Difference between revisions of "Fundamental theorem of calculus"

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{{Math-h}}
 
==The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus==
 
==The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus==
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The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, first proven by [[James Gregory]], is the rather remarkable result that the two fundamental operations of [[calculus]] are just inverses of each other.  Those two operations are performed on [[functions]] from the [[real numbers]] to the real numbers, and are most easily visualized when the functions are expressed in terms of graphs.  The operations are:
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The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus is the remarkable result that the two fundamental operations of [[calculus]] are just inverses of each other.  Those two operations are performed on [[functions]] from the [[real numbers]] to the real numbers, and are most easily visualized when the functions are expressed in terms of graphs.  The operations are:
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*[[Differentiation]] -- find the slope of a function's graph at a given point.
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*[[Differentiation]]—find the slope of a function's graph at a given point.
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*[[integral|Integration]] -- find the area under a graph between two given limits.
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*[[integral|Integration]]—find the area under a graph between two given limits.
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The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus says that the two operations are inverses -- to find the area under the graph of f(x) between a and b, find the function g(x) whose derivative is f(x) (that is, find the ''antiderivative'' of f).  The area under the graph of f between x=a and x=b is just g(b)-g(a).
 
  
 
==The Theorem==
 
==The Theorem==
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There are two parts to the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
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There are two parts to the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus<ref>http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/4/ftc.9/</ref>
 
===Part 1===
 
===Part 1===
 
The first can be written as:
 
The first can be written as:
 
Let the function <math>f</math> be continuous function defined on a closed interval <math>[a,b]</math>.  Define <math>F(x)</math> as:
 
Let the function <math>f</math> be continuous function defined on a closed interval <math>[a,b]</math>.  Define <math>F(x)</math> as:
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<br />
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:<math>F(x) = \int_a^x f(t)dt</math>
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<math>F(x) = \int_a^x f(t)dt</math>
 
 
<br />It follows that:
 
<br />It follows that:
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<br /><math>F'(x) = f(x)</math>
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:<br />The first part states that if a function <math>F</math> is the antiderivative of a function <math>f</math>, then the derivative of <math>F</math> is <math>f</math>. In other words, antiderivative and derivative are opposite functions.
  
 
===Part 2===
 
===Part 2===
 
If:
 
If:
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<br /><math>f(x) = F'(x)</math>
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:<math>f(x) = F'(x)</math>
 
<br />Then:
 
<br />Then:
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<br /><math>\int_a^b f(x) = F(b) - F(a)</math>
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:<math>\int_a^b f(x)dx = F(b) - F(a)</math>
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<br />The second part begins with what we know from part 1.
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<br />It then states that the definite integral of the function <math>f</math> from <math>a</math> to <math>b</math> is equal to <math>F</math> evaluated at <math>b</math>  minus <math>F</math> evaluated at <math>a</math>.
  
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==External links ==
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==Indefinite Integrals==
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* [http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/4/ftc.9/ Proof for the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus]
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{{main|Indefinite integral}}
 
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The antiderivative of a function is often called the ''indefinite integral''.  (Indefinite because the limits a and b haven't been specified.)  So, for example, the derivative of <math>\frac{x^3}{3}+7</math> is <math>x^2</math>. From this it follows that the antiderivative of
 
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<math>x^2</math> could be <math>\frac{x^3}{3}+7</math>. But note that the "7" in that formula was a red herring. Adding any constant to a function doesn't change its derivative, so the antiderivative of <math>x^2</math> could have any constant added to it. This arbitrary constant is usually written '''C''' and is called the "constant of integration". The indefinite integral could be written:
 
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:<math>\int x^2\ \mathrm{d}x = \frac{x^3}{3} + C\,</math>,
 
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The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus says that the area under the graph of <math>x^2</math> between a and b is the difference in the values of <math>\frac{x^3}{3}+C</math> between a and b.  Note that the constant of integration cancels out.
 
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==Definite Integrals==
 
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{{main|Integral}}
 
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This kind of integral is called a ''definite integral'', written with the limits:
 
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:<math>\int_a^b x^2\ \mathrm{d}x = \frac{b^3}{3} - \frac{a^3}{3}\,</math>,
 
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The above is a simplified "intuitive" treatment of calculus and of this theorem.  The actual "rigorous" proof, "rigorous" definitions of derivative and integral, and statement of the conditions under which the theorem is true, are beyond the scope of this article.
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
 
*[[Calculus]]
 
*[[Calculus]]
 
*[[Indefinite integral]]
 
*[[Indefinite integral]]
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*[[Derivative]]
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*[[Derivative (calculus)|Derivative]]
 
*[[Integral]]
 
*[[Integral]]
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== References ==
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<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Calculus]]
 
[[Category:Calculus]]

Latest revision as of 21:12, September 8, 2020

This article/section deals with mathematical concepts appropriate for late high school or early college.

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus is the remarkable result that the two fundamental operations of calculus are just inverses of each other. Those two operations are performed on functions from the real numbers to the real numbers, and are most easily visualized when the functions are expressed in terms of graphs. The operations are:

  • Differentiation—find the slope of a function's graph at a given point.
  • Integration—find the area under a graph between two given limits.

The Theorem

There are two parts to the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus[1]

Part 1

The first can be written as: Let the function   be continuous function defined on a closed interval  . Define   as:

 


It follows that:


The first part states that if a function   is the antiderivative of a function  , then the derivative of   is  . In other words, antiderivative and derivative are opposite functions.

Part 2

If:

 


Then:

 


The second part begins with what we know from part 1.
It then states that the definite integral of the function   from   to   is equal to   evaluated at   minus   evaluated at  .

External links

See also

References