Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and its application to various integrals. Participants are examining specific integrals, their evaluations, and the underlying concepts related to antiderivatives and average value calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to evaluate several integrals using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, raising questions about specific integrals and their evaluations. Some participants question the correctness of the original poster's evaluations and suggest alternative methods, such as u-substitution for certain integrals.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing examination of the integrals presented, with some participants providing feedback on the evaluations. A few participants have offered guidance on specific integrals, while others have pointed out potential errors or misunderstandings in the original poster's approach. Multiple interpretations of the problems are being explored, particularly regarding the average value of a function and the evaluation of definite integrals.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through various assumptions about the integrals, including the use of u-substitution and the implications of symmetry in certain integrals. There is also a discussion about the notation used in expressing the relationship between antiderivatives and definite integrals.

courtrigrad
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Could you check whether I am doing these questions right:

1. [itex]\int_{0}^{4} (2+x) dx[/itex]. So I use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus [itex]F(b)-F(a)[/itex] and receive: [itex]\frac{(x+2)^{2}}{2} = F(4) - F(0) = 16[/itex]

2. [itex]\int_{-1}^{1} (4t^{3} - 2t) dt = t^{4} - t^{2} = F(b)-F(a) = 0[/itex]

3. [itex]\int_{0}^{3} \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x}} dx = \frac{-1}{2}(1+x)^\frac{-3}{2} = F(b) - F(a) = \frac{7}{16}[/itex]

4. [itex]\int_{1}^{2}(\frac{1}{x^{2}} - \frac{1}{x^{3}}dx = \frac{x^{-1}}{-1} - \frac{x^{-2}}{-2} = F(b) - F(a) = \frac{1}{8}[/itex]
5. How would you do this one: [itex]\frac{3+ \ln x}{x} dx[/itex]?
6. [itex]\int^{1}_{-1} 3xe^{x^{2} -1} dx[/itex] Also how would I set this up? Would I let [itex]u = x^{2} - 1[/itex]?

If the marginal cost is [itex]\frac{dC}{dx} = 675 + 0.5x[/itex] how would C change when [itex]x[/itex] increases from 50 to 51? So [itex]C = 675x + \frac{1}{4} x^{2}[/itex]. So would I just compute [itex]F(51) - F(50)[/itex]?

If you want to find the average value of [itex]f(x) = \frac{4}{\sqrt{x-1}}, [5,10][/itex] would you use the formula [itex]\frac{1}{b-a}f'(x)[/itex]?




Thanks :smile:
 
Last edited:
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1. correct
2.correct
3. I am not sure you integral is right. You might have mixed up derivarives with integration.

You tell me the rest.

Regards,

Nenad
 
evertyhing is good until you get to the ln x / x one
i don't know of any method to do it, i simply stared at this one and came up with (ln x)^2 / 2

and finally once again i stared keep the three out of it. Observe a chain rule that brought the x out in fdront since e always stays there anyway... Divide by that number in order to cancel its effect
 
[tex]\int \frac{\ln{x}}{x}dx[/tex]

can be evaluated with a simple u-substitution. Let u = ln(x), then du = dx/x, and the integral is [itex]\int u du[/itex].

I'd be careful with your notation. The antiderivative does not equal F(b) - F(a), so statements like [itex]\int_{-1}^{1} (4t^{3} - 2t) dt = t^{4} - t^{2} = F(b)-F(a)[/itex] are simply not correct. [itex]F(t) = t^4 - t^2[/itex] and [itex]\int_{-1}^{1} (4t^{3} - 2t) dt = F(1) - F(-1)[/itex] are both true.

--J
 
how do you find the average value?
 
The concept of "average" you're familiar with is most likely to add up the values of all your elements, and then divide by the number of elements. For continuous functions, "add up" is replaced by "integrate" and "number of elements" is replaced by "size of the interval", so your formula should look something like

[tex]\frac{1}{b - a}\int_a^b f(x)dx[/tex]

--J
 
can you please show your steps for number 3. I'm getting a different answer when I evaluate it. I get an answer of 2


Regards,

Nenad
 
Last edited:
The sollution provided by the OP for #3 is totally incorrect.
[tex]\int_{0}^{3}\frac{dx}{\sqrt{1+x}}[/tex]
U can integrate directly,or by a substitition:[itex]1+x=u[/itex] and the final result is +2...

Daniel.
 
#6 has the answer "0",for the same reason as #2:symmetry (odd function integrated on a symmetric domain wrt origin).

Daniel.
 
  • #10
courtrigrad said:
3. [itex]\int_{0}^{3} \frac{1}{\sqrt{1+x}} dx = \frac{-1}{2}(1+x)^\frac{-3}{2} = F(b) - F(a) = \frac{7}{16}[/itex]
Here you mixed it up.

5. How would you do this one: [itex]\frac{3+ \ln x}{x} dx[/itex]?
Split the integral. Try [itex]u=\ln x[/itex].

6. [itex]\int^{1}_{-1} 3xe^{x^{2} -1} dx[/itex] Also how would I set this up? Would I let [itex]u = x^{2} - 1[/itex]?
That would work.

If the marginal cost is [itex]\frac{dC}{dx} = 675 + 0.5x[/itex] how would C change when [itex]x[/itex] increases from 50 to 51? So [itex]C = 675x + \frac{1}{4} x^{2}[/itex]. So would I just compute [itex]F(51) - F(50)[/itex]?
Yes, that is correct. Note though that you can only determine C up to a constant, since you only know the derivative of C. It doesn't matter since you need a difference in C(x).

If you want to find the average value of [itex]f(x) = \frac{4}{\sqrt{x-1}}, [5,10][/itex] would you use the formula [itex]\frac{1}{b-a}f'(x)[/itex]?

The average value over an interval [a,b] is:

[tex]\frac{1}{b-a}\int_a^bf(x)dx[/tex].


Thanks :smile:
:smile:
 

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