Calculus · real student question

Evaluate the integral of (x^3 + 6) with respect to x.

Question

Evaluate

(x3+6)dx\int \left(x^3+6\right)dx

Step-by-step solution

  1. Use linearity to separate the two terms.

    (x3+6)dx=x3dx+6dx\int\left(x^3+6\right)dx=\int x^3\,dx+\int 6\,dx

  2. State the power rule and apply it with n=3n=3.

    xndx=xn+1n+1+C(n1)\int x^n\,dx=\frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1}+C\quad(n\neq-1)

    x3dx=x44\int x^3\,dx=\frac{x^{4}}{4}

    The exponent goes up by one — a frequent slip is to lower it, which is the differentiation pattern instead.

  3. Integrate the constant term.

    6dx=6x\int 6\,dx=6x

  4. Write the general antiderivative. One constant covers the whole family:

    (x3+6)dx=x44+6x+C\int\left(x^3+6\right)dx=\frac{x^4}{4}+6x+C

  5. Verify by differentiating. ddx(x44+6x)=x3+6\tfrac{d}{dx}\left(\tfrac{x^4}{4}+6x\right)=x^3+6 \checkmark. Numerically at x=1.1x=1.1 the difference quotient gives 7.3317.331, and 1.13+6=7.3311.1^3+6=7.331 \checkmark.

Answer

(x3+6)dx=x44+6x+C\int \left(x^3+6\right)dx=\frac{x^4}{4}+6x+C

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