IN3.

3 Integration of Exponential Functions

This module deals with differentiation of exponential functions such

as:

exp (2x + 3) dx

e3x dx
 2
e x−1 dx.
1

Indefinite Integral of an Exponential Function

If f ( x ) = e x then f 0 ( x ) = e x . Therefore an antiderivative (or indefi-

nite integral) of e x is e x . That is

e x dx = e x + c, where c is a constant.

A more general form is: 1 1

This form may be derived using inte-
 gration by substitution. Let u = ax + b
1 ax+b then du/dx = a.Using substitution
e ax+b dx = e + c, wherea, b and c are constants.  
a 1 u du
e ax+b dx = e dx
a dx

1
Examples = eu du
a

1
1. 2e x dx = 2e x + c. = eu + c
a

−5x+1 1 ax+b
2. e dx = − 15 e−5x+1 + c, ( a = 5, b = 1). = e + c.
a

x 1 xs +4 x
 
3. e 3 +4 dx = 1/3 e + c = 3e 3 +4 + c, a = 13 , b = 4 .

Definite Integral of an Exponential Function

Now that we know how to get an antiderivative (or indefinite inte-

gral) of an exponential function we can consider definite integrals.
To evaluate a definite integral we determine an antiderivative and
calculate the difference of the values of the antiderivative at the limits
defined in the definite integral. For example consider
2

 2
2e x dx.
1

From the previous section we know an antiderivative is 2e x + c where

c is a constant. The limits of the integral are 1 and 2. So we have

 2
2e x dx = [2e x + c] xx=
=1
2
(1)
1
   
= 2e2 + c − 2e1 + c (2)
= 2e2 + c − 2e1 − c (3)
= 2e2 − 2e1 . (4)

Note that the notation in line (1)

[2e x + c] xx=
=1
2

means substitute x = 2 in the expression in brackets and subtract the

expression in brackets evaluated at x = 1.
Note also that the constant c in lines (1) to (3) has no effect when
evaluating a definite integral. Consequently we usually leave it out
and write

 2
2e x dx = [2e x ] xx=
=1
2
1
   
= 2e2 − 2e1
= 2e2 − 2e1 .

Examples

4 x dx.
1. Evaluate −1 2e
Solution:

 4
2e x dx = [2e x ] xx= 4
=−1
−1
= 2e4 − 2e−1 .

2 −5x+1
2. Evaluate e0 dx.
 3

Solution:
 2
1 −5x+1 x=2
 
−5x +1
e dx = − e
0 5 x =0
   
1 −5(2)+1 1
= − e − − e−5(0)+1
5 5
   
1 −9 1 1
= − e − − e
5 5
1 −9 1
= − e + e
5 5
1 −9

= e−e .
5

9 x
3 +4
3. Evaluate −3 e dx.
Solution:
 9 h x i x =9
x
e 3 +4 dx = 3e 3 +4
−3 x =−3
 9   −3 
+
= 3e 3 4
− 3e 3 +4
   
= 3e3+4 − 3e−1+4
 
= 3 e7 − e3 .

Exercises

1. Calculate:
  
3x 2−5x 9e3x + 5
a) e dx b) e dx c) dx Hint: Divide through first.
e2x
2. Evaluate:
2  3  1
3x 2−5x 9e3x + 5
a) e dx b) e dx c) dx
−1 −1 e2x
0

Answers
e3x 2−5x
1. a) 3 +c b) −e 5 +c c) 9e x − 5
2e2x
+c
e6 1 1
e7 − e−13 9 e − e −1 − 5
e 2 − e −2




2. a) 3 − 3 b) 5 c) 2