Student Resources
Lab 15: The fundamental theorem of calculus - part 1
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Part I of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus is often illustrated beginning with the computation \( \displaystyle \frac{d}{dx} \int_a^x f(t)\ dt = \lim_{h\to 0} \frac{\int_x^{x + h} f(t)\ dt}{h} \). Draw a large graph illustrating this equality. Label everything possible, including \(t,\ a,\ x,\ h,\ x + h,\ f(t),\ \int_a^x f(t)\ dt,\) and \(\int_x^{x + h} f(t)\ dt\).
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Describe the meaning of the derivative in Question 1 in terms of a rate of change involving two quantities represented in your graph. Also describe what average rate is used to approximate this derivative.
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How could you find a good over-estimate and under-estimate for the derivative? Include representations of your over-estimate and under-estimate on your graph. Use your graph to explain why the average rate identified in Question 2 is between the over-estimate and under-estimate.
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Write an expression for a bound on the error. How can this bound be made small? What assumptions must be made about the function \(f\) in order to do this? Give an example of a function and value of \(x\) for which \( \displaystyle \frac{d}{dx} \int_a^x f(t)\ dt \neq f(x)\).