Definite integrals

This is about the basics of evaluating definite integrals, and surprisingly how they can be used to define functions.

Contents

Evaluation

Suppose F(x)F(x) is an antiderivative of f(x)f(x), in this course the definite integral is evaluated using

∫x1x2f(x) dx=F(x2)−F(x1)\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x)\d x = F(x_2) - F(x_1)

It can be equivalently notated as

∫x1x2f(x) dx=F(x)∣x1x2\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x)\d x = F(x)\Big\vert_{x_1}^{x_2}

And in cases to be absolutely clear, this can also be written as

∫x1x2f(x) dx=F(x)∣x=x1x=x2\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x)\d x = F(x)\Big\vert_{x = x_1}^{x = x_2}

x1x_1 and x2x_2 are the limits of integration.

Connecting back to indefinite integrals, we customarily set the +C+C to 00, but it does not matter as by taking the difference, it cancels.

Example: Evaluate

∫−e2−11x dx\int_{- \e^2}^{-1}\frac 1x \d x

∫−e2−11x dx=ln⁡∣x∣∣−e2−1=ln⁡∣−1∣−ln⁡∣−e2∣=ln⁡1−ln⁡e2=0−2=−2■\begin{align*}\int_{- \e^2}^{-1}\frac 1x \d x &= \ln\lvert x\rvert \Big\vert_{- \e^2}^{-1} \\ &= \ln\lvert -1\rvert - \ln\lvert - \e^2\rvert \\ &= \ln 1 - \ln \e^2 \\ &= 0 - 2 = -2 \qed\end{align*}

Where differentiation is about instantaneous change, definite integration is about the accumulation of change.

Definite integrals are defined as the signed area between a curve and the xx-axis. In this course, it is sufficient to use antiderivatives to find the area under a continuous function.

Properties

These properties assume the function is defined for all xx within the limits of integration, or is discontinuous (HL) at a finite number of points.

∫x1x2f(x) dx=−∫x2x1f(x) dx\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x)\d x = -\int_{x_2}^{x_1} f(x)\d x
∫x1x2f(x) dx+∫x2x3f(x) dx=∫x1x3f(x) dx\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x)\d x + \int_{x_2}^{x_3} f(x)\d x = \int_{x_1}^{x_3} f(x)\d x

The properties from indefinite integrals also carry over.

∫x1x2f(x)+g(x) dx=∫x1x2f(x) dx+∫x1x2g(x) dx\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x) + g(x)\d x = \int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x) \d x + \int_{x_1}^{x_2} g(x) \d x
∫x1x2kf(x) dx=k∫x1x2f(x) dx\int_{x_1}^{x_2} k f(x)\d x = k\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(x)\d x

With F(x)F(x) being an antiderivative of f(x)f(x),

∫x1x2f(ax+b) dx=1a∫ax1+bax2+bf(x) dx=1aF(ax2+b)−1aF(ax1+b)\begin{align*} \int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(ax+b)\d x &= \frac 1a\int_{ax_1+b}^{ax_2+b} f(x)\d x \\ &= \frac 1a F(ax_2+b) - \frac 1a F(ax_1+b) \end{align*}

The last property comes directly from substituting in x1x_1 and x2x_2 into the chosen antiderivative. This as a uu-substitution.

Example: Find

∫01(4x+2)3 dx\int_0^1 (4x+2)^3 \d x

Here we need to apply both integration of xnx^n and f(ax+b)f(ax + b).

The antiderivative of x3x^3 is 14x4+C\frac{1}{4}x^4 + C

Then the f(4x+2)f(4x + 2) means we need to divide by another 44.

∫01(4x+2)3 dx=116(4x+2)4∣01=124(64−24)=34−1=80■\begin{align*} \int_0^1 (4x+2)^3 \d x &= \frac {1}{16}(4x+2)^4 \Big\vert_0^1 \\ &= \frac{1}{2^4}(6^4 - 2^4) \\ &= 3^4 - 1 \\ &= 80 \qed \end{align*}

Alternatively we could have factored out a 232^3 early on

∫01(4x+2)3 dx=8∫01(2x+1)3 dx=8⋅12⋅4[(2x+1)4]01=81−1=80■\begin{align*} \int_0^1 (4x+2)^3 \d x &= 8\int_0^1 (2x+1)^3 \d x \\ &= 8\cdot\frac{1}{2\cdot 4}\left[(2x+1)^4\right]_0^1 \\ &= 81 - 1 \\ &= 80 \qed \end{align*}

which in retrospect is easier, but not by a lot.

Variable of integration

A key difference between indefinite and definite integration is that indefinite integrals return families of functions, but definite integration return a value. Just like how in f(x)f(x), xx just means the input, the xx in definite integrals is very much a placeholder in the same way.

As such all of the following are equivalent

∫−35f(x) dx\int_{-3}^{5} f(x)\d x
∫−35f(w) dw\int_{-3}^{5} f(w)\d w
∫−35f(τ) dτ\int_{-3}^{5} f(\tau)\d \tau

Here ww, xx, and τ\tau are called dummy variables or variables of integration.

Note to HL candidates: for uu-substitution, typically the limits of integration change. Here, they do not change because the substitutions are w=xw = x and τ=x\tau = x

Using definite integral to define a function

There is a way to specify the antiderivative function F(x)F(x) by expressing it as a definite integral.

F(x)=∫x1xf(τ) dτF(x) = \int_{x_1}^{x} f(\tau)\d \tau

On a calculator, the solver should be used; graphing takes too long for definite integrals.

Example: Simplify

f(x)=∫0xcos⁡2θ dθf(x) = \int_{0}^{x} \cos^2\theta\d \theta

Use double angle identity for cos⁡2θ\cos 2\theta involving cos⁡2θ\cos^2\theta.

cos⁡2θ=2cos⁡2θ−112+12cos⁡2θ=cos⁡2θ\begin{align*}\cos 2\theta &= 2\cos^2\theta - 1 \\ \frac12 + \frac12\cos 2\theta &= \cos^2\theta \end{align*}

We find the antiderivative, using the +C=0+C = 0 trick

f(x)=∫0x12+12cos⁡2θ dθ=[12θ+14sin⁡2θ]θ=0θ=x=12x+14sin⁡2x−(12(0)+14sin⁡2(0))=12x+14sin⁡2x■\begin{align*}f(x) &= \int_0^x \frac12 + \frac12\cos 2\theta \d\theta \\ &= \left[\frac12\theta + \frac14\sin2\theta \right]_{\theta=0}^{\theta=x} \\ &= \frac12x + \frac14\sin2x - \left(\frac12(0) + \frac14\sin2(0)\right) \\ &= \frac12x + \frac14\sin2x \qed\end{align*}

In this particular question the second part happens to be zero. Do not assume this to alway be the case.

Derivation: z-scores of normal distribution

Derivation: Let

f(x)=2π∫0xe−t2 dtf(x) = \frac{2}{\sqrt\pi} \int_0^x \e^{-t^2} \d t

and given the normal distribution probability density function

g(x)=1σ2πe−(x−μ)22σ2g(x) = \frac{1}{\sigma\sqrt{2\pi}} \e^{-\frac{(x-\mu)^2}{2\sigma^2}}

Show that

∫μμ+zσg(x) dx=12f(z2) for all z∈R\int_{\mu}^{\mu+z\sigma} g(x) \d x = \frac12f\left(\frac{z}{\sqrt2}\right) \text{ for all } z\in\mathbb R

I=1σ2π∫μμ+zσe−(x−μ)22σ2 dx=1σ2π∫μμ+zσe−(x−μσ2)2 dx=σ2σ2π∫μ−μσ2μ+zσ−μσ2e−t2 dt=1π∫0z2e−t2 dt=12(f(z2)−f(0))=12f(z2)■\begin{align*} I &= \frac{1}{\sigma\sqrt{2\pi}} \int_{\mu}^{\mu+z\sigma} \e^{-\frac{(x-\mu)^2}{2\sigma^2}} \d x \\ &= \frac{1}{\sigma\sqrt{2\pi}} \int_{\mu}^{\mu+z\sigma} \e^{-\left(\frac{x-\mu}{\sigma\sqrt2}\right)^2} \d x \\ &= \frac{\sigma\sqrt2}{\sigma\sqrt{2\pi}} \int_{\frac{\mu - \mu}{\sigma\sqrt2}}^{\frac{\mu + z\sigma - \mu}{\sigma\sqrt2}} \e^{-t^2} \d t \\ &= \frac{1}{\sqrt\pi} \int_{0}^{\frac{z}{\sqrt2}} \e^{-t^2} \d t \\ &= \frac12 \left(f\left(\frac{z}{\sqrt2}\right) - f(0) \right) \\ &= \frac12f\left(\frac{z}{\sqrt2}\right) \qed \end{align*}

ff is called the “error function”.

We made use of

∫x1x2f(ax+b) dx=1a∫ax1+bax2+bf(x) dx\int_{x_1}^{x_2} f(ax+b)\d x = \frac 1a\int_{ax_1+b}^{ax_2+b} f(x)\d x

and

∫00f(x) dx=0\int_0^0 f(x)\d x = 0

With x=μ+zσx = \mu + z\sigma, we obtain

z=x−μσz = \frac{x - \mu}{\sigma}

In other words, probability from mean to zz standard deviations more than the mean, depends only on zz.

Notes on trig

Calculus of trigonometric functions are only available in radians. Ensure that your calculator is in radians mode.