\(\int_{1}^{4} \left( \frac{6}{\sqrt{x}} - \frac{1}{2}x^2 \right) \text{d}x\)
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Worked solution
1. Rewrite the integrand in a form ready for integration:
\(\frac{6}{\sqrt{x}} - \frac{1}{2}x^2 = 6x^{-\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{1}{2}x^2\)
2. Integrate term by term:
\(\int \left( 6x^{-\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{1}{2}x^2 \right) \text{d}x = \left[ \frac{6x^{\frac{1}{2}}}{\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{\frac{1}{2}x^3}{3} \right] = \left[ 12x^{\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{1}{6}x^3 \right]\)
3. Substitute the upper limit \(x = 4\):
\(12(4)^{\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{1}{6}(4)^3 = 12(2) - \frac{64}{6} = 24 - \frac{32}{3} = \frac{40}{3}\)
4. Substitute the lower limit \(x = 1\):
\(12(1)^{\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{1}{6}(1)^3 = 12 - \frac{1}{6} = \frac{71}{6}\)
5. Subtract the lower limit result from the upper limit result:
\(\frac{40}{3} - \frac{71}{6} = \frac{80}{6} - \frac{71}{6} = \frac{9}{6} = \frac{3}{2}\)
Marking scheme
A1: Correct integration: \(12x^{\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{1}{6}x^3\) (ignore constant of integration).
M1: For substituting both limits 4 and 1 into their integrated expression and subtracting the correct way round.
A1: Correct exact value of \(\frac{3}{2}\) or \(1.5\) (or any equivalent fraction).