Why doesn't the fundamental theorem of calculus depend on the lower bound?

Because $f_1(x)=\int_a^x g$ and $f_2(x)=\int_b^x g$ differ by a constant, namely $f_2-f_1= \int_a^b g$. Hence they have the same derivative.


A derivative is a rate of change. A rate of change depends on what is changing. $$ \int_a^x f(u)\,du $$

When one puts $\dfrac d {dx}$ in front of this, one is viewing it as a function of $x$ with $a$ not changing. One gets $f(x)$.

If one writes $\dfrac d {da}$ in front of it, regarding $x$ as remaining fixed, while $a$ changes, then one gets $-f(a)$.


If $F$ is an antiderivative of $f$, then $$ \int_a^x f(t) \; dt = F(x) - F(a). $$ So if you take $x$ as a variable and take the derivative with respect to $x$, then the constant $F(a)$ disappears: $$ \frac{d}{dx} \int_a^x f(t) \; dt = \frac{d}{dx} F(x) - F(a) = \frac{d}{dx} F(x) = f(x). $$ So the $a$ "doesn't matter".

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Calculus