Frequently Asked Questions about the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (FTC) is a cornerstone of calculus that establishes a crucial connection between the two main operations: differentiation and integration. It essentially shows that integration and differentiation are inverse processes.
The theorem is usually presented in two parts.
Part 1 (sometimes called the First FTC): If F(x) is defined as the integral of a continuous function f(t) from a constant 'a' to a variable 'x', i.e., F(x) = ∫ax f(t) dt, then the derivative of F(x) with respect to x is the original function f(x). Symbolically: d/dx [∫ax f(t) dt] = f(x).
Part 2 (sometimes called the Second FTC): If F is any antiderivative of a continuous function f on an interval [a, b], then the definite integral of f from a to b is equal to the difference in the values of F at the limits of integration. Symbolically: ∫ab f(x) dx = F(b) - F(a).
The most common application is using Part 2 to evaluate definite integrals. Instead of using complex Riemann sums, you just need to find an antiderivative of the function and subtract its value at the lower limit from its value at the upper limit. Part 1 is used to find the derivative of a function defined as an integral.
It is fundamental because it links differentiation (calculating rates of change, slopes) and integration (calculating accumulation, areas). Before the FTC, these were seen as separate problems. The theorem provides a powerful, efficient way to calculate definite integrals using antiderivatives, revolutionizing the practical application of calculus in science and engineering.
While parts of the relationship were known earlier, Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz are generally credited with independently developing the full theorem and establishing calculus as a systematic mathematical discipline in the late 17th century.
