Antiderivatives and Indefinite Integrals

Find antiderivatives of common functions for AP Calculus AB.

An antiderivative of f(x)f(x) is a function F(x)F(x) such that F(x)=f(x)F'(x) = f(x). The indefinite integral represents the family of all antiderivatives.

Basic Antiderivatives

xndx=xn+1n+1+C\int x^n\,dx = \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} + C (n1n \neq -1)

1xdx=lnx+C\int \frac{1}{x}\,dx = \ln|x| + C

exdx=ex+C\int e^x\,dx = e^x + C, axdx=axlna+C\int a^x\,dx = \frac{a^x}{\ln a} + C

sinxdx=cosx+C\int \sin x\,dx = -\cos x + C, cosxdx=sinx+C\int \cos x\,dx = \sin x + C

sec2xdx=tanx+C\int \sec^2 x\,dx = \tan x + C, csc2xdx=cotx+C\int \csc^2 x\,dx = -\cot x + C

11+x2dx=arctanx+C\int \frac{1}{1+x^2}\,dx = \arctan x + C, 11x2dx=arcsinx+C\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\,dx = \arcsin x + C

Initial Value Problems

Given f(x)f'(x) and f(a)=bf(a) = b: integrate, then use the condition to find CC.

Worked Example

f(x)=3x22f'(x) = 3x^2 - 2, f(1)=4f(1) = 4.

f(x)=x32x+Cf(x) = x^3 - 2x + C. f(1)=12+C=4f(1) = 1 - 2 + C = 4C=5C = 5.

f(x)=x32x+5f(x) = x^3 - 2x + 5.

Practice Problems

    1. (4x32x+7)dx\int (4x^3 - 2x + 7)\,dx.
    1. (sinx+ex)dx\int (\sin x + e^x)\,dx.
    1. f(x)=cosxf'(x) = \cos x, f(0)=3f(0) = 3. Find f(x)f(x).

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Key Takeaways

  • Antiderivative = reverse of derivative.

  • Always include +C+ C for indefinite integrals.

  • Use initial conditions to find CC.

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