1

INTEGRAL CALCULUS

Integral calculus centers on the concept of the integral. The definition of the integral is motivated
by the problem of:

1.1

Finding the area under the curve

Performing the reverse of differentiation

Area and Integration (Riemanns Sums & Integration)

f (x)

[ a , b]
Let
be continuous in the interval
. To calculate the area under the graph of
y f (x)
[ a , b]
over the interval
, we can divide the interval into n equal subintervals by
choosing the points
x
of equal width .

x0 , x1 , x3 , ...................., x n

th

where

a x 0 x1 x3 .................... x n 1 x n b

ba
n

Consider the i subinterval, the interval becomes

xr 1 , xr

x xr xr 1

ba
n

xr x0 r x

Also,

ba

xr a r

y
f xr
x0 a x1x2xr 1 xr xr

xn b

f
xr 1 , xr
To estimate the area under the curve, take the point
which is
at which is a
minimum in that rth interval. The area of that sub-interval will be given by,
xr

f xr x
Therefore, the total area of the inscribed shapes will be given by,

f x x
r n

r 1

This is known as a Riemanns Sum. This approximation becomes closer to the exact area as the
number of strips is increased and their widths are decreased.
In the limiting case as

and

x 0

, this leads to the exact area being given by,

A lim f xr x
n r 1
x 0

Example: Use Riemanns sums to estimate the area under the graph
to x =5.
Solution:

A lim f xr x
n r 1
x 0

For the interval

a, b 1,5

ba

xr a r

5 1 4

n
n

and

4 4
A lim 80 3 1 r
n n
n r 1

x 0
n

xr 1 r

f ( x) 80 3 x 2

from x =1

8r 16r 2
lim 80 3 1 2
n
n
n r 1

x 0

4
n

24r 48r 2 4
lim 80 3
2
n
n n
n r 1
x 0

308 96r 192r 2

2
n
n
n 3
r 1
n

lim
n
x 0

308 n
96 n
192 n 2

n2
r
n 3 r 1
r 1
n r 1

lim
n
x 0

Recall that:
n

1 n

and

r 1

, where a is a constant

r 2 n n 1
r 1

n
r 6 2n 1 n 1
n

a na

r 1

r 1

96 1
192 n
308

n 2 n n 1 3 2n 1 n 1
n 2
n 6
n

lim
n
x 0

48
96 32

lim 308 48 64 2
n
n n
n
x 0

308 48 64 196

Square units.