need defintion of an integral
2006-11-30 15:30:37 · 5 answers · asked by SuperStalker 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Two things, which turn out to be identical:
- The area under a curve.
- The anti-derivative of a function, i.e. a function whose derivative is the given function.
2006-11-30 15:34:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want a formal definition, its very complicated. The basic idea is that you form a whole bunch of skinny rectangles which go just above the curve, and a whole bunch of skinny rectangles which touch the curve from below. Then as those rectangles get skinnier and skinnier, the total of height*base (ie area, but negative if it goes below the axis) for each group will both tend to the integral.
The formal definition is in terms of Riemann sums and upper integrals and lower integrals, and is far too tricky to explain here. You can probably find it at www.mathworld.com.
2006-11-30 15:36:07 · answer #2 · answered by stephen m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An inergral is the inverse of a deriative. It summes the area unders given curve.
2006-11-30 15:34:05 · answer #3 · answered by schizohamster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the area under a curve
2006-11-30 15:34:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
anti derivative
2006-11-30 16:52:23 · answer #5 · answered by ssshhh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋