Integration is the process of finding the integral of a function, which can be thought of as the reverse of differentiation. It helps compute areas under curves, accumulated quantities, and many other useful properties. There are two main types of integrals:
- Definite Integrals: They have upper and lower limits of integration and provide a numerical value for the area under a curve.
- Indefinite Integrals: These do not have limits and represent a family of functions, including a constant of integration.
In our exercise, we integrated the function \( (x - t) \phi(t) \) from 0 to x. This integral is part of the definition of \(\phi(x) \). Specifically, we calculated:\( \int_{0}^{x} (x - t) \phi(t) dt \)
Understanding integration allows us to solve more advanced problems in calculus, like the one in our exercise. By mastering both differentiation and integration, you can tackle a wide range of mathematical challenges and apply these techniques in various fields, such as physics, engineering, and economics.