Question

Difficulty: EasyDefinite Integrals and Area Under Curves

What is the value of the definite integral 04(x+1)dx\int_{0}^{4} (x + 1) \, dx?

Answer: 12

Answer

The value of the definite integral is 12.
Integrating x+1x + 1 yields x22+x\frac{x^2}{2} + x. Substituting the upper limit x=4x = 4 gives 422+4=8+4=12\frac{4^2}{2} + 4 = 8 + 4 = 12. Substituting the lower limit x=0x = 0 gives 00. Calculating 12012 - 0 gives the final answer of 12.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Find the antiderivative of the integrand f(x)=x+1f(x) = x + 1.
(x+1)dx=x22+x+C\int (x + 1) \, dx = \frac{x^2}{2} + x + C
Apply the power rule of integration xndx=xn+1n+1\int x^n \, dx = \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} to x1x^1 and 1=x01 = x^0.
2
Evaluate the antiderivative at the upper bound x=4x = 4 and lower bound x=0x = 0.
F(4)=422+4=162+4=12F(4) = \frac{4^2}{2} + 4 = \frac{16}{2} + 4 = 12, and F(0)=022+0=0F(0) = \frac{0^2}{2} + 0 = 0
Substitute the bounds into the antiderivative expression F(x)=x22+xF(x) = \frac{x^2}{2} + x.
3
Apply the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus F(b)F(a)F(b) - F(a).
F(4)F(0)=120=12F(4) - F(0) = 12 - 0 = 12
Subtract the lower bound result from the upper bound result.

Key Concept

Evaluation of definite integrals of simple linear polynomials

Alternative Method

The integral 04(x+1)dx\int_{0}^{4} (x + 1) \, dx represents the area of a trapezoid under y=x+1y = x + 1 from x=0x = 0 to x=4x = 4. The parallel vertical sides are h1=1h_1 = 1 and h2=5h_2 = 5, with width b=4b = 4. Using the area formula for a trapezoid: Area=1+52×4=3×4=12\text{Area} = \frac{1+5}{2} \times 4 = 3 \times 4 = 12.
Estimated Time:45s
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