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General antiderivative of a factored quadratic

Let f(x)=(x−2)(x+3)f(x) = (x-2)(x+3).

Expand f(x)=(x−2)(x+3)f(x) = (x-2)(x+3) into a polynomial in standard form, and then find the general antiderivative F(x)F(x) of f(x)f(x). Write your answer including the constant of integration.

Hint

First multiply out (x−2)(x+3)(x-2)(x+3) to get a polynomial of the form x2+bx+cx^2 + bx + c. Then apply the power rule ∫xn dx=xn+1n+1+C\int x^n\,dx = \frac{x^{n+1}}{n+1} + C to each term separately, remembering the +C+C at the end.

Step-by-step solution

Expand the product: (x−2)(x+3)=x2+3x−2x−6=x2+x−6(x-2)(x+3) = x^2 + 3x - 2x - 6 = x^2 + x - 6. This gives f(x)f(x) in standard polynomial form, ready for term-by-term antidifferentiation.

Apply the power rule to each term: ∫x2 dx=x33\int x^2\,dx = \frac{x^3}{3}, ∫x dx=x22\int x\,dx = \frac{x^2}{2}, and ∫−6 dx=−6x\int -6\,dx = -6x. Adding a single arbitrary constant CC for the whole antiderivative gives F(x)=x33+x22−6x+CF(x) = \frac{x^3}{3} + \frac{x^2}{2} - 6x + C.

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