Finding Antiderivatives and Indefinite Integrals

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AP Calculus BC › Finding Antiderivatives and Indefinite Integrals

Questions 1 - 10
1

A particle’s velocity is $v(t)=6t^2-4t+9$ meters per second; which function is an antiderivative of $v(t)$?

$2t^3-4t^2+9t+C$

$2t^3-2t^2+9t$

$12t-4+9+C$

$6t^3-4t^2+9t+C$

$2t^3-2t^2+9t+C$

Explanation

Finding antiderivatives involves applying basic integration rules to reverse the process of differentiation. To find the antiderivative of $v(t) = 6t^2 - 4t + 9$, integrate each term separately by increasing the exponent by one and dividing by the new exponent. The integral of $6t^2$ is $2t^3$, the integral of $-4t$ is $-2t^2$, and the integral of 9 is $9t$, resulting in $2t^3 - 2t^2 + 9t + C$. This reverses differentiation because differentiating $2t^3 - 2t^2 + 9t + C$ yields back $6t^2 - 4t + 9$. A tempting distractor like choice E fails because it uses $-4t^2$ instead of $-2t^2$, which comes from incorrectly integrating $-4t$ without dividing by 2. Always remember to add the constant of integration (C) and verify by differentiating the result.

2

The derivative of a model is $f'(x)=2\cos x+5$; which function is an antiderivative of $f'(x)$?

$2\sin x+5x+C$

$2\sin x+5+C$

$2\cos x+5+C$

$2\sin x+5x$

$-2\sin x+5x+C$

Explanation

Finding antiderivatives involves applying basic integration rules to reverse the process of differentiation. To find the antiderivative of (f'(x) = 2cos x + 5), recall that the integral of (cos x) is (sin x) and of a constant is the variable times that constant. The integral is (2sin x + 5x + C). This reverses differentiation since the derivative of (2sin x + 5x + C) is (2cos x + 5). A tempting distractor like choice D fails because it uses (-2sin x) instead of (2sin x), confusing the integral of cosine with negative sine. Always remember to add the constant of integration (C) and verify by differentiating the result.

3

The rate of change of temperature is $T'(t)=7t^{-2}+4$; which function could be $T(t)$?

$-7t^{-1}+4t+C$

$7t^{-2}+4+C$

$-14t^{-1}+4t+C$

$7t^{-1}+4t+C$

$-7t^{-1}+4t$

Explanation

Finding antiderivatives involves applying basic integration rules to reverse the process of differentiation. To find the antiderivative of (T'(t) = $7t^{-2}$ + 4), integrate term by term by adding one to each exponent and dividing by the new exponent. The integral of $(7t^{-2}$) is $(-7t^{-1}$), and the integral of 4 is (4t), giving $(-7t^{-1}$ + 4t + C). This reverses differentiation since differentiating $(-7t^{-1}$ + 4t + C) returns $(7t^{-2}$ + 4). A tempting distractor like choice B fails because it omits the negative sign from integrating $(t^{-2}$), which should produce a -1 in the denominator. Always remember to add the constant of integration (C) and verify by differentiating the result.

4

A spring’s force is $F(x)=12x^{1/2}-5$ newtons; which function is an antiderivative of $F(x)$?

$24x^{-1/2}-5+C$

$8x^{1/2}-5x+C$

$12x^{3/2}-5x+C$

$8x^{3/2}-5x+C$

$8x^{3/2}-5x$

Explanation

Finding antiderivatives involves applying basic integration rules to reverse the process of differentiation. To find the antiderivative of $F(x) = 12x^{1/2} - 5$, integrate each term by increasing the power by one and dividing by the new power. The integral of $12x^{1/2}$ is $8x^{3/2}$, and the integral of -5 is $-5x$, yielding $8x^{3/2} - 5x + C$. This reverses differentiation as the derivative of $8x^{3/2} - 5x + C$ is $12x^{1/2} - 5$. A tempting distractor like choice D fails because it uses 12 instead of 8 for the coefficient, forgetting to divide by $3/2$ properly. Always remember to add the constant of integration (C) and verify by differentiating the result.

5

A tank fills at rate $r(t)=8-2t^{-3}$ liters per minute; which function is an antiderivative of $r(t)$?

$8t-t^{-2}+C$

$8t+2t^{-2}+C$

$8t+t^{-2}$

$8t+t^{-2}+C$

$8-2t^{-3}+C$

Explanation

Finding antiderivatives involves applying basic integration rules to reverse the process of differentiation. To find the antiderivative of (r(t) = 8 - $2t^{-3}$), integrate each term by adding one to the exponent and dividing by the new exponent. The integral of 8 is (8t), and the integral of $(-2t^{-3}$) is $(t^{-2}$), resulting in (8t + $t^{-2}$ + C). This reverses differentiation because differentiating (8t + $t^{-2}$ + C) gives back (8 - $2t^{-3}$). A tempting distractor like choice B fails because it incorrectly assigns a negative sign to $(t^{-2}$), mishandling the integration of the negative coefficient. Always remember to add the constant of integration (C) and verify by differentiating the result.

6

The rate of change of revenue is $R'(x)=3x^{2/3}-12x^{-1/3}$. Which is an antiderivative of $R'(x)$?

$2x^{-1/3}+4x^{-4/3}+C$

$\dfrac{9}{5}x^{5/3}-36x^{2/3}+C$

$x^{5/3}-18x^{2/3}+C$

$\dfrac{9}{5}x^{5/3}-18x^{2/3}$

$\dfrac{9}{5}x^{5/3}-18x^{2/3}+C$

Explanation

This problem tests basic antiderivative reasoning skills. The antiderivative of $R'(x) = 3x^{2/3} - 12x^{-1/3}$ involves reversing differentiation with fractional powers. For $3x^{2/3}$, add 1 to get $5/3$, divide by $5/3$, resulting in $\dfrac{9}{5}x^{5/3}$. For $-12x^{-1/3}$, add 1 to get $2/3$, divide by $2/3$, yielding $-18x^{2/3}$. Choice C fails by doubling to $-36x^{2/3}$, mishandling the coefficient. Convert all terms to exponents and carefully compute new coefficients as a reliable strategy, adding $+C$.

7

The marginal cost is $C'(x)=9x^2+8x^{-1/2}$. Which expression is an antiderivative of $C'(x)$?​

$18x+4x^{-3/2}$

$3x^3+16x^{1/2}+C$

$9x^3+16x^{1/2}+C$

$3x^3+16x^{1/2}$

$3x^3+4x^{1/2}+C$

Explanation

This question requires finding an antiderivative by applying the power rule to each term separately. For C'(x) = 9x² + 8x⁻¹/², we integrate term by term: ∫9x² dx = 9x³/3 = 3x³, and ∫8x⁻¹/² dx = 8x¹/²/(1/2) = 16x¹/². Combining these results with the constant of integration gives 3x³ + 16x¹/² + C. The key insight is that x⁻¹/² integrates to x¹/² multiplied by 2, not divided by 2, because we divide by the new exponent (1/2). Choice B incorrectly computes the second term as 4x¹/², likely from misapplying the power rule by multiplying rather than dividing by 1/2. When integrating negative or fractional powers, always remember to add 1 to the exponent and divide by the new exponent.

8

A particle’s velocity is $v(t)=6t^2-4t+5$. Which function is an antiderivative of $v(t)$?​

$6t^3-4t^2+5t+C$

$2t^3-2t^2+5t$

$2t^3-2t^2+5t+C$

$12t-4+5$

$2t^3-4t^2+5t+C$

Explanation

This problem tests your ability to find antiderivatives using basic integration rules. To find an antiderivative of v(t) = 6t² - 4t + 5, we reverse the differentiation process by applying the power rule for integration: ∫tⁿ dt = tⁿ⁺¹/(n+1) + C. For 6t², we get 6t³/3 = 2t³; for -4t, we get -4t²/2 = -2t²; and for 5, we get 5t. Since antiderivatives are not unique, we must include the constant of integration C, giving us 2t³ - 2t² + 5t + C. Choice A incorrectly omits the constant C, which is a common error when students forget that indefinite integrals represent families of functions. Remember that every antiderivative must include '+ C' to account for all possible vertical shifts of the function.

9

A spring’s force is modeled by $F(x)=4-10x$. Which function is an antiderivative of $F(x)$?

$4x-10x^{2}+C$

$4x-5x^{2}$

$4x+5x^{2}+C$

$4x-5x^{2}+C$

$4-10x+C$

Explanation

This problem tests basic antiderivative skills with linear functions. To find an antiderivative of F(x) = 4 - 10x, we integrate each term: the constant 4 becomes 4x (since ∫c dx = cx), and -10x becomes -10x²/2 = -5x². Adding the constant of integration gives us 4x - 5x² + C. Choice B incorrectly shows 4x - 10x² + C, which results from forgetting to divide by the new exponent when integrating -10x—a common mistake where students only increase the exponent without completing the power rule formula. The key strategy for polynomial integration is to systematically apply xⁿ⁺¹/(n+1) to each term, treating constants as x⁰ terms.

10

A model uses $f'(x)=\sec^2 x+10$. Which is an antiderivative of $f'(x)$?

$\tan x+10x$

$\tan x+10x+C$

$-\tan x+10x+C$

$\sec x+10x+C$

$\sec^2 x+10+C$

Explanation

This problem asks for an antiderivative of f'(x) = sec²x + 10. Finding antiderivatives reverses differentiation: the antiderivative of sec²x is tan x (since d/dx(tan x) = sec²x), and the antiderivative of 10 is 10x. Including the constant of integration gives tan x + 10x + C. Choice E shows -tan x + 10x + C, incorrectly using a negative sign with tan x. Remember: the derivative of tan x is sec²x, so the antiderivative of sec²x is tan x, not -tan x.

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