The exponential integral involves integrating functions of the form \(a^u\), where \(a\) is a constant base raised to a variable exponent \(u\). These types of integrals are vital in calculus since exponential functions frequently appear in modeling growth, decay, and other natural phenomena.
To solve \(\int a^u \, du\), we use the following integral formula:
- \[ \int a^u \, du = \frac{a^u}{\ln(a)} + C \]
- Here, \( a\) is the base, and \(\ln(a)\) is the natural logarithm of \(a\). The result includes an arbitrary constant \(C\), representing the family of antiderivatives.
In the context of our problem, the function \(10^u\) was integrated using this formula. By integrating, and then substituting back our original variable \(t\), we were able to solve \(\int 10^{4t+1} \, dt\). This formula and method are powerful tools for quickly resolving exponential integrals, making complex integrations straightforward.