# integrate d/dx(x^2)

Tags: confused, d or dxx2, integrate
 P: 48 if i integrate d/dx(x^2), should i include the constant of integration? thanks
 P: 1,294 If you are working on an equation, then presumably you are integrating both sides with respect to x in which case you will have a constant of Integration (arbitrarily) on either side. The short answer is yes, in all cases.
 P: 48 so it doesnt matter that you know what the function was before differentiation?
P: 1,294

## integrate d/dx(x^2)

I am tempted to say that it wouldn't matter, but that would lead to inconsistent results (i.e. a different answer depending on the chosen order of operations).
 Math Emeritus Sci Advisor Thanks PF Gold P: 38,895 What in the world do you mean? If you start with a function f(x), differentiate it, then integrate that, whether you get the original function, that function plus an unknown constant, or that function plus a specific number depends on exactly what type of "integral" you are doing: $\int f(x)dx$, the indefinite integral should have an unknown constant added because it means ALL functions whose derivative is f(x) but $\int_a^xf(t)dt$ would not and the value will depend upon the choice of a.

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