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Exercise 202Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Integration › Riemann integralHigh schoolAdded 2 Nov 2026

Recognising antiderivatives

#antiderivatives#definite integrals#fundamental theorem

Statement

Compute
I1=∫121t2 dt,I2=∫e3dxxln⁡x,I3=∫12ex2x dx.I_1=\int_1^2\frac1{t^2}\,dt,\qquad I_2=\int_e^3\frac{dx}{x\ln x},\qquad I_3=\int_1^2\frac{e^{\sqrt x}}{2\sqrt x}\,dx.

Hint

Look for a function whose derivative is the integrand: −1t-\frac1t, ln⁡(ln⁡x)\ln(\ln x) and exe^{\sqrt x} are good candidates.

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Solution

Idea. By the fundamental theorem of calculus, ∫abf=F(b)−F(a)\int_a^bf=F(b)-F(a) for any antiderivative FF. The task is to *recognise* FF, which is the reverse of differentiating a composition.

I1I_1. (−1t)′=1t2\left(-\frac1t\right)'=\frac1{t^2}, so I1=[−1t]12=−12+1=12I_1=\left[-\frac1t\right]_1^2=-\frac12+1=\frac12.

I2I_2. (ln⁡(ln⁡x))′=1ln⁡x⋅1x(\ln(\ln x))'=\frac1{\ln x}\cdot\frac1x, so I2=[ln⁡(ln⁡x)]e3=ln⁡(ln⁡3)−ln⁡(ln⁡e)=ln⁡(ln⁡3)I_2=\bigl[\ln(\ln x)\bigr]_e^3=\ln(\ln3)-\ln(\ln e)=\ln(\ln3), because ln⁡e=1\ln e=1 and ln⁡1=0\ln1=0.

I3I_3. (ex)′=ex⋅12x\left(e^{\sqrt x}\right)'=e^{\sqrt x}\cdot\frac1{2\sqrt x}, so I3=[ex]12=e2−eI_3=\bigl[e^{\sqrt x}\bigr]_1^2=e^{\sqrt2}-e.

Pattern. In each case the integrand has the form u′ g(u)u'\,g(u): a chain rule read backwards.