What does it mean when I get a negative value when I do a definite integral?
The definite integral gives the value of the area bounded between the curve at the given limits, and the x-axis (if we are integrating with respect to x!) If this value is negative, it means that the area underneath the x-axis is greater than the area above the x-axis beween those two limits. Or it could just mean you've got your limits the wrong way round!
CL
Related Maths A Level answers
All answers ▸Integrate this funtion f'(x)=2x +4 with respect to x (C1 integration)
Consider the functions f(x) = −x^3 + 2x^2 + 3x and g(x) = −x^3 + 3x^2 − x + 3. (a) Find df/dx (x) and hence show that f(x) has turning points at when x = 2 /3 ± √ 13/ 3 . [5] (b) Find the points where f(x) and g(x) intersect. [4]
How to integrate and differentiate ((3/x^2)+4x^5+3)
Integral of 1/(x^3 + 2x^2 -x - 2)