MODULE 1 LESSON 4: THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL

1.4. DEFINITE INTEGRAL

Objectives:
1. To be able to define the definite integral.
2. To be evaluate the value of definite integrals.
3. To be able to explain the general properties of definite integrals
4. To evaluate integrals having odd or even functions as integrands .
5. To define the fundamental theorem of the integral calculus.
1.4. DEFINITE INTEGRAL

The Definite Integral

Given a continuous function f(x), F(x) an integral of f(x) and x = a and x = b

two given values of x. The change in the value of the integral F(x) as s changes from a
to b, i.e. the quantity F(b) – F(a), is called the definite integral of f(x) between the
“limits” a and b, or simply the definite integral from a to b, and is denoted by the
𝒃
symbol ∫ 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙.
𝒂

It is called the definite integral because its value is independent of the

constant of integration.

The numbers a and b are called the lower limit and the upper limit respectively.
Thus the definite integral is the value of the indefinite integral at the upper limit, minus
its value at the lower limit.

𝒃
The symbol ⌈𝑭(𝒙)⌉ means F(b) – F(a):
𝒂
𝒃 𝒃
∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 = ⌈𝑭(𝒙)⌉ 𝒂
= F(b) – F(a)

𝟏
Example (a). Evaluate ∫𝟎 (𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟑 𝒅𝒙.

Solution:

At this time you know how to evaluate the indefinite integral of

(𝒙−𝟏)𝟒
∫(𝒙 − 𝟏)𝟑 𝒅𝒙 = +C
𝟒
To determine the value of the definite integral we get the function value of the
upper limit minus the value at the lower limit:
(𝒙−𝟏)𝟒
F (x) =
𝟒
(𝟏−𝟏)𝟒
F(b): when b = 1: F (1) = =0
𝟒
(𝟎−𝟏)𝟒 𝟏
F(a): when a = 0: F (1) = =𝟒
𝟒
 𝟏 𝟏
F(b) – F (a) = 0 – =–
𝟒 𝟒
A more direct solution would give:

𝒃 𝒃
∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 = ⌈𝑭(𝒙)⌉ 𝒂
= F(b) – F(a)

(𝑥−1)4
⌉1
1 3 𝒃
∫0 (𝑥 − 1) 𝑑𝑥 = ⌈𝑭(𝒙)⌉ =⌈
𝒂 4 0
(1−1)4 (0−1)4
= F(b) – F(a) =( )−( )
4 4
0 (−1)4
=( )−( )
4 4
1
=−
4

𝒂
Example (b). Evaluate ∫−𝒂(𝒂𝟐 + 𝒕𝟐 ) 𝒅𝒕.

Solution: Solve as an integral of a sum, integrate each term separately.

𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
∫−𝑎(𝑎2 + 𝑡 2 ) 𝑑𝑡 = ∫−𝑎 𝑎2 𝑑𝑡 + ∫−𝑎 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡

𝑡2 𝑎
= ⌈ 𝑎2 𝑡 + ⌉ −𝑎
3
𝑎2 (−𝑎)2
= (𝑎2 𝑎 + ) − (𝑎2 (−𝑎) + )
3 3
𝑎2 𝑎2
= (𝑎3 + ) − (−𝑎3 − )
3 3

𝑎2 𝑎2
= 𝑎3 + + 𝑎3 +
3 3
2𝑎2 6𝑎3 2𝑎2
= 2𝑎 3
+ = +
3 3 3
𝟖𝒂𝟑
= Ans.
𝟑
 𝒂
Example (c). Evaluate ∫𝟎 𝒛 (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒛𝟐 )𝟑 𝒅𝒛.

Solution:
𝒂 1 𝒂
∫𝟎 𝒛 (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒛𝟐 )𝟑 𝒅𝒛 = − ∫𝟎 𝒛 (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒛𝟐 )𝟑 (– 𝟐)𝒅𝒛
2
𝟒
(𝒂𝟐 −𝒛𝟐 ) 𝑎
=⌈ ∙ ⌉0
𝟒

1 𝑎
= − ⌈ (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒛𝟐 )𝟐 ⌉ 0
8
1 1
= − (𝒂𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐 )𝟐 − − (𝒂𝟐 − 𝟎𝟐 )𝟐
8 8
1
= 0 + 𝒂𝟐
8
1 𝟐
= 𝒂
8
General Properties of Definite Integrals

The following are the properties of all definite integrals:

𝒃 𝒂
(1) ∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 = − ∫𝒃 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙;

𝒃 𝒄 𝒃
(2) ∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 + ∫𝒄 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙;

𝒃 𝒃
(3) ∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 = ∫𝒂 𝒇(𝒛)𝒅𝒛.

The first property states that interchanging the limits changes the sign of the
integral.

The second property states that the interval of integration may be broken up into
any number of sub-intervals, and the integration performed over each integral
separately. It is true where or not c lies between a and b.

The third property states that it makes no difference what letter is used for the
variable of integration; i.e. the definite integral of a given integrand is independent of
the variable of integration.

Even and Odd Functions

A function that remains unchanged when x is replaced by –x, such that

f(-x) = f(x)
is called an even function. This means geometrically that the curve
y = f(x)
is symmetric with respect to the y-axis. Examples of even functions are x2n (n is an
integer), cos θ, t sin t, etc.

A function such that

f(-x) = – f(x)
is called an odd function. This means geometrically that the curve
y = f(x)
is symmetric with respect to the origin. Examples of even functions are x2n+ 1 (n is an
integer), sin θ, tan θ, etc.

If f(x) is an even function of x,

𝒂 𝒂
(1) ∫−𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 = 𝟐 ∫𝟎 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙

If f(x) is an even function of x,

𝒂
(2) ∫−𝒂 𝒇(𝒙)𝒅𝒙 = 𝟎

𝒂
Example (a). Evaluate ∫−𝒂(𝒂𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 )𝒅𝒙

Solution:

Since the exponent of the variable is even and all constants are considered even,
the integrand is an even function with the limits from –a to a, the formula (1) will be
applied:

𝑎 𝑎
∫−𝑎 (𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥 = 2 ∫0 (𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥
1 𝑎
= 2 [𝑎2 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 3 ]
0
1 1
= 2 (𝑎2 𝑎 − 3 𝑎3 ) = 2 (𝑎3 − 3 𝑎3 )
4
= = 3 𝑎3 Ans.

1 𝑥𝑑𝑥
Example (b). Evaluate ∫−1
√1−𝑥 7

Solution:
Since the integrand consists of a radical, the integrand is an odd function
with the limits from –1 to 1, the formula (2) will be applied:

1 𝑥𝑑𝑥
∫−1 =0 Ans.
√1−𝑥 7
EM 2 M1 L4 Activity 1

Submit your solutions on google classroom on February 25, 2022 at 7:00 am.
Write your solution on a bond paper, two problems per page only.

A. Evaluate the definite integral.

𝟑
1. ∫𝟏 (𝒚 − 𝟑)𝟐 𝒅𝒚

𝟑
2. ∫𝟎 (𝒙 − 𝟑𝒙𝟐 ) 𝒅𝒙

𝟏
3. ∫𝟏/𝟐 √𝟐𝜷 − 𝟏 𝒅𝜷

𝟐
4. ∫𝟏 (𝟑𝒙 − 𝟒)(𝒙 − 𝟔) 𝒅𝒙