Indefinite integral is the operation, inverse to the differentiation. So, the task of indefinite integration defined very simple: given the function f(x), find function F(x) such as:
F'(x) = f(x) (1)
Note, that relation (1) will not change, if one adds to the function F(x) some arbitrary constant:
(F(x) + Const)' = F'(x) + (Const)' = F'(x) + 0 = f(x),
because its derivative equals to zero. Hence, indefinite integral is defined to arbitrary constant.
Indefinite integral of the given function f(x) is called set of all its antiderivatives.
∫ f(x) dx=F(x) +Const (2)
In the equation (2):
∫
- indefinite integral symbol,
f(x)
- integrand (subintegral function),
dx
- differential,
F(x)
- antiderivative (for function
f(x)),
Const
- arbitrary constant.
To get primitives table one need to read the derivatives table from right to left. For instance, it is known that:
(sin(x))'= cos(x)
then:
∫ cos(x) dx=sin(x)+Const