CHAPTER I

The Integration Process

1.1. Introduction:
Integration has two distinct interpretations as a procedure that is the inverse of
differentiation and as a method of determining the area under a curve. There are many
important applications of integration in each of these contexts.
As mentioned earlier, integration is the inverse of differentiation; that is, if a function is
differentiated and the resulting function is then integrated, the result is the original function.
This is true only if the constant of integration is specified in some way; otherwise the result
may differ from the original function by a constant. In this context, integration is the process
of finding a function when its derivative (or the rate of change) is known.
Integration can also be defined as the process of finding the limiting value of a sum of
terms when the number of terms increases infinitely and when the numerical value of each
term approaches zero. It is in this context that integration is used in finding the area under a
curve. In fact, integral calculus was developed for the purpose of evaluating the areas by
supposing them to be divided into an infinite number of infinitesimally small parts whose sum
is the area required; the integral sign is the elongated S used by early writers to indicate
“sum.”
In either context, integration requires operationally that a function be determined when
its derivative is given. The techniques of integrating simple cases are accomplished by
reversing the corresponding formulas differentiation; more complicated cases are handled
by the use of tables of standard forms, by various procedures of substitution, and, if necessary,
by numerical (approximation) methods.

1.2. The Indefinite Integration

When we were finding the derivative of a function, we wrote
d
F ( x)  f ( x)
dx
where the derivative of F(x) is f(x). Our problem is to find F(x) when we are given f(x).
d
We know that the symbol  ... dx is the inverse of or when dealing with differentials, the
dx
operator symbols d and  are the inverse of each other; that is,
F ( x)   f ( x) dx
and when the derivative of each side is taken, d annulling  , we have
d F ( x)  f ( x) dx
d
or where  ... dx annuls , we have
dx
d d
dx 
F ( x)  f ( x) dx
dx
 f ( x)
From this, we find that d ( x3 ) = 3x 2 dx
so that,  3x dx = x3  C
2

Also we find that d ( x3 + 3) = 3x 2 dx

so that,  3x dx = x3  3
2

Again, we find that d ( x3 - 9) = 3x 2 dx

so that,  3x
2
dx = x3 - 9
This is to say that d ( x3 + C) = 3x 2 dx and  3x
2
dx = x 3 + C
where C is any constant of integration.
A number that is independent of the variable of integration is called a constant of
integration. Since C may have infinitely many values, then a differential expression
may have infinitely many integrals differing only by the constant. This is to say that
two integrals of the same function may differ by the constant of integration. We
assume the differential expression has at least one integral. Because the integral
contains C and C is indefinite, we call
F ( x) + C
an indefinite integral of f(x) dx.
In the general form we say
 f ( x) dx = F ( x) + C
With regard to the constant of integration, a theorem and its converse are stated
as follows:

Theorem 1.If two functions differ by a constant, they have the same derivative.
Theorem 2.If two functions have the same derivative, their difference is a constant.