Definite Integration

Definite Integral as the Limit of a Sum.

Let f(x) be a single valued continuous function defined in the interval a  x  b, where a and b are both finite. Let this
interval be divided into n equal sub-intervals, each of width h by inserting (n – 1) points a  h, a  2h, a  3h......a  (n  1)h
between a and b. Then nh  b  a .

Now, we form the sum hf (a)  hf (a  h)  hf (a  2h)  ........  hf (a  rh)  ......  hf [a  (n  1)h]
= h[ f (a)  f (a  h)  f (a  2h)  .....  f (a  rh)  ....  f {a  (n  1)h}]
n 1
= h  f (a  rh)
r 0

where, a  nh  b  nh  b  a
n 1
The lim h
h 0
 f (a  rh),
r 0
if it exists is called the definite integral of f(x) with respect to x between the limits a and b and we

b
denote it by the symbol  f (x )dx .
a
n 1

 f (a  rh)
b b
Thus, 
a
f (x )dx  lim h[ f (a)  f (a  h)  f (a  2h)  ......  f {a  (n  1)h}] 
h 0 
a
f (x )dx  lim h
h 0
r 0

where, nh  b  a, a and b being the limits of integration.

The process of evaluating a definite integral by using the above definition is called integration from the first principle or
integration as the limit of a sum.
Example
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Area function

In other words, the area of this shaded region is a function of x. We denote this function of x by A(x). We call the
function A(x) as Area function and is given by

First fundamental theorem of integral calculus

Let f be a continuous function on the closed interval [a, b] and let A (x) be the area function. Then A′(x) = f (x),
for all x ∈[a, b].

Second fundamental theorem of integral calculus

Let f be continuous function defined on the closed interval [a, b] and F be an anti derivative of f. Then

This formula is known as Netwon–Leibnitz formula.

Proof:
 The numbers a and b are called the limits of integration, ‘a’ is called the lower limit and ‘b’ the upper limit. The interval [a, b]
is called the interval of integration. The interval [a, b] is also known as range of integration.

It does not matter which anti-derivative is used to evaluate the definite integral, because if  f x dx   x   c, then
b
 f x d x   x   c  a   (b)  c    (a)  c    (b)   (a).
b
a
In other words, to evaluate the definite integral there is no need to keep the constant of integration.

 sin x dx
2
Example: is equal to
0

(a)  (b) /2 (c) 0 (d) None of these

1  1 
Solution: (b) I
2 0 
2 sin2 x dx 
2 0 
[1  cos 2 x ]dx


1 sin 2 x  1 
 I x  I  [ ]  .
2  2  0 2 2
Evaluation of Definite Integral by Substitution.
When the variable in a definite integral is changed, the substitutions in terms of new variable should be effected at three
places.
(i) In the integrand (ii) In the differential say, dx (iii) In the limits
b b  (b )
For example, if we put  (x )  t in the integral  f {(x )} ' (x )dx , then 
a a
f { (x )} ' (x )dx   (a)
f (t) dt .

Example

2 dx
Example Evaluate  -2 4 + x2
directly as well as by the substitution x  1 /t. Examine as to why the answer do not tally?

2 dx
Solution: I 
-2 4 + x2
2
1  x  1
  tan-1      tan-1 1  tan1 (1) 
2  2   2 2
1       
        I =
2  4  4  4 4
 On the other hand; if x  1/t then,
2 dx 1/2 dt 1/2 dt
I  2
 2 2
  2
-2 4 + x -1/2 t (4 +1/t ) -1/2 4t +1

1/2
1 
=-  tan-1(2t)
2  -1/2
1  1    
  tan 1 (1)    tan 1 (1)      
2  2  8 8 4

In above two results l   /4 is wrong.

Since x  1/t is discontinuous at t  0, the substitution is not valid
Note: It is important the substitution must be continuous in the interval of integration.

e2


loge x
Example: The value of the integral dx is
1 x
e

(a) 3/2 (b) 5/2 (c) 3 (d) 5

Solution: (b) Put loge x  t  e t  x

 dx  e t dt
and limits are adjusted as –1 to 2
0 2
  t2   t2 
   
2 2 0 2
t t
 I e dt  | t | dt  I   tdt  tdt  I        I  5/2
1 et 1 1 0  2  1  2  0

 /2

dx
Example: equals
0 1  sin x
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) –1 (d) 2

 / 2


dx
Solution: (b) I
0 sin x /2  cos x /2  2 sin x /2 cos x /2
2 2

 /2  /2 sec 2 x /2
 
dx
I  dx
0 (sin x /2  cos x /2) 2 0 (1  tan x /2) 2
1
Put (1  tan x /2)  t  sec 2 x /2 dx  dt
2
2
1  1 1

2
dt
 I2  2    2     1
1 t 2
 t 1 2 1
Properties of Definite Integral.
b b
(Property 1)  f (x )dx   f (t) dt
a a
i.e., The value of a definite integral remains unchanged if its variable is replaced by any other
symbol.

b a
(Property 2)  a 
f(x)dx   f(x)dx i.e., by the interchange in the limits of definite integral, the sign of the integral is
b
changed.

b c b
(Property 3) a
f (x )dx   f (x )dx   f (x )dx
a c
Proof:

b c1 c2 b
In general,  f (x )dx  
a a
f (x )dx  
c1
f (x )dx  .....  
cn
f (x )dx ;

Generally this property is used when the integrand has two or more rules in the integration interval. It is also useful when
f (x ) is not continuous in [a, b] because we can break up the integral into several integrals at the points of discontinuity so
that the function is continuous in the sub-intervals.

Illustration


2
Example: | 1  x 2 | dx is equal to
2

(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6 (d) 8

 1

   
2 1 2
Solution: (b) I | 1  x 2 | dx  | 1  x 2 | dx  | 1  x 2 | dx  | 1  x 2 | dx
2 2 1 1

1

  
1 2
4 4 4
 I   (1  x 2 )dx  (1  x 2 )dx  (1  x 2 )dx  I    4 .
2 1 1 3 3 3

 [x
1.5
2
Example: ]dx , where [.] denotes the greatest integer function, equals
0

(a) 2 2 (b) 2 2 (c) 1 2 (d) 2 1

     
1.5 1 2 1.5 2 1.5
Solution: (b) I [ x 2 ]dx  [ x 2 ]dx  [ x 2 ]dx  [ x 2 ]dx  I  0  1dx  2dx  2  1  3  2 2  I  2  2
0 0 1 2 1 2

5
12
Example: Evaluate  tan x  dx , where [.] is the greatest integer function.
0

 
(a) 0 (b) (c) (d) 2
4 2

5
12
Solution: (b) Let I =  tan x dx
0
5
Value of tan x at x = is 2 + 3
12
Value of tan x at x = 0 is 0
Integers between 0 and 2 + 3 are 1, 2, 3
 tan x = 1, tan x = 2, tan x = 3
 x = tan-1 1, x = tan-1 2, x = tan-1 3
5
tan 1 1 tan 1 2 tan 1 3 12
I=  tan x dx   tan x dx   tan x dx +  tan x dx
0 tan  1 1 tan  1 2 tan  1 3
5
tan 1 1 tan 1 2 tan 1 3 12
=  0 dx   1 dx   2 dx +  3 dx
0 tan  1 1 tan  1 2 tan  1 3


= 0 + tan 1 2  tan 1 1  2 tan 1 3  tan 1 2  3     5 
 tan 1 3 
 12 
 5   3  2  
=   tan1 3  tan1 2 =   tan 1    = -tan-1 (-1) = .
4 4   1 6   4

Example

Example