Solve ∫ (from - 1 to 2) of (x^2-2x+1)

$$\int _ { - 1 } ^ { 2 } ( x ^ { 2 } - 2 x + 1 )$$

Evaluate

$$3$$

Solution Steps

Evaluate the indefinite integral first.

$$\int x^{2}-2x+1\mathrm{d}x$$

Integrate the sum term by term.

$$\int x^{2}\mathrm{d}x+\int -2x\mathrm{d}x+\int 1\mathrm{d}x$$

Factor out the constant in each of the terms.

$$\int x^{2}\mathrm{d}x-2\int x\mathrm{d}x+\int 1\mathrm{d}x$$

Since \int x^{k}\mathrm{d}x=\frac{x^{k+1}}{k+1} for k\neq -1, replace \int x^{2}\mathrm{d}x with \frac{x^{3}}{3}.

$$\frac{x^{3}}{3}-2\int x\mathrm{d}x+\int 1\mathrm{d}x$$

Since \int x^{k}\mathrm{d}x=\frac{x^{k+1}}{k+1} for k\neq -1, replace \int x\mathrm{d}x with \frac{x^{2}}{2}. Multiply -2 times \frac{x^{2}}{2}.

$$\frac{x^{3}}{3}-x^{2}+\int 1\mathrm{d}x$$

Find the integral of 1 using the table of common integrals rule \int a\mathrm{d}x=ax.

$$\frac{x^{3}}{3}-x^{2}+x$$

The definite integral is the antiderivative of the expression evaluated at the upper limit of integration minus the antiderivative evaluated at the lower limit of integration.

$$\frac{2^{3}}{3}-2^{2}+2-\left(\frac{\left(-1\right)^{3}}{3}-\left(-1\right)^{2}-1\right)$$

Simplify.

$$3$$