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.
- KCET 2024Set A-11 markMCQQ.∫sin2xsin25xdx= (A) 2x+sinx+2sin2x+C (B) x+2sinx+2sin2x+C (C) x+2sinx+sin2x+C (D) 2x+sinx+sin2x+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
Kill the awkward sin(x/2) in the denominator by expanding sin(5x/2) with the product-to-sum identity — the ratio becomes a plain cosine sum.
Step 1 — The key identity (and why it works)
We want to show, with θ=2x:
sinθsin5θ=1+2cos2θ+2cos4θ
Multiply the right side by sinθ and use 2cosAsinB=sin(A+B)−sin(A−B):
- sinθ⋅1=sinθ
- 2cos2θsinθ=sin3θ−sinθ
- 2cos4θsinθ=sin5θ−sin3θ
Add them — the sinθ and sin3θ terms telescope away:
sinθ+(sin3θ−sinθ)+(sin5θ−sin3θ)=sin5θ✓
Step 2 — Rewrite the integrand
With θ=2x, so 2θ=x and 4θ=2x:
sin2xsin25x=1+2cosx+2cos2x
The quotient — which looked like it needed a substitution — is just a polynomial in cosines. That is the whole trick.
Step 3 — Integrate term by term
∫(1+2cosx+2cos2x)dx=x+2sinx+2⋅2sin2x+C
=x+2sinx+sin2x+C
Note the 21 from ∫cos2xdx=2sin2x — it cancels the coefficient 2, so the last term is sin2x, not 2sin2x. That distinction is exactly what separates (C) from (B).
Step 4 — Verify by differentiating
dxd[x+2sinx+sin2x]=1+2cosx+2cos2x✓
which is the integrand from Step 2.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — x+2sinx+sin2x+C.
ANSWER: C
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-E1 markMCQQ.If a is a real number such that ∫0axdx≤a+4 then (A) −2≤a≤0 (B) 0≤a≤4 (C) −2≤a≤4 (D) a≤−2 or a≥4
›Reveal solutionSolution
The inequality ∫0axdx≤a+4 simplifies to 2a2≤a+4, which is a quadratic inequality whose solution is −2≤a≤4. The correct option is (C).
We start with the given inequality involving a definite integral. The key is to evaluate the integral, then solve the resulting quadratic inequality. This is a classic "evaluate, then solve" problem — no tricks, just careful algebra.
- Evaluate the integral. The integral ∫0axdx is the area under the line y=x from 0 to a. Its value is
∫0axdx=[2x2]0a=2a2.
This holds for any real a (if a<0, the integral gives a negative area, which is fine).
- Set up the inequality. The problem states
2a2≤a+4.
Multiply both sides by 2 (positive, so inequality direction stays the same):
a2≤2a+8.
- Rearrange into standard quadratic form. Bring all terms to one side:
a2−2a−8≤0.
- Factor the quadratic. We look for two numbers that multiply to −8 and add to −2: those are −4 and +2. So
a2−2a−8=(a−4)(a+2).
Thus the inequality becomes
(a−4)(a+2)≤0.
-
Solve the product inequality.
The product of two factors is ≤0 when one factor is non-positive and the other non-negative. The critical points are a=−2 and a=4. Testing intervals:
- For a<−2: both (a−4) and (a+2) are negative, product positive → not ≤0.
- For −2≤a≤4: (a+2)≥0 and (a−4)≤0, product ≤0 → satisfies.
- For a>4: both factors positive, product positive → not ≤0.
Hence the solution is
−2≤a≤4.
TipA common mistake is forgetting that the integral ∫0axdx equals 2a2 even when a is negative. The formula works for all real a, so no special cases are needed.
Watch outSome students might incorrectly treat the integral as 2a2 only for a≥0, but the fundamental theorem of calculus applies for any real a — the antiderivative is 2x2, and plugging in a and 0 works regardless of sign.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- KCET 2023Set A-21 markMCQQ.∫cscx−sinx dx= (A) 2sinx+C (B) 2sinx+C (C) sinx2+C (D) sinx+C
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to rewrite cscx−sinx in terms of sinx and cosx, simplify using trigonometric identities, and then integrate using a standard substitution. The final result is 2sinx+C, which corresponds to option (B).
The problem asks for the indefinite integral of cscx−sinx. At first glance, the expression inside the square root looks messy — cosecant minus sine. But the moment you see cscx, you should think: write everything in terms of sinx and cosx. That’s almost always the first step when dealing with trigonometric integrals in Indian exams. Once you do that, the expression often simplifies to something you can integrate directly.
Let’s go through it step by step.
- Rewrite the integrand in terms of sine and cosine. Recall that cscx=sinx1. So
cscx−sinx=sinx1−sinx=sinx1−sin2x.
Using the identity sin2x+cos2x=1, we have 1−sin2x=cos2x. Therefore
cscx−sinx=sinxcos2x.
- Take the square root.
cscx−sinx=sinxcos2x=sinx∣cosx∣.
In indefinite integration, we typically work over intervals where cosx≥0 (e.g., 0<x<2π) so that ∣cosx∣=cosx. The constant C will absorb any sign adjustments for other intervals. So we take
cscx−sinx=sinxcosx.
- Set up the integral.
I=∫sinxcosxdx.
- Use substitution. Let t=sinx. Then dt=cosxdx. The integral becomes
I=∫t1dt=∫t−1/2dt.
- Integrate.
∫t−1/2dt=1/2t1/2+C=2t+C.
- Substitute back. Since t=sinx, we get
I=2sinx+C.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget the factor of 2 when integrating t−1/2. Remember: ∫tndt=n+1tn+1, and here n=−1/2, so n+1=1/2, and dividing by 1/2 multiplies by 2.
TipIf you ever see an integrand like sinxcosx, the substitution t=sinx is almost always the fastest path. The derivative of sinx is cosx, which is sitting right there in the numerator.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B): 2sinx+C.
- KCET 2019Set A-11 markMCQQ.∫02[x2]dx= (A) 5−2−3 (B) 5+2−3 (C) 5−2+3 (D) −5−2−3
›Reveal solutionSolution
[x2] is a step function that jumps where x2 crosses an integer — at x=1,2,3 on [0,2]. Summing (height × width) over each piece gives 5−2−3, option (A).
The greatest-integer function [x2] is piecewise constant: it changes value only where x2 hits an integer. So the integral is a sum of rectangles, each of height equal to that integer and width equal to the length of the interval where x2 stays between consecutive integers.
-
Find the breakpoints.
x2=n gives x=n. For n=1,2,3,4 we get x=1,2,3,2, so the interval splits as 0<1<2<3<2.
-
Value of [x2] on each piece.
- [0,1): 0≤x2<1⇒[x2]=0
- [1,2): 1≤x2<2⇒[x2]=1
- [2,3): 2≤x2<3⇒[x2]=2
- [3,2): 3≤x2<4⇒[x2]=3
Watch outAt the single point x=2, x2=4 so [x2]=4, but one isolated point has zero width and does not affect the integral. Use [x2]=3 across [3,2).
-
Write the integral as a sum.
∫02[x2]dx=0(1−0)+1(2−1)+2(3−2)+3(2−3)
- Simplify.
=(2−1)+23−22+6−33
Combining: 2−22=−2, 23−33=−3, and −1+6=5, so
∫02[x2]dx=5−2−3
TipSanity check: 5−2−3≈1.85, a little less than ∫02x2dx=38≈2.67 — exactly as expected, since [x2]≤x2. Splitting at integer crossings is the standard method for greatest-integer integrals in NCERT Class 12 Mathematics and KCET papers.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A): 5−2−3.
-
- KCET 2018Set A-11 markMCQQ.∫esinx⋅(secxsinx+1)dx is equal to (A) sinx⋅esinx+c (B) cosx⋅esinx+c (C) esinx+c (D) esinx(sinx+1)+c
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rewrite 1/secx as cosx, substitute t=sinx, and recognise ∫et[f(t)+f′(t)]dt=etf(t)+c.
Step 1 — Clean up the integrand.
secx1=cosx⟹I=∫esinx(sinx+1)cosxdx
That lone cosx is the signal: it is exactly the derivative of sinx, so a substitution is available.
Step 2 — Substitute.
Let t=sinx⇒dt=cosxdx. Then
I=∫et(t+1)dt
Step 3 — Use the standard exponential form.
The standard result is
∫et[f(t)+f′(t)]dt=etf(t)+c
Here the bracket is (t+1). Take f(t)=t; then f′(t)=1 and indeed f(t)+f′(t)=t+1. ✓ Hence
I=et⋅t+c
(Same result by parts: ∫tetdt=tet−et, and ∫etdt=et; adding, the −et and +et cancel, leaving tet.)
Step 4 — Back-substitute.
I=sinxesinx+c
Step 5 — Verify by differentiating.
dxd(sinxesinx)=cosxesinx+sinxesinxcosx=esinxcosx(1+sinx)✓
This is the original integrand, confirming (A).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (A) — sinx⋅esinx+c.
ANSWER: A
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