What is \int_{1}^{3}f(x)\,dx equal to?

Direction: Consider the following for the two (02) items that follow : Let f(x)=|x^{2}-x-2|.

  1. A. 2
  2. B. 3
  3. C. 4
  4. D. 5

Correct Answer: B. 3

Explanation

We split the integral at x=2 because the sign of x^2-x-2 changes there. \int_1^3 |x^2-x-2|\,dx = \int_1^2 (2+x-x^2)\,dx + \int_2^3 (x^2-x-2)\,dx. The first part is [2x + \frac{x^2}{2} - \frac{x^3}{3}]_1^2 = \frac{10}{3} - (2 + \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}) = \frac{10}{3} - \frac{13}{6} = \frac{7}{6}. The second part is [\frac{x^3}{3} - \frac{x^2}{2} - 2x]_2^3 = (9 - \frac{9}{2} - 6) - (\frac{8}{3} - 2 - 4) = -\frac{3}{2} + \frac{10}{3} = \frac{11}{6}. The sum is \frac{7}{6} + \frac{11}{6} = \frac{18}{6} = 3.

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