1.2: Basic properties of the definite integral

When we studied limits and derivatives, we developed methods for taking limits or derivatives of “complicated functions” like \(f(x)=x^2 + \sin(x)\) by understanding how limits and derivatives interact with basic arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction. This allowed us to reduce the problem into one of of computing derivatives of simpler functions like \(x^2\) and \(\sin(x)\text<.>\) Along the way we established simple rules such as \begin \lim_(f(x)+g(x)) = \lim_f(x) + \lim_ g(x) \quad\text\quad \frac(f(x)+g(x)) = \frac + \frac \end Some of these rules have very natural analogues for integrals and we discuss them below. Unfortunately the analogous rules for integrals of products of functions or integrals of compositions of functions are more complicated than those for limits or derivatives. We discuss those rules at length in subsequent sections. For now let us consider some of the simpler rules of the arithmetic of integrals.

Theorem 1.2.1 Arithmetic of Integration

Let \(a,b\) and \(A,B,C\) be real numbers. Let the functions \(f(x)\) and \(g(x)\) be integrable on an interval that contains \(a\) and \(b\text<.>\) Then \begin \text&& \int_a^b \left( f(x) + g(x) \right)\, d &= \int_a^b f(x)\, d + \int_a^b g(x)\, d\\ \text&& \int_a^b\left(f(x)-g(x)\right)\, d &= \int_a^b f(x)\, d - \int_a^b g(x)\, d\\ \text&& \int_a^b C f(x) \, d &= C\cdot \int_a^b f(x)\, d\\ \end Combining these three rules we have \[\begin \text&& \int_a^b \left( Af(x) + Bg(x) \right)\, d &= A\int_a^b f(x)\, d + B\int_a^b g(x)\, d\\ \end\] That is, integrals depend linearly on the integrand. \begin \text&& \int_a^b \, d = \int_a^b 1 \cdot \, d &= b-a \end

As noted above, it suffices for us to prove (d) and (e). Since (e) is easier, we will start with that. It is also a good warm-up for (d).

Using this Theorem we can integrate sums, differences and constant multiples of functions we know how to integrate. For example:

Example 1.2.2 The integral of a sum

In Example 1.1.1 we saw that \(\int_0^1 e^x\, d=e-1\text<.>\) So

When we gave the formal definition of \(\int_a^b f(x) \, d\) in Definition 1.1.9 we explained that the integral could be interpreted as the signed area between the curve \(y=f(x)\) and the \(x\)-axis on the interval \([a,b]\text<.>\) In order for this interpretation to make sense we required that \(a \lt b\text\) and though we remarked that the integral makes sense when \(a \gt b\) we did not explain any further. Thankfully there is an easy way to express the integral \(\int_a^b f(x)\, d\) in terms of \(\int_b^a f(x)\, d\) — making it always possible to write an integral so the lower limit of integration is less than the upper limit of integration. Theorem 1.2.3, below, tell us that, for example, \(\int_7^3 e^x\, d = - \int_3^7 e^x\, d\text<.>\) The same theorem also provides us with two other simple manipulations of the limits of integration.

Theorem 1.2.3 Arithmetic for the Domain of Integration

Let \(a,b,c\) be real numbers. Let the function \(f(x)\) be integrable on an interval that contains \(a\text\) \(b\) and \(c\text<.>\) Then

\begin \text&& \int_a^a f(x)\, d&= 0\\ \text&& \int_b^a f(x)\, d&= -\int_a^b f(x)\, d\\ \text&& \int_a^b f(x)\, d&= \int_a^c f(x)\, d + \int_c^b f(x)\, d \end

The proof of this statement is not too difficult.

Proof

Let us prove the statements in order.

Remark 1.2.4

For notational simplicity, let's assume that \(a\le c\le b\) and \(f(x)\ge 0\) for all \(a\le x\le b\text<.>\) The geometric interpretations of the identities

\begin \int_a^a f(x)\, d=0\quad\text\quad \int_a^b f(x)\, d= \int_a^c f(x)\, d + \int_c^b f(x)\, d \end

respectively. Both of these geometric statements are intuitively obvious. See the figures below. We won't give a formal proof.

So we concentrate on the formula \(\int_b^a f(x)\, d= -\int_a^b f(x)\, d\text<.>\) The midpoint Riemann sum approximation to \(\int_a^b f(x)\, d\) with \(4\) subintervals (so that each subinterval has width \(\frac\)) is

We're now going to write out the midpoint Riemann sum approximation to \(\int_b^a f(x)\, d\) with \(4\) subintervals. Note that \(b\) is now the lower limit on the integral and \(a\) is now the upper limit on the integral. This is likely to cause confusion when we write out the Riemann sum, so we'll temporarily rename \(b\) to \(A\) and \(a\) to \(B\text<.>\) The midpoint Riemann sum approximation to \(\int_A^B f(x)\, d\) with \(4\) subintervals is

Now recalling that \(A=b\) and \(B=a\text\) we have that the midpoint Riemann sum approximation to \(\int_b^a f(x)\, d\) with \(4\) subintervals is

The curly brackets in (\(\star\)) and (\(\star\star\)) are equal to each other — the terms are just in the reverse order. The factors multiplying the curly brackets in (\(\star\)) and (\(\star\star\)), namely \(\frac\) and \(\frac\text\) are negatives of each other, so (\(\star\star\))\(=-\)(\(\star\)). The same computation with \(n\) subintervals shows that the midpoint Riemann sum approximations to \(\int_b^a f(x)\, d\) and \(\int_a^b f(x)\, d\) with \(n\) subintervals are negatives of each other. Taking the limit \(n\rightarrow\infty\) gives \(\int_b^a f(x)\, d= -\int_a^b f(x)\, d\text<.>\)

Example 1.2.5 Revisiting Example 1.1.14

Back in Example 1.1.14 we saw that when \(b \gt 0\) \(\int_0^b x\, d =\frac\text<.>\) We'll now verify that \(\int_0^b x\, d =\frac\) is still true when \(b=0\) and also when \(b \lt 0\text<.>\)

We have now shown that

Example 1.2.6 \(\int_a^b x\,d\)

Applying Theorem 1.2.3 yet again, we have, for all real numbers \(a\) and \(b\text\)

We can also understand this result geometrically.

Theorem 1.2.3(c) shows us how we can split an integral over a larger interval into one over two (or more) smaller intervals. This is particularly useful for dealing with piece-wise functions, like \(|x|\text<.>\)

Example 1.2.7 Integrals involving \(|x|\)

Using Theorem 1.2.3, we can readily evaluate integrals involving \(|x|\text<.>\) First, recall that

Now consider (for example) \(\int_^3 |x| \, d\text<.>\) Since the integrand changes at \(x=0\text\) it makes sense to split the interval of integration at that point:

We can go further still — given a function \(f(x)\) we can rewrite the integral of \(f(|x|)\) in terms of the integral of \(f(x)\) and \(f(-x)\text<.>\)

\begin \int_^1 f\big(|x|\big)\, d & = \int_^0 f\big(|x|\big)\, d+ \int_0^1 f\big(|x|\big)\, d\\ & = \int_^0 f(-x)\, d+ \int_0^1 f(x)\, d \end

Here is a more concrete example.

Example 1.2.8 Revisiting Example 1.1.15

Let us compute \(\int_^1 \big(1-|x|\big)\, d\) again. In Example 1.1.15 we evaluated this integral by interpreting it as the area of a triangle. This time we are going to use only the properties given in Theorems 1.2.1 and 1.2.3 and the facts that

That \(\int_a^b\, d = b-a\) is part (e) of Theorem 1.2.1. We saw that \(\int_a^b x\, d=\frac\) in Example 1.2.6.

First we are going to get rid of the absolute value signs by splitting the interval over which we integrate. Recalling that \(|x|=x\) whenever \(x\ge 0\) and \(|x|=-x\) whenever \(x\le 0\text\) we split the interval by Theorem 1.2.3(c),

\begin \int_^1 \big(1-|x|\big)\, d &=\int_^0 \big(1-|x|\big)\, d + \int_0^1 \big(1-|x|\big)\, d\\ &=\int_^0 \big(1-(-x)\big)\, d + \int_0^1 \big(1-x\big)\, d\\ &=\int_^0 \big(1+x\big)\, d + \int_0^1 \big(1-x\big)\, d \end

Now we apply parts (a) and (b) of Theorem 1.2.1, and then

More properties of integration: even and odd functions

Recall 2 the following definition

Definition 1.2.9

Let \(f(x)\) be a function. Then,

Of course most functions are neither even nor odd, but many of the standard functions you know are.

Example 1.2.10 Even functions
Example 1.2.11 Odd functions

We can exploit the symmetries noted in the examples above, namely

together with Theorem 1.2.3 Theorem 1.2.3

\begin \int_^a f(x)\, d &= \int_^0 f(x)\, d + \int_0^a f(x) \, d \end

in order to simplify the integration of even and odd functions over intervals of the form \([-a,a]\text<.>\)

Theorem 1.2.12 Even and Odd
  1. If \(f(x)\) is an even function, then \begin \int_^a f(x) \, d = 2\int_0^a f(x) \, d \end
  2. If \(f(x)\) is an odd function, then \begin \int_^a f(x) \, d = 0 \end

For any function

\begin \int_^a f(x)\, d = \int_0^a f(x)\, d + \int_^0 f(x)\, d \end

When \(f\) is even, the two terms on the right hand side are equal. When \(f\) is odd, the two terms on the right hand side are negatives of each other.

Optional — More properties of integration: inequalities for integrals

We are still unable to integrate many functions, however with a little work we can infer bounds on integrals from bounds on their integrands.

Theorem 1.2.13 Inequalities for Integrals

Let \(a\le b\) be real numbers and let the functions \(f(x)\) and \(g(x)\) be integrable on the interval \(a\le x\le b\text<.>\)

  1. If \(f(x)\ge 0\) for all \(a\le x\le b\text\) then \begin \int_a^b f(x)\,\, d \ge 0 \end
  2. If \(f(x)\le g(x)\) for all \(a\le x\le b\text\) then \begin \int_a^b f(x)\,\, d \le \int_a^b g(x)\,\, d \end
  3. If there are constants \(m\) and \(M\) such that \(m\le f(x)\le M\) for all \(a\le x\le b\text\) then \begin m(b-a)\le \int_a^b f(x)\,\, d \le M(b-a) \end
  4. We have \begin \bigg|\int_a^b f(x)\,\, d\bigg|\le \int_a^b |f(x)|\,\, d \end
Proof
  1. By interpreting the integral as the signed area, this statement simply says that if the curve \(y=f(x)\) lies above the \(x\)-axis and \(a\le b\text\) then the signed area of \(\big\\) is at least zero. This is quite clear. Alternatively, we could argue more algebraically from Definition 1.1.9. We observe that when we define \(\int_a^b f(x)\, d\) via Riemann sums, every summand, \(f(x_^*)\,\frac\ge 0\text\) Thus the whole sum is nonnegative and consequently, so is the limit, and thus so is the integral.
  2. We are assuming that \(g(x)-f(x)\geq 0\text\) so part (a) gives \begin \int_a^b\big[g(x)-f(x)\big]\,\, d\ge 0 & \implies \int_a^b g(x)\,\, d-\int_a^b f(x)\,\, d\ge 0 \\ & \implies \int_a^b f(x)\,\, d \le \int_a^b g(x)\,\, d \end
  3. Applying part (b) with \(g(x)=M\) for all \(a\le x\le b\) gives \begin \int_a^b f(x)\,\, d \le \int_a^b M\,\, d = M(b-a) \end Similarly, viewing \(m\) as a (constant) function, and applying part (b) gives \begin m\le f(x) \implies \overbrace<\int_a^bm\,\, d>^ \le \int_a^b f(x)\,\, d \end
  4. For any \(x\text\) \(|f(x)|\) is either \(f(x)\) or \(-f(x)\) (depending on whether \(f(x)\) is positive or negative), so we certainly have \begin f(x)&\le |f(x)| & \text&& -f(x)&\le |f(x)| \end Applying part (c) to each of those inequalities gives \begin \int_a^b f(x)\, d &\le \int_a^b |f(x)|\, d & \text && -\int_a^b f(x)\, d &\le \int_a^b |f(x)|\, d \end Now \(\Big|\int_a^b f(x)\, d\Big|\) is either equal to \(\int_a^b f(x)\, d\) or \(-\int_a^b f(x)\, d\) (depending on whether the integral is positive or negative). In either case we can apply the above two inequalities to get the same result, namely \begin \left|\int_a^b f(x)\, d\right| &\leq \int_a^b |f(x)|\, d. \end
Example 1.2.14 \( \int_0^<\frac<\pi>>\sqrt\, d\)

Consider the integral

This is not so easy to compute exactly 3 but we can bound it quite quickly.

For \(x\) between \(0\) and \(\frac<\pi>\text\) the function \(\cos x\) takes values 4 between \(1\) and \(\frac\text<.>\) Thus the function \(\sqrt\) takes values between \(1\) and \(\frac<\sqrt>\text<.>\) That is

Consequently, by Theorem 1.2.13(b) with \(a=0\text\) \(b=\frac<\pi>\text\) \(m= \frac>\) and \(M=1\text\)

Plugging these expressions into a calculator gives us

\begin 0.7404804898 & \le \int_0^<\frac<\pi>> \sqrt\, d \leq 1.047197551 \end

Exercises

Stage 1
1

For each of the following properties of definite integrals, draw a picture illustrating the concept, interpreting definite integrals as areas under a curve.

For simplicity, you may assume that \(a \leq c \leq b\text\) and that \(f(x),g(x)\) give positive values.

  1. \(\displaystyle\int_a^a f(x)\,\, d=0\text\) (Theorem 1.2.3, part (a))
  2. \(\displaystyle\int_a^b f(x)\,\, d= \displaystyle\int_a^c f(x)\,\, d + \int_c^b f(x)\, d \text\) (Theorem 1.2.3, part (c))
  3. \(\displaystyle\int_a^b \left( f(x) + g(x) \right)\,\, d = \displaystyle\int_a^b f(x)\,\, d + \displaystyle\int_a^b g(x)\,\, d\text\) (Theorem 1.2.1, part (a))
2

If \(\displaystyle\int_0^b \cos x\, d=\sin b\text\) then what is \(\displaystyle\int_a^b \cos x\, d\text\)

3 (✳)

Decide whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, provide a counterexample. If true, provide a brief justification. (Assume that \(f(x)\) and \(g(x)\) are continuous functions.)

  1. \(\displaystyle\int_^ f(x) \, d=-\displaystyle\int_^ f(x) \, d\text\)
  2. If \(f(x)\) is an odd function, then \(\displaystyle \int_^ f(x)\,\, d = \int_2^3 f(x)\,\, d\text\)
  3. \(\displaystyle\int_^ f(x)\cdot g(x) \, d =\int_^ f(x) \, d \cdot \int_^ g(x)\, d\text\)
4

Suppose we want to make a right Riemann sum with 100 intervals to approximate \(\int\limits_5^0 f(x)\, d\text\) where \(f(x)\) is a function that gives only positive values.

  1. What is \(\Delta x\text\)
  2. Are the heights of our rectangles positive or negative?
  3. Is our Riemann sum positive or negative?
  4. Is the signed area under the curve \(y=f(x)\) from \(x=0\) to \(x=5\) positive or negative?
Stage 2
5 (✳)

Suppose \(\displaystyle\int_2^3 f(x)\,\, d = -1\) and \(\displaystyle\int_2^3 g(x)\,\, d = 5\text<.>\) Evaluate \(\displaystyle \int_2^3 \big( 6 f(x) - 3 g(x) \big)\,\, d\text<.>\)

6 (✳)

If \(\displaystyle\int_0^2 f(x)\,\, d = 3\) and \(\displaystyle\int_0^2 g(x)\,\, d = -4\text\) calculate \(\displaystyle \int_0^2 \big( 2 f(x) + 3 g(x) \big)\,\, d\text<.>\)

7 (✳)

The functions \(f(x)\) and \(g(x)\) obey

\begin \int_0^ f(x)\,\, d &= 1 & \int_0^2 f(x)\,\, d &= 2 \\ \int_^0 g(x)\,\, d &= 3 & \int_0^2 g(x)\,\, d &= 4 \end

8

In Question 1.1.8.45, Section 1.1, we found that

when \(0\le a\le 1\text<.>\)

Using this fact, evaluate the following:

  1. \(\displaystyle\int_^0 \sqrt\, d\text\) where \(-1 \leq a \leq 0\)
  2. \(\displaystyle\int_^1 \sqrt\, d\text\) where \(0 \leq a \leq 1\)
9 (✳)

You may use the result from Example 1.2.6 that \(\int\limits_a^b x\, d=\frac \text<.>\)

10

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int_^5 x|x|\, d\,.\)

11

Suppose \(f(x)\) is an even function and \(\displaystyle\int_^2 f(x)\, d=10\text<.>\) What is \(\displaystyle\int_^0 f(x)\, d\text\)

Stage 3
12 (✳)

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int_^ \left(5+\sqrt\right)\, d\text<.>\)

13 (✳)
14 (✳)
15

Evaluate \(\displaystyle\int_^6 (x-3)^3\,\, d\,.\)

16

We want to compute the area of an ellipse, \((ax)^2+(by)^2=1\) for some (let's say positive) constants \(a\) and \(b\text<.>\)

  1. Solve the equation for the upper half of the ellipse. It should have the form “\(y=\cdots\)”
  2. Write an integral for the area of the upper half of the ellipse. Using properties of integrals, make the integrand look like the upper half of a circle.
  3. Using geometry and your answer to part (b), find the area of the ellipse.
17

Fill in the following table: the product of an (even/odd) function with an (even/odd) function is an (even/odd) function. You may assume that both functions are defined for all real numbers.

\(\times\) even odd
even
odd
18

Suppose \(f(x)\) is an odd function and \(g(x)\) is an even function, both defined at \(x=0\text<.>\) What are the possible values of \(f(0)\) and \(g(0)\text\)

19

Suppose \(f(x)\) is a function defined on all real numbers that is both even and odd. What could \(f(x)\) be?

20

Is the derivative of an even function even or odd? Is the derivative of an odd function even or odd?

  1. Now is a good time to look back at Theorem 1.1.5.
  2. We haven't done this in this course, but you should have seen it in your differential calculus course or perhaps even earlier.
  3. It is not too hard to use Riemann sums and a computer to evaluate it numerically: \(0.948025319\dots\text\) ,
  4. You know the graphs of sine and cosine, so you should be able to work this out without too much difficulty.

This page titled 1.2: Basic properties of the definite integral is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Joel Feldman, Andrew Rechnitzer and Elyse Yeager via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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