# The Fundemental Theorum Of Calculus

1. May 7, 2008

### undrcvrbro

the fundamental theorem of calculus

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
$$\int^{3}_{2}$$12 * (x^2-4)^(5) * x

2. Relevant equations
U substitution.

3. The attempt at a solution
This is part of a FTC problem, but I find myself stumbling a little bit with the u substitution still. I'm not sure when the du= the derivative of the u, and when it is just the numbers left over.

Like in this situation, I set u=x^2-4. Would du=2x or 12x?

Last edited: May 7, 2008
2. May 7, 2008

### Tedjn

If u = x2 - 4, then the derivative du/dx = 2x. Although we technically shouldn't break up the derivative, it turns out we can do it without affecting results, and all our steps are justifiable with the chain rule. Commonly, however, we treat du/dx as a fraction, and find $$du = 2xdx \implies dx = du/(2x)$$.

3. May 7, 2008

### undrcvrbro

Thanks. Now that I look closer, I think my only issue was that I seemed to have been seeing some coincidental pattern on a few of my problems a while back and drew the conclusion that it was mathematically correct. I always do dumb stuff like that