WTW 164
Unit 2.2: Indefinite integrals
and the Net Change Theorem
Dr HR (Maya) Thackeray
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[email protected]>
Net Change Theorem (FTC 2 rephrased)
Rephrasing FTC 2 gives the following theorem.
Theorem (Net Change Theorem). If F has a continuous derivative on an
open interval that contains [a,b], then = F(b) – F(a),
that is, the integral of the rate of change of F is the net change of F.
Example: Net Change Theorem
Suppose f(2) = 5, f’ is continuous, and = 7. What is f(6)?
Solution. By the Net Change Theorem, we have
7 = = f(6) – f(2) = f(6) – 5, so f(6) = 12.
Particle moving along a line
Let a particle move along the x axis.
• Suppose that the particle’s position at time t is x = s(t). (In other words, at time
t, the particle’s displacement from the position x = 0 is s(t).)
• The derivative (that is, rate of change) of displacement is the velocity v(t) =
s’(t).
• The derivative (that is, rate of change) of velocity is the acceleration a(t) = v’(t)
= s’’(t).
The Net Change Theorem (with F = s) gives = s(t2) – s(t1); that is, the integral of
velocity over a time period is the displacement over that time period.
The particle’s speed at time t is |v(t)|. By a similar argument, the total distance
travelled by the particle over a time period from t 1 to t2 is .
Example: Particle moving along a line
A particle’s velocity at time t is v(t) = t2 – t – 6.
(a) Find the particle’s displacement from t = 2 to t = 5.
Solution. By the Net Change Theorem, s(5) – s(2) =
= =
= – = – =.
(b) What distance did the particle travel in that interval of time?
Solution. The distance is = – +
= – + = –( – ) + ( – ) = .
Indefinite integrals
An indefinite integral is the collection of antiderivatives of f.
Example: = x4 + C (where C is an arbitrary constant), because (x4 + C) =
x3.
A definite integral is an expression . (This equals a number if defined.)
See the Table of Indefinite Integrals on page 410 of Stewart et al.
Examples: = + C if n is not –1, and = ln|x| + C.
Examples: Indefinite and definite integrals
• We have = 2x3 + 3 tan x + C.
• We have = ln|sin θ| + C.
(The next unit gives a technique to find that integral using substitution,
which is essentially the Chain Rule in reverse.)
• We have = = – = + = .
