## anonymous 5 years ago Definite integral gives you the area, and area can't be negative. But while doing exercises, i cam across a lot of definite integrals, which after integrating, were giving negative answers. Why is it so?

1. amistre64

Area in a direction can be negative; maybe

2. amistre64

its either that or youve got your numbers backwards and are subtracting the smaller from the larger

3. amistre64

15 - 3 = 12 3 - 15 = -12

4. angela210793

well sometimes the area equals 0...so...that may b true...

5. anonymous

For example, when you integrate this definite integral, $\int\limits_{-1}^{-3} (x-1)^{-3} dx$ the answer is -3/32 is it so because of the negative limits?

6. anonymous

hullo?

7. amistre64

You are simply on the "other side" of normal

8. anonymous

Ummm?

9. amistre64

you can flip your bounds and it makes a (-) in front

10. amistre64

it simply means that the area that you want is to the left of x=0

11. amistre64

since you are working in a region that is "negative" to begin with, it gonne be a "negative" area

12. anonymous

Alright, thank you...

13. anonymous

Are you a teacher in some college?

14. amistre64

nope...

15. anonymous

You're a student? Whoa, man than your genius.

16. amistre64

:)

17. anonymous

then **

18. anonymous

No, really, are you a student?

19. amistre64

I am a college student yes; 35 years old tho so that might account for some wits lol

20. anonymous

of which year then?

21. anonymous

then you must be a Master's student, Well anyways thank you. Take care.

22. anonymous

Well, I'm a 12th year student, just to tell you, by the way.

23. amistre64

:) youll grow into it