Why is the notation df/dx potentially misleading when interpreting the fundamental theorem of calculus?

Continuity ensures that as the interval width $h$ approaches zero, the average value of $f$ over $[x, x+h]$ converges to the instantaneous value $f(x)$. Without continuity, the local behavior might oscillate wildly or have jumps, preventing the limit of the difference quotient from settling on a single well-defined value $f(x)$.

Conditions: $A(x) = \int_a^x f(t) dt$; $f$ is continuous at $x$

The net-change formula states that for a continuously differentiable function on an interval, integrating its derivative gives the endpoint difference. Specifically, the integral of the derivative $f'$ from $a$ to $b$ equals $f(b) - f(a)$.

Conditions: The function is continuously differentiable on the interval.; The integration is over the interval from $a$ to $b$.

The fundamental theorem relates accumulation and rate of change by stating that if $F'(x) = f(x)$, then the accumulated area $A(x)$ from a fixed point $a$ to $x$ is given by $A(x) = F(x) - F(a)$. It shows that differentiation and integration are inverse processes: the derivative of the accumulation function $A(x)$ recovers the integrand $f(x)$, and antiderivatives allow the evaluation of definite integrals.

Conditions: The function $f$ is continuous.; $F$ is an antiderivative of $f$ (i.e., $F' = f$).

The geometric meaning is that each small horizontal step uses its own local slope. The resulting vertical increments accumulate to the total rise from $f(a)$ to $f(b)$.

Conditions: Viewing the theorem through the lens of Riemann sums or local linear approximation.; The function is differentiable on the interval.

The accumulation function $A(x)$ defines area by integrating from a fixed lower endpoint to a variable upper endpoint $x$. For $x \ge 0$, this represents ordinary geometric area.

Conditions: The lower endpoint is fixed.; The upper endpoint $x$ is variable.; Signed integration is used to handle direction and negative values.