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For a function f (x) that is continuous in the closed interval [a, b], it is possible to calculate the integral between the limits, a and b. An integral calculated between two limits is called a definite integral.
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Team Definite Integrals Teachers
A definite integral usually produces a value, unlike an indefinite integral, which produces a function.
Definite integrals are depicted in the same way that indefinite integrals are depicted with the addition that the limits are added as subscript and superscript on the Integration sign. For example, if we want to integrate, between the limits 5 and 8, the corresponding Notation would be
How do you solve definite integrals? To solve for definite integrals, follow the following procedure:
1) Write down the definite integral with its limits in the form,
2) Integrate the function f '(x) the same way you would for an indefinite integral to find out f (x). Do not include the Integration constant, C. Write the result in the form,
3) Now evaluate f (x) between the given limits: f (b) - f (a) This gives you the final value.
Are you wondering why we do not include the integration constant here? Let us suppose we include C in our evaluation of f (x). Let us call this g (x). In that case, the value of g (x) = f (x) + C.
Then we would evaluate the g (x) between the given limits:
g (b) - g (a) = (f (b) + C) - (f (a) + C)
= f (b) - f (a)
So you can see that the integration constant cancels itself out eventually. This is why we do not include it in the calculations in the first place.
Evaluate
=
= (5/3 × 7³) - (5/3 × 1³)
= 570
Integration is a very useful tool for Finding the Area under a graph. In the above example, we are Finding the Area enclosed between the x-axis and the curve f (x) = 5x² between x = 1 and x = 7. We can represent the above example graphically.
Figure 1. Graph depicting f (x) = 5x², to find the area enclosed between x = 1 and x = 7, Nilabhro Datta - Vaia Originals
The curve in the above graph represents f (x) = 5x². As mentioned, the value of the definite integral between 1 and 7 gives the area enclosed between the curve and the x-axis between x = 1 and x = 7.
Evaluate Note - x is in Radians
=
= sin (1) - sin (0.5)
= 0.841-0.479
= 0.362
Like the previous example, the above value gives us the area enclosed between the curve y = cos (x) and the x-axis between x = 0.5 and x = 1. Check the following image for a clear demonstration.
Figure 2. Graph depicting f (x) = cos (x), to find the area enclosed between x = 0.5 and x = 1, Nilabhro Datta - Vaia Originals
Given (2Px + 7) dx = 4P², show that there are two possible values of P. Find these values.
(2Px + 7) dx
= (25P + 35) - (P + 7)
= 24P + 28
Now,
24P + 28 = 4P²
=> 6P + 7 = P²
=>
=> (P + 1) (P - 7) = 0
Therefore, the value of P can be either -1 or 7.
Find the closed area bounded by the curve y = x (x - 5) and the x-axis.
To find the area bounded by the curve and the x-axis, let us find the points at which the curve intersects with the axis, ie. where y = f (x) = 0
f (x) = x (x - 5) = 0
=> x = 0 or x = 5.
So the curve intersects the x-axis at (0, 0) and (5, 0).
0 and 5 serve as the Lower and Upper Bounds for our definite integral.
So, total area = (x) (x - 5) dx
In the above example, we have the area coming out to be a negative value. What does this mean?
It implies that the area enclosed by the curve and the x-axis falls below the x-axis, i.e. the negative side of the x-axis.
If we draw the curve y = f (x) = x (x - 5), we obtain the following curve.
Figure 3. Graph depicting f (x) = x (x - 5), to find the area enclosed between the curve and the x-axis, Nilabhro Datta - Vaia Originals
As we can see here, the area bounded by the curve falls below the x-axis.
The area enclosed by the curve and the x-axis falling above the x-axis gives a positive value for ∫f (x) dx, and the area enclosed by the curve and the x-axis falling below the x-axis gives a negative value for ∫ f (x) dx.
What if we want to find the entire magnitude of the area enclosed between a curve and the x-axis when some of it falls above the x-axis, and some of it falls below the x-axis? In these cases, we would need to find both the areas individually and add their magnitudes together without taking into account their sign.
If we take a single definite integral over the entire area, the resultant value would be the [(area enclosed above the x-axis) - (area enclosed below the x-axis)]).
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What are the rules for definite integrals?
To be able to solve definite integrals within the limits a and b, the function must be continuous within the closed interval [a, b].
Can definite integrals be negative?
The value of definite integrals can be negative.
How do you explain definite integrals?
For a function f(x) that is continuous in the closed interval [a, b], it is possible to calculate the integral between the limits, a and b. An integral calculated between two limits is called a definite integral.
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