# Math Help - Clarification of antiderivative evaluated at a (F(a))

1. ## Clarification of antiderivative evaluated at a (F(a))

Hi, given $\int_{a}^{b}{f(x)dx}=F(b)-F(a)$, I simply wanted to clarify what does $F(a)$ on its own actually tell us? Is it the cumulative signed area

• from $0$ to $a$ or
• from $-\infty$ to $a$ or
• from arbitrary constant $c$ to $a$ where $c$ varies by choice of $f(x)$ or
• something else?

Thanks

2. Since F(x) is an anti-derivative of f(x) which can vary by an added constant, F(a) can be interpreted as the area from some arbitrary constant c to a where c varies by choice of additive constant, NOT f(x).

For example, if $f(x)= x^2$ then an anti-derivative, F(x), is of the form $\frac{1}{3}x^3+ C$ where C can be any constant. If, say, C= 0 then $F(a)= \frac{1}{2}a^2$ is the area under the curve $y= x^2$ from 0 to a. If we were to take C= 9, then $F(a)= \frac{1}{3}a^2+ 9$ is the area under the curve $y= x^2$ from -3 to a.

(Remember that "area under the curve" is one possible interpretation of the anti-derivative. It isn't really correct to say that an anti-derivative is an area.)