9/7/2020 Calculus I - Computing Definite Integrals

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Things should be up and running at this point and (hopefully) will stay that way, at least until
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Paul
August 27, 2020

Section 5-7 : Computing Definite Integrals

In this section we are going to concentrate on how we actually evaluate definite integrals in
practice. To do this we will need the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part II.

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part II

Suppose f(x) is a continuous function on [a, b] and also suppose that F(x) is any anti-derivative for
f(x). Then,
b b
∫ af(x)dx = F(x)| a = F(b) − F(a)

To see the proof of this see the Proof of Various Integral Properties section of the Extras
chapter.

Recall that when we talk about an anti-derivative for a function we are really talking about the
indefinite integral for the function. So, to evaluate a definite integral the first thing that we’re going
to do is evaluate the indefinite integral for the function. This should explain the similarity in the
notations for the indefinite and definite integrals.

Also notice that we require the function to be continuous in the interval of integration. This was
also a requirement in the definition of the definite integral. We didn’t make a big deal about this in
the last section. In this section however, we will need to keep this condition in mind as we do our
evaluations.

Next let’s address the fact that we can use any anti-derivative of f(x) in the evaluation. Let’s take
a final look at the following integral.
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2
∫ 0x 2 + 1 dx
Both of the following are anti-derivatives of the integrand.

1 3 1 3 18
F(x) = x +x and F(x) = x +x−
3 3 31

Using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate this integral with the first anti-derivatives
gives,

( )|
1 2
2 2
∫ 0x + 1 dx = x3 +x
3 0

=
1
3
(2) 3 + 2 − ( 1
3
(0) 3 + 0 )
14
=
3

Much easier than using the definition wasn’t it? Let’s now use the second anti-derivative to
evaluate this definite integral.

( )|
1 3 18 2
2 2
∫ 0x + 1 dx =
3
x +x−
31 0

=
1
3
(2) 3 + 2 −
18
31
− ( 1
3
(0) 3 + 0 −
18
31 )
14 18 18
= − +
3 31 31
14
=
3

The constant that we tacked onto the second anti-derivative canceled in the evaluation step. So,
when choosing the anti-derivative to use in the evaluation process make your life easier and don’t
bother with the constant as it will only end up canceling in the long run.

Also, note that we’re going to have to be very careful with minus signs and parentheses with
these problems. It’s very easy to get in a hurry and mess them up.

Let’s start our examples with the following set designed to make a couple of quick points that are
very important.

Example 1 Evaluate each of the following.

(a) ∫ y 2 + y − 2 dy

2
(b) ∫ 1 y 2 + y − 2 dy

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2
(c) ∫ − 1y 2 + y − 2 dy

(a) ∫ y 2 + y − 2 dy Show Solution 

2
(b) ∫ 1 y 2 + y − 2 dy Show Solution 

2
(c) ∫ − 1y 2 + y − 2 dy Show Solution 

So, what have we learned from this example?

First, in order to do a definite integral the first thing that we need to do is the indefinite integral.
So, we aren’t going to get out of doing indefinite integrals, they will be in every integral that we’ll
be doing in the rest of this course so make sure that you’re getting good at computing them.

Second, we need to be on the lookout for functions that aren’t continuous at any point between
the limits of integration. Also, it’s important to note that this will only be a problem if the point(s) of
discontinuity occur between the limits of integration or at the limits themselves. If the point of
discontinuity occurs outside of the limits of integration the integral can still be evaluated.

In the following sets of examples we won’t make too much of an issue with continuity problems,
or lack of continuity problems, unless it affects the evaluation of the integral. Do not let this
convince you that you don’t need to worry about this idea. It arises often enough that it can cause
real problems if you aren’t on the lookout for it.

Finally, note the difference between indefinite and definite integrals. Indefinite integrals are
functions while definite integrals are numbers.

Let’s work some more examples.

Example 2 Evaluate each of the following.

1
(a) ∫ − 3 6x 2 − 5x + 2 dx

0
(b) ∫ 4 √t(t − 2) dt

5
2 2w −w+3
(c) ∫ 1 dw
w2
− 10
(d) ∫ 25 dR

1
(a) ∫ − 3 6x 2 − 5x + 2 dx Show Solution 

0
(b) ∫ 4 √t(t − 2) dt Show Solution 

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2 2w −w+3
(c) ∫ 1 dw Show Solution 
w2
− 10
(d) ∫ 25 dR Show Solution 

The last set of examples dealt exclusively with integrating powers of x. Let’s work a couple of
examples that involve other functions.

Example 3 Problem Statement.

1 3
(a) ∫ 0 4x − 6 x 2 dx √
π

(b) ∫ 03 2sinθ − 5cosθ dθ

π/4
(c) ∫ π / 6 5 − 2secztanz dz

−1 3 1
(d) ∫ − 20 − z
e
−
3z
dz

3 1
(e) ∫ − 25t 6 − 10t + t
dt

1 3
√
(a) ∫ 0 4x − 6 x 2 dx Show Solution 

(b) ∫ 03 2sinθ − 5cosθ dθ Show Solution 

π/4
(c) ∫ π / 6 5 − 2secztanz dz Show Solution 

−1 3 1
(d) ∫ − 20 − z − dz Show Solution 
e 3z

3 1
(e) ∫ − 25t 6 − 10t + dt Show Solution 
t

So, we’ve computed a fair number of definite integrals at this point. Remember that the vast
majority of the work in computing them is first finding the indefinite integral. Once we’ve found
that the rest is just some number crunching.

There are a couple of particularly tricky definite integrals that we need to take a look at next.
Actually they are only tricky until you see how to do them, so don’t get too excited about them.
The first one involves integrating a piecewise function.

Example 4 Given,
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9/7/2020 Calculus I - Computing Definite Integrals

f(x) =
{ 6
3x 2
if x > 1
if x ≤ 1

Evaluate each of the following integrals.

22
(a) ∫ 10f(x) dx

3
(b) ∫ − 2f(x) dx

Show Discussion 
22
(a) ∫ 10f(x) dx Show Solution 

3
(b) ∫ − 2f(x) dx Show Solution 

So, to integrate a piecewise function, all we need to do is break up the integral at the break
point(s) that happen to occur in the interval of integration and then integrate each piece.

Next, we need to look at is how to integrate an absolute value function.

Example 5 Evaluate the following integral.

3
∫ 0|3t − 5| dt
Show Solution 

Integrating absolute value functions isn’t too bad. It’s a little more work than the “standard”
definite integral, but it’s not really all that much more work. First, determine where the quantity
inside the absolute value bars is negative and where it is positive. When we’ve determined that
point all we need to do is break up the integral so that in each range of limits the quantity inside
the absolute value bars is always positive or always negative. Once this is done we can drop the
absolute value bars (adding negative signs when the quantity is negative) and then we can do
the integral as we’ve always done.

Even and Odd Functions

This is the last topic that we need to discuss in this section.

First, recall that an even function is any function which satisfies,

f(− x) = f(x)

Typical examples of even functions are,

f(x) = x 2 f(x) = cos(x)

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An odd function is any function which satisfies,

f(− x) = − f(x)

The typical examples of odd functions are,

f(x) = x 3 f(x) = sin(x)

There are a couple of nice facts about integrating even and odd functions over the interval [− a, a].
If f(x) is an even function then,
a a
∫ − af(x) dx = 2∫ 0f(x) dx
Likewise, if f(x) is an odd function then,
a
∫ − af(x) dx = 0
Note that in order to use these facts the limit of integration must be the same number, but
opposite signs!

Example 6 Integrate each of the following.

2
(a) ∫ − 24x 4 − x 2 + 1 dx
10
(b) ∫ − 10x 5 + sin(x) dx

Neither of these are terribly difficult integrals, but we can use the facts on them anyway.
2
(a) ∫ − 24x 4 − x 2 + 1 dx Show Solution 

10
(b) ∫ − 10x 5 + sin(x) dx Show Solution 

Note that the limits of integration are important here. Take the last integral as an example. A
small change to the limits will not give us zero.

9 5
468559
∫ − 10x + sin(x) dx = cos(10) − cos(9) −
6
= − 78093.09461

The moral here is to be careful and not misuse these facts.

© 2003 - 2020 Paul Dawkins Page Last Modified : 9/23/2019

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