After finding the antiderivative, you evaluate it at specific points, known as the limits of integration. These limits are the boundaries of the area under the curve you are calculating.
In our problem, the limits are 0 and \(\pi\). Here's what you do next:
- Evaluate the antiderivative \(F(x) = x + \cos x\) at the upper limit \(b = \pi\): \(F(\pi) = \pi + \cos(\pi) = \pi - 1\).
- Evaluate at the lower limit \(a = 0\): \(F(0) = 0 + \cos(0) = 1\).
Subtract the value at the lower limit from the value at the upper limit: \(F(\pi) - F(0) = (\pi - 1) - 1 = \pi - 2\). This gives the result of the definite integral, which represents the total accumulation of the function from 0 to \(\pi\).