Foundation Mathematics

Topic 5 – Lecture 1: Introduction to Integral

Calculus
An Introduction to Integration
The Constant of Integration

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.2

Scope and Coverage

This topic will cover:
• An introduction to integral calculus as a process which is
the inverse of differentiation
• The role played by the constant of integration

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.3

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this topic students will be able to:
• Apply integration to a range of algebraic expression
• Understand the role of the constant of integration

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.4

Introduction to Integral Calculus

•If our function is y  x,n the differential of this function is

found as dy
 nx n 1
dx

•Integration is the reverse of this process

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.5

The Process of Integration - 1

• Integration involves reversing the process of
differentiation. We are given the gradient function and
we want to discover the original function
4
x
- Consider the following function y
dy
x 3 4
- If we differentiate we get
dx
- This is an example of a differential equation
- We can also write this as dy  x dx
3

3 x4
- This expression x dxis called the differential of
4

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.6

The Process of Integration - 2

• We use the integration sign in front of the differential.

• Thus if our differential is then it follows that

dy  x 3
dx the form
the integral of that function would take

4
x
y   x 3 dx 
4

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.7

The Process of Integration - 3

x5
• If we take the following function y
5
dy
• The differential equation is  x4
dx

• or putting this a different way dy  x dx 4

• Reversing the process by integrating gives

5
x
y   x 4 dx 
5

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.8

The Process of Integration - 4

• Look at the following:

x n 1 dy
• If y  then  xalso
n
expressed as dy  x n dx
n 1 dx

• Reversing this by integration is expressed by

n 1
x
y   x n dx 
n 1

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.9

The Process of Integration - 5

x n 1 n
• The formula y is called the integral of x dx
n 1

and can be applied when integrating a range of different

expressions: all indices, positive, negative and fractional
expressions

 dx
1
• It can not be applied for the expression x

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.10

The Constant of Integration - 1

• We have already established that the differential of is x dx.
x2
• It2follows that if we integrate x dx, is one possible answer but for the
expression y = x dx it is not the only possible answer.
x2
2
• Other expressions can also be presented such as
; ;

x2 x2 x2
2 9  21
2 2 2

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.11

The Constant of Integration - 2

• These are all expressions whose differential is also given as x dx.

• The general expression for x dx is therefore where c is the

constant of integration x2
c
2

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.12

The Constant of Integration - 3

• Every time we integrate the constant of integration must be added in.
• Examples:

6
x 5 1
x
 x dx  5  1  6  c
5

x11 x2
 xdx  1  1 
2
c
3 3
1 x 2 2x
 x dx   x dx 
2
2
 c
3 3
2

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.13

The Constant of Integration - 4

Where we have a coefficient of x that is outside the numerical value
associated with x this may be taken ‘outside’ the integral sign.
Example:
  dx
2 2
If we integrate 3 x dx
, we can express this as 3 x
Therefore we have moved the 3 ‘outside’ of the integration sign.

x3
If we now follow our integration process, we get: 3  c by
and
cancelling out we get the expression x c
3 3

3
If you want to check this, try differentiating x

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.14

The Constant of Integration - 5

Further examples:

  x)dx
2
Integrate ( x

To do this we need to integrate each term separately therefore

2 x3 x2
The integral of xis and the integral of x is
3 2

Therefore putting these two expressions together we get:

3 2
x x
 ( x 2  x)dx 
3

2
c

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.15

Evaluating The Constant of Integration - 1

• The value of the constant of integration may be found

provided corresponding values of x and y are known.

• Remember that we are looking at relationships between two

variables that may be plotted on a graph as a curve,
therefore we may be able to identify values of x and y (or we
may be given them).

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.16

Evaluating the Constant of Integration - 2

The gradient of the curve which passes through the point (2, 3) is
2
given by x . Find the equation of the curve.

From this information we are told that the gradient of the curve is x2
dy
therefore dx  x
2
3
x
if we now integrate we get

y  x 2 dx 
3
c

The curve passes through the point (2, 3); this means that when
x = 2, y = 3

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.17

Evaluating the Constant of Integration - 3

Substituting our values back into our (integrated) equation x3
y  c
3

23 = 2
we get 3 c 3 2 c
3 3

1
Therefore c =
3
Equation of the curve, x3  1
y
3

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 Introduction to Integral Calculus 1 Topic 5 - 1.18

Topic 5 - Introduction to Integral Calculus 1

Any Questions?

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