\(A(x)\) is sometimes called the cumulative area function. In the definition of \(A(x)\), we use \(t\) as the variable of integration to avoid confusion with \(x\), which is the upper limit of integration. In fact, \(t\) is a dummy variable and may be replaced by any other variable.

EXAMPLE 1

Find a formula for the area function \(\displaystyle A(x) = \int\limits_3^x t^2 dt\).

Solution The function \(F(t) = \tfrac13t^3\) is an antiderivative for \(f(t) = t^{2}\). By FTC I, \[ A(x) = \int\limits_3^x t^2 dt = F(x) - F(3) = \dfrac13 x^3 - \dfrac13 \cdot 3^3 = \dfrac13 x^3-9 \]

THEOREM 1 Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Part II

Assume that \(f(x)\) is continuous on an open interval \(I\) and let \(a \in I\). Then the area function \[ \boxed{\bbox[#FAF8ED,5pt]{\displaystyle A(x) = \int\limits_a^x f(t) \ dt}} \] is an antiderivative of \(f(x)\) on \(I\); that is, \(A'(x) = f(x)\). Equivalently, \[ \boxed{\bbox[#FAF8ED,5pt]{\displaystyle \dfrac{d}{dx} \int\limits_a^x f(t) \ dt = f(x)}} \] Furthermore, \(A(x)\) satisfies the initial condition \(A(a) = 0\).

Proof

First, we use the additivity property of the definite integral to write the change in \(A(x)\) over \([x, x + h]\) as an integral: \[ A(x+h) - A(x) = \int\limits_a^{x+h} f(t) dt - \int\limits_a^{x} f(t) dt = \int\limits_x^{x+h}f(t) dt \] In other words, \(A(x + h) -A(x)\) is equal to the area of the thin sliver between the graph and the \(x\)-axis from \(x\) to \(x + h\) in Figure 5.37.

Figure 5.37: The area of the thin sliver equals \(A(x + h) -A(x)\).

Figure 5.38: The area of the shaded region is between the areas of the rectangles of width \(h\) and heights \(f(x)\) and \(f(x + h)\) respectively.

To simplify the rest of the proof, we assume that \(f(x)\) is increasing (see Exercise 50 for the general case). Then, if \(h > 0\), the area of this thin sliver lies between the areas of the two rectangles of width \(h\) and heights \(f(x)\) and \(f(x + h)\) in Figure 5.38, and we have \[ \underbrace{h \cdot f(x)}_{\text{Area of smaller rectangle}} \leq \underbrace{A(x+h) - A(x)}_{\text{Area of thin sliver}} \leq \underbrace{h \cdot f(x+h)}_{\text{Area of larger rectangle}} \]

Now divide by \(h\) to squeeze the difference quotient between \(f(x)\) and \(f(x + h)\): \[ f(x) \leq \dfrac{A(x+h) - A(x)}{h} \leq f(x+h) \] We have \(\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0^+} f(x+h) = f(x)\) because \(f(x)\) is continuous, and \(\lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0^+} f(x) = f(x)\), so the Squeeze Theorem gives us \[ \lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0^+} \dfrac{A(x+h) - A(x)}{h} = f(x)\tag{1} \] A similar argument shows that for \(h < 0\), \[ f(x+h) \leq \dfrac{A(x+h) - A(x)}{h} \leq f(x) \] Again, the Squeeze Theorem gives us \[ \lim\limits_{h \rightarrow 0^-} \dfrac{A(x+h) - A(x)}{h} = f(x)\tag{2} \] Equations (1) and (2) show that \(A'(x)\) exists and \(A'(x) = f(x)\).

CONCEPTUAL INSIGHT

Many applications (in the sciences, engineering, and statistics) involve functions for which there is no explicit formula. Often, however, these functions can be expressed as definite integrals (or as infinite series). This enables us to compute their values numerically and create plots using a computer algebra system. Figure 5.39 shows a computer-generated graph of an antiderivative of \(f(x) = \sin(x^{2})\), for which there is no explicit formula.

Figure 5.39: Computer-generated graph of \(\displaystyle F(x) = \int\limits_{-\sqrt\pi}^x\sin(t^2)dt\).

EXAMPLE 2 Antiderivative as an Integral

Let \(F(x)\) be the particular antiderivative of \(f(x) = \sin (x^{2})\) satisfying \(F(-\sqrt\pi) = 0\). Express \(F(x)\) as an integral.

Solution According to FTC II, the area function with lower limit \(a=-\sqrt\pi\) is an anti-derivative satisfying \(F(-\sqrt\pi) = 0\): \[ F(x) = \int\limits_{-\sqrt\pi}^x\sin(t^2)dt \]

EXAMPLE 3 Differentiating an Integral

Find the derivative of \[ A(x) = \int\limits_2^x \sqrt{1+t^3}dt \] and calculate \(A'(2)\), \(A'(3)\), and \(A(2)\).

Solution By FTC II, \(A'(x) = \sqrt{1+x^3}\). In particular, \[ A'(2) = \sqrt{1+2^3} = 3 \quad\text{and}\quad A'(3) = \sqrt{1+3^3} = \sqrt{28} \] On the other hand, \(\displaystyle A(2) = \int\limits_2^2 \sqrt{1+t^3} dt= 0\).

CONCEPTUAL INSIGHT

The FTC shows that integration and differentiation are inverse operations. By FTC II, if you start with a continuous function \(f(x)\) and form the integral \(\int_a^xf(t)dt\), then you get back the original function by differentiating: \[ f(x) \xrightarrow{\text{Integrate}}\int\limits_a^xf(t)dt \xrightarrow{\text{Differentiate}} \dfrac{d}{dx} \int\limits_a^xf(t)dt = f(x) \] On the other hand, by FTC I, if you differentiate first and then integrate, you also recover \(f(x)\) [but only up to a constant \(f(a)\)]: \[ f(x) \xrightarrow{\text{Differentiate}} f'(x) \xrightarrow{\text{Integrate}} \int\limits_a^xf'(t)dt = f(x) - f(a) \]

EXAMPLE 4 The FTC and the Chain Rule

Find the derivative of \[ G(x) = \int\limits_{-2}^{x^2} \sin t \ dt \]

Solution FTC II does not apply directly because the upper limit is \(x^{2}\) rather than \(x\). It is necessary to recognize that \(G(x)\) is a composite function with outer function \(A(x) =\int \limits_{-2}^x \sin t \ dt \): \[ G(x) = A(x^2) = \int \limits_{-2}^{x^2} \sin t dt \] FTC II tells us that \(A'(x) = \sin x\), so by the Chain Rule, \[ G'(x) = A'(x^{2}) \cdot (x^{2})' = \sin(x^{2}) \cdot (2x) = 2x \sin(x^{2}) \] Alternatively, we may set \(u = x^{2}\) and use the Chain Rule as follows: \[ \dfrac{dG}{dx} = \dfrac{d}{dx} \int\limits_{-2}^{x^2} \sin t dt = \left(\dfrac{d}{du}\int\limits_{-2}^{u} \sin t dt\right) \dfrac{du}{dx} = (\sin u)2x = 2x\sin(x^2) \]

GRAPHICAL INSIGHT: Another Tale of Two Graphs

FTC II tells us that \(A'(x) = f(x)\), or, in other words, \(f(x)\) is the rate of change of \(A(x)\). If we did not know this result, we might come to suspect it by comparing the graphs of \(A(x)\) and \(f(x)\). Consider the following:

• Figure 5.40 below shows that the increase in area \(\Delta A\) for a given \(\Delta x\) is larger at \(x_{2}\) than at \(x_{1}\) because \(f(x_{2}) > f(x_{1})\). So the size of \(f(x)\) determines how quickly \(A(x)\) changes, as we would expect if \(A'(x) = f(x)\).
  

  Figure 5.40: The change in area \(\Delta A\) for a given \(\Delta x\) is larger when \(f(x)\) is larger.
• Figure 5.1 below shows that the sign of \(f(x)\) determines whether \(A(x)\) is increasing or decreasing. If \(f(x) > 0\), then \(A(x)\) is increasing because positive area is added as we move to the right. When \(f(x)\) turns negative, \(A(x)\) begins to decrease because we start adding negative area.
  

  Figure 5.41: The sign of \(f(x)\) determines the increasing/decreasing behavior of \(A(x)\).
• \(A(x)\) has a local max at points where \(f(x)\) changes sign from \(+\) to \(-\) (the points where the area turns negative), and has a local min when \(f(x)\) changes from \(-\) to \(+\). This agrees with the First Derivative Test.

These observations show that \(f(x)\) “behaves” like \(A'(x)\), as claimed by FTC II.