A function having two different antiderivatives.

calculusintegration

I was trying to calculate $$\int_0^3(x-1)^2dx$$
I found the antiderivative as $\dfrac{(x-1)^3}{3}+C$ and the definite integral as $\dfrac{8}{3}$.
But the answer in the book was given as $3$. (Thomas' Calculus 11th Edition, Exercises 5.3 Q59)
Then, I tried to find the integral using this site–> https://www.integral-calculator.com/ .
There, Manually Computed Antiderivative was given as $\dfrac{\left(x-1\right)^3}{3}+C$ and Antiderivative Computed by Maxima was given as $\dfrac{x^3}{3}-x^2+x+C$.
Now, definite integral of first expression is $\dfrac{8}{3}$ as I got. But, definite integral of second expression is $3$.

So, which one is correct and why?

Best Answer

The first one gives $\frac {8-(-1)}3=3$. So the answers match. The anti-derivatives are both correct.

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