Indefinite integral
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This article/section deals with mathematical concepts appropriate for late high school or early college. |
An indefinite integral, or antiderivative, is an integral without upper and lower limits.
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Indefinite Integrals
There are an infinite number of antiderivatives for a given function, because each indefinite integral can have an arbitrary constant added to it which disappears upon differentiation. However, the fundamental theorem of calculus relates a definite integral to an indefinite integral by taking its value at the boundary points.
Whenever any expression is integrated the constant of integration,
, is always added.
A list of simple antiderivatives
The identity antiderivative:
Polynomial and simple rational
To see the proofs for the first two integrals, see Riemann integral.
The general rule for polynomial expressions is:
Note:
. See below for when
Rational
For a more detailed treatment, see Partial fractions in integration.
Rational antiderivatives are much more difficult and follow different rules.













