Introduction
When you were first introduced to integration as the reverse of differentiation, the integrals you dealt with were indefinite integrals . The result of finding an indefinite integral is usually a function plus a constant of integration. In this Section we introduce definite integrals , so called because the result will be a definite answer, usually a number, with no constant of integration. Definite integrals have many applications, for example in finding areas bounded by curves, and finding volumes of solids.
Prerequisites
- understand integration as the reverse of differentiation
- be able to use a table of integrals
Learning Outcomes
- find simple definite integrals
- handle some integrals involving an infinite limit of integration
Contents
1 Definite integrals2 Evaluating definite integrals
3 Engineering Example 2
3.1 Torsion of a mild-steel bar
4 Some integrals with infinite limits