I had a question from a reader recently asking about how to determine the units for derivatives and integrals.

Derivatives: The units of the derivative are the units of dy divided by the units of dx, or the units of the dependent variable (f(x) or y) divided by the units of the independent variable (x). The reason for this comes from the definition of the derivative:

In the quotient the numerator has the units of f and in the denominator the has the same units as x.

Definite Integrals: The units of a definite integral are the units of the integrand f(x) multiplied by the units of dx. This comes directly from the definition of a definite integral:

The factor (b – a) has the same units a x, the independent variable, and the f(x) has whatever units it has. From the Riemann sum we can see that since these factors are multiplied, that product is the units of the definite integral.

The integrand is the derivative of its antiderivative (by the FTC) and so its units are often derivative units (miles per hour, furlongs per fortnight, etc.). When multiplied by (b – a)/n its units “cancel” the units of the denominator of f(x) and the result is the units of the numerator of f(x).  This is not always the case*, therefore, multiplying the units is safest.

*The definite integral  gives the area of a semi-circle of radius 2 feet. The units of the radical are feet and represent the vertical distance from the x-axis to a point in the semi-circle; the dx is the horizontal side of the Riemann sum rectangles also in feet. Both are measured in the same linear units and the area is their product: feet times feet or square feet.