Integration - Indefinite Integrals

Indefinite Integrals

Basic Integration Rules and Formulas

An indefinite integral represents a family of functions whose derivative is the integrand. It is written with the integral symbol and includes a constant of integration \( C \), because differentiation of a constant is zero.

Standard Indefinite Integrals

  • \[ \int f(x) \, dx = F(x) + C, \quad \text{where } F'(x) = f(x) \]
  • \[ \int dx = x + C \]
  • \[ \int k f(x) \, dx = k \int f(x) \, dx \] — Constant multiple rule
  • \[ \int (u + v + w) \, dx = \int u \, dx + \int v \, dx + \int w \, dx \] — Sum rule
  • \[ \int u \, dv = uv - \int v \, du \] — Integration by parts
  • \[ \int f(kx) \, dx = \frac{1}{k} \int f(x) \, dx \] — Change of variable rule
  • \[ \int x^m \, dx = \frac{x^{m+1}}{m+1} + C \quad (m \neq -1) \]
  • \[ \int (ax + b)^n \, dx = \frac{(ax + b)^{n+1}}{a(n+1)} + C \quad (n \neq -1) \]
  • \[ \int e^x \, dx = e^x + C \]
  • \[ \int k^x \, dx = \frac{k^x}{\ln k} + C \quad (k > 0, k \neq 1) \]

Terminology

  • Integrand: The function being integrated.
  • Antiderivative: A function whose derivative equals the integrand.
  • Indefinite Integral: A general form of antiderivatives including the constant of integration \( C \).
  • Integration by Parts: A technique based on the product rule for derivatives.
  • Change of Variable: A method to simplify integration using substitution.

Applications

  • Finding original functions from rate-of-change data (velocity → position, etc.).
  • Calculating displacement, total growth, or area under a curve in general form.
  • Used in physics for work, energy, and electric potential problems.
  • Important in machine learning for regularization and loss function adjustments.
  • Forms the basis for solving differential equations analytically.
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