What is an integral?

Math Minute

What is an integral is a small idea with a useful job in mathematics. The quickest way to understand it is to connect the definition to an example and then ask what stays the same when the numbers change.

When you use this idea, write the quantities and units first, estimate what kind of answer is reasonable, and then calculate. That simple routine makes short problems easier to check and helps prevent a correct-looking number from being used in the wrong context.