WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

​
integrate
π
4
0
net area = 0.
blue  positive area red  negative area
The fundamental theorem of calculus states that if
f
is continuous on
[a,b]
, then the function
g
defined on
[a,b]
by
g(x)=
x
∫
a
f(t)dt
is continuous on
[a,b]
, differentiable on
(a,b)
, and
g'(x)=f(x)
. This Demonstration illustrates the theorem using the cosine function for
f(x)
. As you drag the slider from left to right, the net area between the curve and the
x
axis is calculated and shown in the upper plot, with the positive signed area (above the
x
axis) in blue and negative signed area (below the
x
axis) in red. The lower plot shows the resulting area values versus position
x
.