AP Calculus BC

Unit 6

Integration and Accumulation of Change

14 topics · 53 practice questions · Free response

Notes

Accumulation and Riemann sums

The area under a rate gives the accumulated change. If $r(t)$ is liters per minute, $\displaystyle \int_a^b r(t)\,dt$ is liters gained from $a$ to $b$.

  • Left, right and midpoint Riemann sums use rectangles; the trapezoidal sum uses trapezoids. Intervals can be unequal in a table.
  • For increasing $f$: left sums underestimate and right sums overestimate. For concave up $f$: the trapezoidal sum overestimates.
  • The definite integral is the limit of Riemann sums: $\displaystyle \int_a^b f(x)\,dx = \lim_{n \to \infty}\sum_{k=1}^{n} f(x_k)\Delta x$.

Properties

  • $\displaystyle \int_a^a f = 0$, $\displaystyle \int_b^a f = -\int_a^b f$, $\displaystyle \int_a^b f + \int_b^c f = \int_a^c f$.
  • Area below the axis counts as negative.

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

  • Part 1: $\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\int_a^x f(t)\,dt = f(x)$. With a chain: $\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\int_a^{g(x)} f(t)\,dt = f(g(x))g'(x)$.
  • Part 2: $\displaystyle \int_a^b f(x)\,dx = F(b) - F(a)$, where $F' = f$.
  • Accumulation: $\displaystyle f(b) = f(a) + \int_a^b f'(x)\,dx$.

Antiderivatives

$f(x)$$\int f(x)\,dx$
$x^n$, $n \ne -1$$\displaystyle \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} + C$
$\displaystyle \frac{1}{x}$$\lnx+ C$
$e^x$$e^x + C$
$\sin x$$-\cos x + C$
$\cos x$$\sin x + C$
$\sec^2 x$$\tan x + C$
$\displaystyle \frac{1}{1 + x^2}$$\tan^{-1}x + C$

u-substitution

Pick $u$ as an "inside" function whose derivative also appears. $\displaystyle \int 2x\cos(x^2)\,dx$: $u = x^2$, $du = 2x\,dx$, giving $\sin(x^2) + C$. For definite integrals, change the bounds to $u$-values.

BC only: more integration techniques

  • Integration by parts: $\displaystyle \int u\,dv = uv - \int v\,du$. Choose $u$ to get simpler when differentiated (logs, then polynomials, then trig and exponentials). Example: $\displaystyle \int xe^x\,dx = xe^x - e^x + C$.
  • Partial fractions (non-repeating linear factors): $\displaystyle \frac{1}{(x-1)(x+2)} = \frac{1/3}{x - 1} - \frac{1/3}{x + 2}$, then integrate each to a log.
  • Improper integrals: an infinite bound or an infinite discontinuity. Replace it with a limit: $\displaystyle \int_1^\infty \frac{1}{x^2}\,dx = \lim_{b \to \infty}\left(1 - \frac{1}{b}\right) = 1$, so it converges. $\displaystyle \int_1^\infty \frac{1}{x}\,dx$ diverges.

Topics in this unit

Each topic has its own short notes and practice.

Practice

Find $\displaystyle \int_1^3 (2x + 1)\,dx$.
Find $\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\int_2^{x} \sqrt{t^3 + 1}\,dt$.
Find $\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}\int_0^{x^2} \cos t\,dt$.
Find $\displaystyle \int 3x^2(x^3 + 1)^4\,dx$.
$f$ is increasing on $[0, 4]$. A left Riemann sum for $\displaystyle \int_0^4 f(x)\,dx$ is:
If $f(1) = 5$ and $\displaystyle \int_1^4 f'(x)\,dx = 7$, what is $f(4)$?
Find $\displaystyle \int \frac{1}{x}\,dx$ for $x > 0$.
Water flows into a tank at $r(t)$ liters per minute. What does $\displaystyle \int_0^{30} r(t)\,dt = 450$ mean?
(BC) Find $\displaystyle \int x\cos x\,dx$.
(BC) Evaluate $\displaystyle \int_1^\infty \frac{1}{x^3}\,dx$.
(BC) Find $\displaystyle \int \frac{1}{x^2 - 1}\,dx$.

Free response

Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.

Free-response question

The rate that people enter a museum is given by a table: $r(0) = 0$, $r(2) = 30$, $r(4) = 50$, $r(7) = 60$, with $t$ in hours and $r$ in people per hour.

(a) Use a trapezoidal sum with the three subintervals to approximate $\int_0^7 r(t)\,dt$.

Show the answer and scoring guide

$\displaystyle 2 \cdot \frac{0 + 30}{2} + 2 \cdot \frac{30 + 50}{2} + 3 \cdot \frac{50 + 60}{2} = 30 + 80 + 165 = 275$.

Check off the points you earned:

(b) Explain the meaning of $\int_0^7 r(t)\,dt$ in context.

Show the answer and scoring guide

It's the total number of people who entered the museum from $t = 0$ to $t = 7$ hours.

Check off the points you earned:

(c) Another model is $R(t) = 60 - 60e^{-0.3t}$. Write, but don't evaluate, an expression for the average rate of entry over $0 \le t \le 7$.

Show the answer and scoring guide

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{7}\int_0^7 \left(60 - 60e^{-0.3t}\right)dt$ people per hour.

Check off the points you earned: