THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL

Definition and Fundamental Concepts of Calculus

The Definite Integral

As discussed in the previous lessons, integral calculus is classified into

two types; one is indefinite integral which is defined as unbounded summation,
the other type is definite integral, where the boundary of summation is being
defined.


Figure 2.1 The Graph of y  f x

Figure 2.1 shows the definition of definite integral as inferred from the
area of the region formed by y  f  x  with respect to the x-axis is bounded by
the lines x  a and x  b .

The Fundamental Concepts of Calculus

In general, the definite integral is expressed mathematically as:

b b
 a
f ( x ) dx = F ( x)
a
= F (b)  F (a)
where: b - the upper boundary/limit
a - the lower boundary/limit

Illustrative Examples:
  x 
1
1.
2
 3x  5 dx Find the antiderivative first,
0
1 then apply the limits.
1 3 3 2
= x  x  5x
3 2 0

=
1 3
3
 3
2
 
1  0 3  12  0 2  51  0 
1 3
=  5
3 2
23
= = 3.8333 ▮
6

2.   sin 3x  dx
0
2


1 2
=  cos3 x Apply the limits
3 0

1   
=  cos3 
  cos 0 
3 2 
=  0  1
1 1
= ▮
3 3
2  2 y 1
3.   dy
1
 2y 
2  2y 1 
=   2 y  2 y dy
1

2  1 
=  1  2 y dy
1

2 1 2 dy
= 
1
dy 
2 1 y
2
 1 
=  y  ln y  Apply the limits
 2 1
= 2  1  ln 2  ln 1
1
Note: ln1  0
2
1
= 1  ln 2  1.3466 ▮
2
 1 dx
4. e
0 x

1
e
x
= dx
0
1
=  ex Apply the limits
0

= 
 e 1  e 0 
1 e 1
= 1 =  0.6321 ▮
e e

u  2 sin x
5. 
0
2
e2sin x cos xdx
du  2 cos xdx

= 0
2
e2sin x cos xdx du
 cos xdx
 2
1 2sin x 2 1  2sin 2 
= e = e  e2sin 0  Apply the limits
2 0 2 
1 2 0 1 2
= e  e  = e  1  3.1945 ▮
2 2
2 4
6. 
1 3x  2
dx u  3x  2
du  3dx
dx 2
=4 1 3x  2 dx 
du
3
 1  2 (3)dx
= 4  
 3  1 3x  2
4

= ln 3x  2
3
2
1  Apply the limits

= ln 3(2)  1  ln 3(1)  1

4
3
4
= ln 5  ln 2 ln A  ln B  ln
A
3 B
4 5
= ln  1.2217 ▮
3 2
 2 2
u x
2 dx a2  4
7. 
0 4  x2
ux
a2
du  dx
2
1 x
=  arctan  Apply the limits
2 20
1 2 0
=
 arctan  arctan 
2 2 2
1 
=  arctan1  arctan 0 Since 45  rad
2 4
1   
=   0 =  0.3927 ▮
24  8
5 dz
8. 
8 3 z 
du
u
 ln u  C

 
5
= ln 3  z Apply the limits
8

= ln  3  5  ln  3  8
 2  2
= ln   = ln  –0.9163▮
 5  5
4dx 2 3 
  
9. Evaluate the integral of
x2  2x  5
from x  3  1 to x  1
 
dx
= 4 Complete the square
x  2x  5
2

dx dx
4 2 4
x  12  4
= =
x  2x  1  5 1
1
1 x 1
= 4  arctan  Apply the limits
2 2 2 3
1
3

 2 3  
    1  1  
= 2 arctan  1  1   arctan   
3 
    
  2  
2

  
  
  3
= 2 arctan1  arctan 
 3 
  
=2  
4 6

=  0.5236 ▮
6
1

10. 
0
6
sin x sin 2 xdx sin 2  2sin  cos 
1

=  0
6
sin x2sin x cos xdx
1

= 2 sin 2 x cos xdx
6
GPF
0

1  6
= 2  sin 3 x  Apply the limits
3 0
3
2    3 21
3
1
=  sin    sin 0   =   = ▮
3  6  3 2 12
 Exercise

Evaluate the following definite integrands. Express your answers up to four

decimal places.

2
 x dx
4
1.
0

 x  x dx
1
3
2.
0

  x  4 x   x  2 dx
1
3. 2
1

 x  4 x  23x  2dx
1
4. 3 2
1
2 dx
5. 
0 x 4
2

 5 
1
6.
x
 e x dx
0
4
dx
7. 8 x  2
2
ln 4 e d
8. 
ln 2 e  1


0
9. 1
e 2 x 3 dx
3  x 1
10.   x  1 dx
1

3
11. 0
9  x 2 dx

12. 0
2
sin 5xdx