Q.Evaluate the definite integral: ∫12(4x3−5x2+6x+9) dx
Concept understanding — Power Rule Integration
The Power Rule for Integration
Integration reverses differentiation: given a rate of change, it recovers the original function. When you differentiate xn you get nxn−1 — the exponent drops by one and multiplies in front. To integrate you do the opposite: raise the exponent by one and divide by the new exponent. That is the whole idea.
The statement
∫xndx=n+1xn+1+C,n=−1
- n may be any real number except −1 (fractions, negatives and 0 all work).
- C is the constant of integration — shifting a graph up or down does not change its slope, so infinitely many functions share the same derivative.
Why it works
Differentiate the answer and you should get back the integrand:
dxd(n+1xn+1+C)=n+1(n+1)xn=xn.
That one line is the proof.
Using it
∫x3dx=4x4+C,∫xdx=∫x1/2dx=3/2x3/2+C=32x3/2+C.
For a polynomial, apply it term by term:
∫(5x3−2x+7)dx=45x4−x2+7x+C.
The one exception: n=−1
The formula needs n+1=0. For n=−1 it would divide by zero, so a different result takes over:
∫x1dx=log∣x∣+C.
The absolute value keeps the logarithm defined for negative x as well.
The commonest slip is forgetting to divide by the new exponent — writing ∫x3dx=x4+C. Check by differentiating: dxdx4=4x3, not x3, so you must divide by 4.
The power rule for integration is the very first formula taught in the NCERT Class 12 Integrals chapter and underlies nearly every subsequent integration technique in CBSE boards and JEE Main. Students searching 'power rule of integration class 12 formula' or 'integration of xn examples' will find this raise-the-exponent-and-divide method, along with its log|x| exception at n = -1, is exactly what board exams test first.
Concept: Definite Integral — Power Rule & Linear Combination
We integrate term-by-term using ∫xndx=n+1xn+1 and then evaluate from 1 to 2.
Step 1: Find the antiderivative
∫(4x3−5x2+6x+9)dx=4⋅4x4−5⋅3x3+6⋅2x2+9x=x4−35x3+3x2+9x.
Step 2: Evaluate at the limits
At x=2:
24−35(8)+3(4)+18=16−340+12+18=46−340=3138−40=398.
At x=1:
1−35+3+9=13−35=339−5=334.
Step 3: Subtract
398−334=364.
The value is 364.
Apply the power rule term by term and evaluate between the limits. The value is 364.
Step-by-step solution
1. Find the antiderivative.
F(x)=∫(4x3−5x2+6x+9)dx=x4−35x3+3x2+9x.
2. Evaluate at the upper limit x=2.
F(2)=16−35(8)+3(4)+18=46−340=398.
3. Evaluate at the lower limit x=1.
F(1)=1−35(1)+3(1)+9=13−35=334.
4. Subtract.
∫12(4x3−5x2+6x+9)dx=F(2)−F(1)=398−334=364.
∫12(4x3−5x2+6x+9)dx=364
Method: Definite integral of a polynomial (term-by-term power rule)
Integrate each power of x separately, then evaluate F(b)−F(a).
Steps
Step 1: Apply ∫xndx=n+1xn+1 to every term.
For 4x3−5x2+6x+9: F(x)=x4−35x3+3x2+9x.
Step 2: Form the evaluation bracket [F(x)]ab.
Step 3: Substitute the upper and lower limits and subtract, keeping fractions exact.
Step 4: Combine to a single value. No +C for a definite integral; a common denominator tidies the fractions.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Antiderivative of −5x2 taken as −5x3 (forgetting ÷3).
Why it's wrong: ∫−5x2dx=−35x3. Correct approach: divide by the new exponent.
Mistake 2: Antiderivative of the constant 9 dropped.
Why it's wrong: ∫9dx=9x, a real contribution. Correct approach: integrate constants to 9x.
Mistake 3: Arithmetic slip in F(2)−F(1) with mixed fractions.
Why it's wrong: careless subtraction gives a wrong number. Correct approach: convert to a common denominator, e.g. 398−334=364.
Showing the 12 most recent of 41 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.∫14xdx=(a) 1(b) −2(c) 2(d) −1
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫14xdx=[2x]14=4−2=2.
Since ∫x−1/2dx=2x, evaluate between the limits:
[2x]14=24−21=2⋅2−2⋅1=4−2=2.
✓Final answer(C) 2.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the anti-derivative of 3x2+4x3.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the power rule for integration to each term separately.
∫(3x2+4x3)dx=3∫x2dx+4∫x3dx
=3⋅3x3+4⋅4x4+C
=x3+x4+C
Check by differentiating: dxd(x3+x4+C)=3x2+4x3 ✓, matching the integrand.
✓Final answerx3+x4+C
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the answer in one word/sentence: Write the value of ∫13dx.
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫13dx=[x]13=3−1=2.
∫13dx=[x]13=3−1=2.
✓Final answer2.
- CBSE 2025Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.If ∫x221/xdx=k⋅21/x+C, then k is equal to (A) log2−1 (B) −log2 (C) −1 (D) 21
›Reveal solutionSolution
This problem asks for the coefficient k in a given integral expression. We solve it by applying integration by parts to the left-hand side and comparing the resulting elementary term with the given form. The value of k is −1.
The problem asks us to find the value of k given the equation ∫x22xdx=k⋅2xx1+C. The integral ∫x22xdx is a non-elementary integral, meaning it cannot be expressed in terms of elementary functions (polynomials, exponentials, logarithms, trigonometric functions).
In such problems, the given form k⋅2xx1+C usually represents the elementary part obtained from a single application of integration by parts, with the remaining non-elementary integral implicitly absorbed or ignored for the purpose of finding k. Our strategy will be to perform integration by parts on the left-hand side and then compare the resulting elementary term with k⋅2xx1.
-
Recall the Integration by Parts Formula:
The integration by parts formula is given by:
∫udv=uv−∫vdu
The key is to choose u and dv such that uv matches the desired form k⋅2xx1 and ∫vdu is either simpler or the non-elementary part.
-
Choose u and dv for the integral ∫x22xdx:
We have the integrand x22x=2x⋅x−2.
To obtain a term like 2xx1 in the uv part, we should choose dv such that v involves x1.
Let's choose:
- dv=x−2dx
- u=2x
Now, we find v and du:
- v=∫x−2dx=−x−1=−x1
- du=dxd(2x)dx=2xlog2dx (Recall that dxd(ax)=axloga)
-
Apply Integration by Parts:
Substitute these into the formula ∫udv=uv−∫vdu:
∫x22xdx=(2x)(−x1)−∫(−x1)(2xlog2)dx
∫x22xdx=−x2x−∫(−x2xlog2)dx
∫x22xdx=−x2x+log2∫x2xdx
- Compare with the given form: We are given that ∫x22xdx=k⋅2xx1+C. From our integration by parts, we found:
∫x22xdx=−x2x+log2∫x2xdx
Comparing the elementary term involving $2^x \frac{1}{x}$: The term from our calculation is $-\frac{2^x}{x}$. The term given in the problem is $k \cdot 2^x \frac{1}{x}$. Therefore, we can equate these terms:k⋅2xx1=−x2x
Dividing both sides by $\frac{2^x}{x}$ (which is non-zero for $x \neq 0$), we get:k=−1
> [!WARNING] > A common mistake is to assume that the entire integral is exactly equal to $k \cdot 2^x \frac{1}{x} + C$. If this were true, differentiating $k \cdot 2^x \frac{1}{x} + C$ would yield $\frac{2^x}{x^2}$. However, $\frac{d}{dx} \left( k \cdot 2^x \frac{1}{x} \right) = k \cdot 2^x \left( \frac{\log 2}{x} - \frac{1}{x^2} \right)$. Equating this to $\frac{2^x}{x^2}$ leads to a contradiction ($1+k = kx \log 2$, which cannot hold for all $x$). This confirms that the problem implicitly asks for the coefficient of the elementary part obtained from the first step of integration by parts, with the remaining non-elementary integral (here, $\log 2 \int \frac{2^x}{x} dx$) not being part of the $k \cdot 2^x \frac{1}{x}$ term.The value of k is −1.
✓Final answerThe value of k is −1.
-
- CBSE 2025Set X11 markQ.The value of ∫7131dx= __________.
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫7131dx equals the interval length 13−7=6.
Concept: The definite integral of the constant function 1 over [a,b] equals b−a.
Step 1 — Antiderivative.
∫1dx=x.
Step 2 — Apply limits.
∫7131dx=[x]713=13−7=6.
✓Final answer6
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate ∫x21−x3dx.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Split the integrand into two power-of-x terms and integrate termwise.
∫x21−x3dx=∫(x−2−x)dx=−x−1−2x2+c=−x1−2x2+c
✓Final answer−x1−2x2+c
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.∫013x2dx=(a) 3(b) 31(c) 1(d) 91
›Reveal solutionSolution
Integrate the power and apply the limits; the value is 1.
∫013x2dx=3⋅3x301=[x3]01=13−03=1.
✓Final answer(C) 1.
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.∫xm⋅xndx=(a) m+n+2xm+1⋅xn+1+k(b) m+nxm+n+k(c) m+n+1xm+n+1+k(d) (m+n)xm+n−1+k
›Reveal solutionSolution
xm⋅xn=xm+n, and ∫xm+ndx=m+n+1xm+n+1+k.
Add the exponents:
xm⋅xn=xm+n.
Using the power rule ∫xpdx=p+1xp+1+k with p=m+n:
∫xm+ndx=m+n+1xm+n+1+k.
✓Final answer(C) m+n+1xm+n+1+k.
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.∫xx+2x+x(x+1)2dx=(a) x+k(b) 21x+k(c) 2x+k(d) 2x+k
›Reveal solutionSolution
The integrand simplifies to x1, whose integral is 2x+k.
Factor the denominator:
xx+2x+x=x(x+2x+1)=x(x+1)2.
So the integrand is
x(x+1)2(x+1)2=x1.
Therefore
∫xdx=2x+k.
✓Final answer(C) 2x+k.
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.∫0axdx=(a) 2x(b) 2a(c) x(d) a
›Reveal solutionSolution
∫0ax−1/2dx=[2x]0a=2a.
Use the power rule ∫x−1/2dx=2x1/2=2x. Evaluating the definite integral:
∫0axdx=[2x]0a=2a−0=2a.
✓Final answer(B) 2a.
- CBSE 2025Set E1 markMCQQ.2∫19xdx=(a) 8(b) 4(c) 2(d) 12
›Reveal solutionSolution
2[2x]19=2(2⋅3−2⋅1)=2⋅4=8.
Use ∫x−1/2dx=2x:
2∫19xdx=2[2x]19=2(29−21)=2(6−2)=8.
✓Final answer(A) 8.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.∫x5/3dx=(a) 53x2/3+c(b) 38x8/3+c(c) 83x8/3+c(d) 35x8/3+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the standard power rule for integration, ∫xndx=n+1xn+1+c.
∫x5/3dx=5/3+1x5/3+1+c=8/3x8/3+c=83x8/3+c
✓Final answer(c) 83x8/3+c.
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