The fundamental theorem of calculus, particularly part one, establishes a crucial link between derivatives and definite integrals. This theorem asserts that if a function \( f \) is continuous on an interval \([a, b]\), then the derivative of its antiderivative \( F \) is equal to the original function \( f \). In mathematical terms, this can be expressed as:
$$ \frac{d}{dx} \left( \int_{a}^{x} f(t) \, dt \right) = f(x) $$
Here, \( F(x) \) is the antiderivative of \( f(x) \), and the integral represents the area under the curve of \( f(t) \) from \( a \) to \( x \). The theorem essentially states that differentiating the integral of a function yields the function itself, demonstrating that differentiation and integration are inverse processes.
To apply this theorem, one must recognize that when taking the derivative of an integral, the variable of integration (often \( t \)) is replaced with the upper limit of integration (in this case, \( x \)). For example, if we have:
$$ y = \int_{a}^{x} f(t) \, dt $$
then the derivative \( \frac{dy}{dx} \) can be found simply by substituting \( t \) with \( x \), resulting in:
$$ \frac{dy}{dx} = f(x) $$
However, if the upper limit of the integral is a function of \( x \), such as \( g(x) \), the chain rule must be applied. The process involves two steps: first, replace \( t \) with \( g(x) \), and then multiply by the derivative of \( g(x) \). This can be expressed as:
$$ \frac{dy}{dx} = f(g(x)) \cdot g'(x) $$
For instance, if we have:
$$ y = \int_{5}^{x^2} f(t) \, dt $$
the derivative would be calculated as follows:
1. Replace \( t \) with \( x^2 \) to get \( f(x^2) \).
2. Multiply by the derivative of \( x^2 \), which is \( 2x \).
Thus, the final result would be:
$$ \frac{dy}{dx} = f(x^2) \cdot 2x $$
Understanding the fundamental theorem of calculus part one is essential for efficiently solving problems involving derivatives of integrals. It simplifies the process significantly, allowing for quick calculations without the need for lengthy integration followed by differentiation. Mastery of this concept will enhance your ability to tackle a variety of calculus problems effectively.