Calculus:
The Basics

Integrals

From a mathematical standpoint, integrals look at the area under curves of various functions. Integrals look at specific intervals on a function and finds the area bounded by the curve and the x-axis. Integrals are very useful in the real world, offering a way to look at how rates of change affect total amounts of items. In essence, integrals are the opposite of derivatives and exactly reverse what derivatives do to a function.

Integrals can also help find average values on an interval, along with also being able to help find volumes of three dimensional shapes. Integrals are able to help find a lot of values that easily apply to the real world, and in useful ways too.

Integrals can be used for many applications, but to actually get a value an anti-derivative has to be taken in one of many ways.

Methods of Integration
Substitution		Partial Fractions	Integration by Parts
U-Substitution: Rewrite difficult expressions in terms of u, take the derivative for du and integrate an easier problem.	Trig Substitution: Rewrite difficult expressions that might be hard with u-sub with trig functions to help simplify the expression and make the integration easier.	When working with a difficult rational function, factor the denominator into simpler terms and rewrite as multiple functions that are easier to integrate.	When working with fuctions that are multiplied, split them into one part being easier to integrate and use variables u and v to represent each part, integrating v and deriving u.