrate

After the Integral Symbol we put the function we want to find the integral of
(called the Integrand),

and then finish with dx to mean the slices go in the x direction (and approach zero
in width).

And here is how we write the answer:

Plus C
We wrote the answer as x2 but why + C ?

It is the "Constant of Integration". It is there because of all the functions whose

derivative is 2x:

Integrals
x 2 

2x x 2 +4 x 2+3
x 2-6
Derivative

The derivative of x2+4 is 2x, and the derivative of x2+99 is also 2x, and so on!
Because the derivative of a constant is zero.

So when we reverse the operation (to find the integral) we only know 2x, but there
could have been a constant of any value.
So we wrap up the idea by just writing + C at the end.

Tap and Tank

Integration is like filling a tank from a tap.

The input (before integration) is the flow rate from the

tap.

Integrating the flow (adding up all the little bits of

water) gives us the volume of water in the tank.

Imagine the flow starts at 0 and gradually increases (maybe a motor is slowly
opening the tap).

As the flow rate

volume
flow

increases, the tank fills

Fills up up faster and faster.
2x

x2

With a flow rate of 2x,

the tank fills up at x2.
time time
We have integrated the
flow to get the volume.

Example: (assuming the flow is in liters per minute) after 3 minutes

(x=3):

the flow rate has reached 2x = 2×3 = 6 liters/min,

and the volume has reached x2 = 32 = 9 liters.

We can do the reverse, too:

Imagine you don't know

x 2 volume
Slope shows

flow
the flow rate.
flow rate

s lo p e
=4
You only know the
volume is increasing by 4

2x
x2.

We can go in reverse 2 time 2 time

(using the derivative,
which gives us the slope) and find that the flow rate is 2x.

Example: at 2 minutes the slope of the volume is 4, meaning it is

increasing at 4 liters/minute, which is the flow rate. Likewise at 3
minutes the slope is 6, etc.

Integral

2x x 2  So Integral and Derivative are opposites.

Derivative
We can write that down this way:

The integral of the flow rate 2x tells us the volume of water: ∫2x dx = x2 +
C

And the slope of the volume increase x2+C gives us back the (x2 + C) =
flow rate:
2x

And hey, we even get a nice explanation of that "C" value ... maybe the tank
already has water in it!

The flow still increases the volume by the same amount

And the increase in volume can give us back the flow rate.

Which teaches us to always add "+ C".

Other functions

volume
flow
2x

x 2+C
Well, we have played Fills up
with y=2x enough now,
so how do we integrate
other functions? A C C

time time
If we are lucky enough
to find the function on the result side of a derivative, then (knowing that
derivatives and integrals are opposites) we have an answer. But remember to add
C.

Example: what is ∫cos(x) dx ?

From the Rules of Derivatives Integral

table we see the derivative of
sin(x) is cos(x) so: cos(x) sin(x)
∫cos(x) dx = sin(x) + C Derivative

But a lot of this "reversing" has already been done (see Rules of Integration ).

Example: What is ∫x3 dx ?

On Rules of Integration there is a "Power Rule" that says:

∫xn dx = xn+1/(n+1) + C
We can use that rule with n=3:

∫x3 dx = x4 /4 + C

Knowing how to use those rules is the key to being good at

Integration.

So get to know those rules and get lots of practice.

 Learn the Rules of Integration and Practice! Practice! Practice!
(there are some questions below)

Definite vs Indefinite Integrals

We have been doing Indefinite Integrals so far.

A Definite Integral has actual values to calculate between (they are put at the
bottom and top of the "S"):

Indefinite Integral Definite Integral

Read Definite Integrals to learn more.

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3

Question 4 Question 5 Question 6
Question 7 Question 8 Question 9
Question 10  

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