Chapter 25: Problem 27
Find antiderivatives of the given functions. $$f(x)=x^{2}-4+x^{-2}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
\( F(x) = \frac{x^3}{3} - 4x - x^{-1} + C \) is an antiderivative of \( f(x) = x^2 - 4 + x^{-2} \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Function
The function given is a combination of three power functions: \( f(x) = x^2 - 4 + x^{-2} \). We need to find antiderivatives for each term separately and then combine these results.
02
Use Antiderivative Rules
Recall the power rule for antiderivatives: \( \int x^n \, dx = \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} + C \) for \( n eq -1 \). We'll apply this rule to each term.
03
Find Antiderivative of Each Term
For \( x^2 \), the antiderivative is \( \frac{x^{2+1}}{2+1} = \frac{x^3}{3} \).For \( -4 \), the antiderivative is \( -4x \) (since the antiderivative of a constant \( c \) is \( cx + C \)).For \( x^{-2} \), the antiderivative is \( \frac{x^{-2+1}}{-2+1} = \frac{x^{-1}}{-1} = -x^{-1} \).
04
Combine the Antiderivatives
Combine the antiderivatives of each term:\( \int f(x) \, dx = \frac{x^3}{3} - 4x - x^{-1} + C \), where \( C \) is the constant of integration.
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Power Rule for Antiderivatives
The power rule is a fundamental tool for finding antiderivatives in calculus. It allows us to find an antiderivative for any function expressed as a power of x, as long as the power is not -1. Here’s how it works:
Remember, this rule does not work when \( n = -1 \), which is a peculiarity that requires a different approach, using the natural logarithm function.
- If you have a function like \( x^n \), the antiderivative can be found using: \[ \int x^n \, dx = \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} + C \] where \( C \) is the constant of integration, and \( n \) is any number except -1.
- This rule simplifies the process of finding antiderivatives by giving us a straightforward formula.
Remember, this rule does not work when \( n = -1 \), which is a peculiarity that requires a different approach, using the natural logarithm function.
Constant of Integration
Whenever you calculate an antiderivative, it's crucial to include a constant of integration, denoted by \( C \). But why do we need this constant term? Let’s explore:
- Antiderivatives represent a whole family of functions. The constant \( C \) accounts for all possible vertical shifts of the antiderivative. It indicates that there are infinite solutions differing by this constant value.
- In the function \( f(x) \), for instance, if we calculate \( \int (f(x)) \), it will add \( C \) to signal that each antiderivative is part of this larger set of solutions.
Step-by-Step Solution
Approaching calculus problems step-by-step can turn complex tasks into manageable parts. Let’s walk through finding the antiderivative for \( f(x) = x^2 - 4 + x^{-2} \) using this approach:
- Step 1: Break down the function \( f(x) = x^2 - 4 + x^{-2} \) into its components and focus on each one individually.
- Step 2: Apply the power rule for each term:
- For \( x^2 \): \( \int x^2 \, dx = \frac{x^3}{3} \).
- For the constant \( -4 \): Its antiderivative is \( -4x \) because the antiderivative of a constant \( c \) is \( cx + C \).
- For \( x^{-2} \): Using the power rule, we find \( \int x^{-2} \, dx = -x^{-1} \).