Integration as Inverse Process of Differentiation: Definition, Theorem, Problems & Class 12 Maths Notes

Integrals 2025 ( Maths Integrals )

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma
Updated on Sep 18, 2025 16:45 IST

By Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

In calculus, differentiation and integration are two important concepts. Differentiation helps to know how fast something is changing, while integration reverses the process and finds the original function. Therefore, integration is called the inverse process of differentiation. For example, if we differentiate, x 2 we get 2x, then integrating 2x will give us x 2 (plus a constant).

Students must master these topics. It will help to score good marks in the exam. Also, differentiation and integration are important topics from the exam point of view. Many entrance exam preparation questions are based on these concepts.

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NCERT Class 12 notes
Class 12 Maths NCERT notes
Table of content
  • Define Integration
  • Integration as Inverse Process of Differentiation - Concept Involved
  • Comparison between Differentiation and Integration
  • NCERT Notes for Class 12 Maths
  • NCERT Solution for Class 12 Maths
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Define Integration

Integration can be understood as the inverse operation of differentiation. Differentiation finds the rate of change of a function, while integration finds the function given its rate of change (or its derivative). Essentially, if you differentiate a function and then integrate the result, you will get back to the original function (plus a constant in the case of indefinite integrals). Integration is the inverse process of differentiation. Thus, finding integrals (antiderivatives) of a function f(x) means finding a function F(x). whose derivative is f(x).
If F’(x) = f(x) i.e., if
d d x ( F ( x ) ) = f ( x ) , then we write 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = F(x). The symbol ∫ is called an integral sign here; dx denotes the differential of x. The symbol 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 is read as “integral of f(x) with respect to x”.
In simpler terms:

a)
Think of differentiation as breaking a whole into its parts (like taking a cake and finding the amount of each ingredient.
b)
Think of integration as putting those parts back together to form the whole (like taking the amounts of the ingredients and reconstructing the cake.

Important Topics:

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Integration as Inverse Process of Differentiation - Concept Involved

Differentiation:

Differentiation is a process of finding the derivative of a function. It tells us how a function is changing at any point. 
Integration:

It is a process of finding the antiderivative of a function.  
Constant Integration:

While finding the antiderivative, we need to add a constant of integration, because the derivative of a constant is always zero. This means that many functions can have the same derivative, and they all differ by a constant. Therefore, when you integrate, you could have any constant added to the result, and it would still have the same derivative.

This inverse relationship is fundamental to calculus and has many important applications in various fields like physics, engineering, and economics.

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Comparison between Differentiation and Integration

Here, we have mentioned the difference between differentiation and integration.

Both operations are defined on functions

All functions are not differentiable. Similarly, all functions are not integrable.

Both are linear operators as

( i ) d d x [ K 1 f 1 ( x ) + K 2 f 2 ( x ) ] = K 1 d d x f 1 ( x ) + K 2 d d x f 2 ( x ) ( i i ) [ K 1 f 1 ( x ) + K 2 f 2 ( x ) ] d x = K 1 f 1 ( x ) d x + K 2 f 2 ( x ) d x

The derivative of a function is unique, whereas the integral of a function is not unique. Different integrals of a function differ by a constant.

We can discuss the derivative of a function at a point, but we never speak of the integrals at a point. We discuss the integral of a function on an interval.

The geometric derivative of a function at a point represents the slope of the tangent at that point. Similarly, the indefinite integral geometrically represents a family of curves placed parallel to each other, having parallel tangents at that point of intersection of the curves of the family with the lines orthogonal to the axis representing the variable of integration.

Both differentiation and integration involve limits.

Derivative is used to find the rate of change of quantities like the velocity of moving bodies when the distance travelled at any time t is known. Similarly, the integration is used to calculate the distance travelled when the velocity at time ( t ) is known.
 
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NCERT Notes for Class 12 Maths

Chapter No. Chapter Notes
1 Relations and Functions
2 Inverse Trigonometric Functions
3 Matrices
4 Determinants
5 Continuity and Differentiability
6 Application of Derivatives
7 Integrals
8 Application of Integrals
9 Differential Equations
10 Vector Algebra
11 Three-Dimensional Geometry
12 Linear Programming
13 Probability
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