MAC 2233 - Methods of Calculus

Some Basic Rules for Finding Antiderivatives

The following is a list of basic rules for finding the integral of a function:
[A] Integration first proceeds by recognition; that is, in order to integrate a function, first check if it is
the derivative of a known function. Below are listed some functions and their integrals (the function
whose derivative the given function is).
Note that a constant C is attached to all the antiderivatives.
1. ke kx dx e kx C
Example:
3e 3x dx e 3x C
2.

1
x

dx ln|x| C,

x0

3. nx n1 x n C
Example:

18x 17 dx x 18 C

[B] The following Rules are generalizations of the above rules.

1. Constant Multiple Rule:
k fxdx k fxdx
Example:

4e x dx 4 e x dx 4e x C
2. Sum/Difference Rule:
fx gxdx fxdx gxdx
Example:
3x 2 1x dx 3x 2 dx

1
x

dx x 3 ln|x| C

3. Derivative of a Constant
kdx kx C, where k is a constant
Special case: 0 dx C (Integral of zero (0) is a constant).
Example:
10dx 10x C
4. Simple Power Rule:
x r dx r 1 1 x r1 C (Add 1 to the exponent then divide by the new exponent)
Example:
1
x 3 3x 2 1dx x 3 dx 3x 2 dx 1dx 31
x 31 3
1 4
1 3
1 4
3
4x 3 3x xC 4x x xC

1
Prepared by Gregory Maxwell

1
21

x 21 x C

MAC 2233 - Methods of Calculus

Some Basic Rules for Finding Antiderivatives
5. General Power Rule:
mx b r dx mr1 1 mx b r1 C, r 1
Note: mx b must be a linear polynomial (the equation of a straight line).
Example:
1
25 3t dt 3t 25 2 dt

1
3 32

3t 25 3 C

1
3t
3 12 1
29 25 3t

25 2 1 C
3
2

6. Antiderivative of Exponential Function with Linear Exponent:

e mx b dx m1 e mx b C
Note: mx b must be a linear polynomial (the equation of a straight line).
Example:
e 5x 7 dx

1
5

e 5x 7 C

7. Antiderivative of Logarithmic Function with Linear Argument (Input):

mx b 1 dx mx1 b dx m1 ln|mx b| C
Note: mx b must be a linear polynomial (the equation of a straight line).
Example:
3x2 4 dx 2 3x 4 1 dx 2

1
3

ln|3x 4| C

2
3

ln|3x 4| C

Note: It is best to rewrite expressions in exponent form. If the exponent is 1, then THINK lnx.
8. The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus:
If F x fx (that is, if Fx is an antiderivative of fx), then
b
fx dx Fb Fa
a

Example:
4
x 2 x22
2

1
x5
3

dx x 2 2x 2 x 5 1 dx 13 x 3 2x 1 ln|x 5| 2
2

13 4 24 1 ln|4 5| 13 2 3 22 1 ln|2 5|
643 12 ln9 83 1 ln7 563 12 ln9 ln7
115
ln 79 18. 92
6

Note in this example that Fx

1
3

x 3 2x 1 ln|x 5| is an antiderivative of x 2

is,

x2

2
x2

1
x5

dx

1
3

x 3 2x 1 ln|x 5| C

2
Prepared by Gregory Maxwell

2
x2

1
x5

, that

MAC 2233 - Methods of Calculus

Some Basic Rules for Finding Antiderivatives
9. Area Between Two Functions:
If y fx lies above y gx from x a to x b (that is, if fx gx for a x b), then the
area of the region between fx and gx from x a to x b is
b
fx gxdx
a

Example:
Find the area of the region bounded by the curves:
y 4x 2 24x 20 and y 2 2x 2
Solution:
Lets call fx 4x 2 24x 20 and gx 2 2x 2
We need to know (i) on what interval the functions cross and (ii) which function is above (greater) in
this interval.
To find the interval, we use the fact that when the two functions cross the x, y coordinates are the
same.
So, 4x 2 24x 20 2 2x 2 which gives 6x 2 24x 18 0
or x 2 4x 3 0 (after dividing by 6).
Using the quadratic formula we get:
4 4 2 413

4 4

x
2 42
, which gives x 1 & x 3.
2
21
So the interval we want is 1 x 3
To tell which of the functions is on top, simply choose a x value between the endpoints of the
interval and the function that returns the greater y value for that x value is the function that is above:
Choose for example x 2, since 1 2 3.
For the first function, f2 42 2 242 20 12
For the second function, g2 2 22 2 6 12,
Since g2 f2, then gx is above fx on this interval. So the area of the region bounded by the
two curves is:
3
3
gx fx dx 2 2x 2 4x 2 24x 20 dx
1

2 2x 2 4x 2 24x 20 dx 6x 2 24x 18 dx
1
1
2x 3 12x 2 18x 31 23 3 123 2 183 21 3 121 2 181
0 8 8

3
Prepared by Gregory Maxwell