HIGHER MATHS

Integration

Notes with Examples

Mr Miscandlon
Gw13miscandlondavid@glow.sch.uk
Notation
We use ∫ the symbol for integration.

The ∫ must be accompanied by “𝑑𝑥” to show we are integrating with respect to 𝑥. This changes
depending on the term we are integrating.

Rules of Integration
In integration our aim is to reverse the process of differentiation. Integration is sometime
referred to as anti-derivative.

When we use the general form of integration it is referred to as an indefinite integral. With
indefinite integrals we must include the constant of integration to allow for any constant that
is zeroed during the differentiation process.

You can check your integration by differentiating your answer - remember it’s the reverse
process.

Basic Integration

The basic rule for integration is:

𝑎𝑥 𝑛+1
∫ 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 𝑑𝑥 = +𝑐
𝑛+1

where c is the constant of integration.

Basically, increase the power by one and divide by the new power.

Examples

I-01 Find:
1⁄
(a) ∫ 𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥 (b) ∫ 𝑥 −2 𝑑𝑥 (c) ∫𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
I-02 Find:
1⁄
(a) ∫ 2𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥 (b) ∫ 5 𝑑𝑥 (c) ∫ 9𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

Integration of Multiple Terms

The rule for integrating multiple terms is:

∫(𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)) 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥) + ∫ 𝑔(𝑥)

Basically integrate each term separately!

Examples

I-03 Find:
1⁄
(a) ∫(𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 ) 𝑑𝑥 (b) ∫(𝑥 −2 − 3𝑥 5 ) 𝑑𝑥 (c) ∫(𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 5) 𝑑𝑥

Integration of Other Variables

We can integrate any variable, the term at the end of the integral tells us what variable we are
integrating with respect to.

∫ 𝑓(𝑢)𝑑𝑢 is integrating with respect to 𝑢 while ∫ 𝑓(𝑛)𝑑𝑛 is integrating with respect to 𝑛.

Examples

I-04 Find:
1⁄
(a) ∫ 𝑢4 + 2𝑢3 𝑑𝑢 (b) ∫ 𝑝−2 − 3𝑝5 𝑑𝑝 (c) ∫ −𝑞 2 𝑑𝑥

Preparing to Integrate

It is often necessary to use the index rules to prepare a function for integration. The
integration rules will only work with powers of 𝑥. In order to integrate, you must be able to
convert a function involving roots, fractions, brackets etc. into a sum or difference of powers of
𝑥.
If necessary, use the index rules to give the integral using positive indices. There are normally
no marks awarded for changing the form of an integral once you have obtained it. However,
you often have to go further and evaluate the integral and will find this easier using positive
indices.

Examples

I-05 Find:
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 5 4𝑝3 −𝑝
(a) ∫ 𝑥4 (b) ∫ √𝑥 (c) ∫ 2√𝑥 𝑑𝑥 (d) ∫ 𝑑𝑝
3
Differential Equations

A differential equation is one that contains derivatives. To solve a differential equation we use
integration to get the general solution then use the additional information (usually an 𝑥 and 𝑦
value) to find the specific solution.

Examples

𝑑𝑦
I-06 Find the particular solution of the differential equation = 8𝑥 − 1 given that 𝑦 = 5 when
𝑑𝑥
𝑥 = 1.

𝑑𝑦
I-07 The gradient of a tangent to a curve is given by = 2𝑥 − 3. If the curve passes through
𝑑𝑥
the point (4, 3), find its equation.

1 2
I-08 The function 𝑓, defined on a suitable domain, is such that 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 + 3

Given that 𝑓(1) = 4, find a formula for 𝑓(𝑥).

Definite Integrals
A definite integral is when we evaluate an integral between two limits. A definite integral is a
numerical value.

If 𝐹(𝑥) is the integral of 𝑓(𝑥) then

𝑏
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = [𝐹(𝑥)]𝑏𝑎 = 𝐹(𝑏) − 𝐹(𝑎)
𝑎

where 𝑏 is the upper limit and 𝑎 is the lower limit.

To calculate a definite interval we integrate (without the constant of integration), evaluate the
integral at the upper limit, evaluate the integral at the lower limit then subtract the lower limit
value from the upper limit value.

Examples

I-09 Find:
3 4 2
(a) ∫1 𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥 (b) ∫0 5𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 (c) ∫−1(𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 −3 ) 𝑑𝑥
Area between a Curve and the 𝑥-axis
Integration can be used to calculate the area between a curve and the 𝑥-axis.

The area between the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and the 𝑥-axis between 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏 is given by:

𝑏
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑎

𝑐
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑏

a b c
𝑏
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑎

If the area is above the 𝑥-axis the definite integral will be positive.

If the area is below the 𝑥-axis the definite integral will be negative. In this case we ignore the
negative sign.

If the area is above and below the 𝑥-axis we MUST integrate the parts above and below the
𝑥-axis separately, ignore the negative and add the values.

Examples

I-10 Find the area under the curve 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 from 𝑥 = 0 to 𝑥 = 4.

𝑥=4
I-11 Calculate the total shaded area in the diagram.

𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 4
=4
𝑥 = −2 𝑥=2

𝑥=4
Area between two Curves
Integration can be used to calculate the area between two curves (or a curve and a straight
line).

The area between the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) between 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏 is given by:

𝑏
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = ∫ 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑎

where the upper function is the top curve and the lower function is the bottom curve.

𝑏
∫ 𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑎
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)

a b c c

𝑐
∫ 𝑔(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥
𝑏

Note that we do not need to worry about if the area is above or below that 𝑥-axis when dealing
with area between two curves.
Examples

I-12 Calculate the area enclosed by the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 and the line 𝑦 = 2𝑥.

𝑦 = 𝑥2 𝑦 = 2𝑥
 3
I-13 Calculate the area enclosed by the graphs of 𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥 2 and 𝑦 = 6 − 2 𝑥 2 .

3
𝑦 = 6 − 𝑥2
2

𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥2

I-14 Calculate the area enclosed by the functions 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3 and 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 − 𝑥 − 𝑥 2 .

𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

I-15 Calculate the area enclosed in the diagram.

𝑦 = 4𝑥

𝑦 = 𝑥3
Integrating along the 𝑦-axis
It is sometimes easier to find a shaded area by integrating with respect to 𝑦 instead of 𝑥.

If this is the case, rearrange the equation to the form 𝑥 = , then integrate.

Examples

I-16 Calculate the shaded area below: 1

𝑦 = 𝑥2
4

𝑦=4

𝑦=1
Summary