First year: Basic integration

(I) Integration: areas

The symbol
b

∫ f ( x)dx
a

means “area of the set situated between the graph of f , the x − axis, the
line of equation x = a and the line of equation x = b ”.

It’s easier to understand this notion through an example:

∫ ( x −1)( 3 − x)dx is the area of the set situated between the x − axis, the
1
graph of f and the vertical lines of equation x =1 , x = 2 .

(II) Basic Rules

Integration is, intuitively, the opposite of differentiation. Mathematically, we

say that if there exists a function F such that

b
d
dx
F ( x) = f ( x) then ∫ f ( x)dx = F (b) − F (a) .
a

The result above is sometimes called the fundamental theorem of calculus.

When you are asked to integrate a function f , the trick is to find this function
F.

If such a function F exist, then instead of saying “a function F such that

d
F ( x) = f ( x) ”, we usually say
dx

F ( x ) = ∫ f ( x ) dx

Let’s have a look at an example:

Calculate: ∫ 2xdx
1
.

The first step is to find ∫xdx .

We know that the derivative of x 2 is 2 x , so that we have ∫ 2 xdx =x2.
It remains now to calculate the actual value of the integral:

∫ 2 xdx = [ x ]12 = 2 2 − 12 = 3.
2

So far so good? Now try to calculate the following integral:

∫ xdx
1
.

Here are a few examples:

x4
∫ x dx =
3
-
4
3

∫ 5dx = [5 x] = 5 ×3 − 5 × 0 =15 .
3
- 0
0

2 7 2  x8  x8
- ∫5 x dx =
5

8

 = 20 .


The general rule is

x n +1
∫ x dx = .
n

n +1

(III) Exercises
Find the following integrals:

∫x
2
- dx

∫3 x
4
- dx

∫x
−3
- dx
1