The Definite Integral

Concepts:
1. A partition of the interval [a,b] is a finite subset of the interval that contains the endpoints (i.e., a partition P = {a = x0 < x1 < x2 < . . . < xn = b !here n is a countin" nu#ber and xi belon"s to [a,b] for each i, 0 i n$. A partition is a regular partition if and onl% if the distance bet!een an% t!o consecutive points in the partition is al!a%s the sa#e, or all of he subintervals deter#ined b% the points in the partition are the sa#e len"th. . &n other !ords, the partition P = {a = x0 < x1 < x2 < . . . < xn = b is re"ular if and onl% if x ' x = (b ' a$(n for each k, 1 k n. )ote that xk is a s%#bolic !a% of
k k'1

representin" xk ' xk'1 . *he mesh or norm of a partition is the len"th of its lar"est subinterval. *he nor# of a partition P is denoted b% P. &n other !ords, if P = {a = x0 < x1 < x2 < . . . < xn = b , P = #a+ { xk , k = 1, 2, . . . , n . Examples: a. P = {0, 1, 2, -, . is a partition of the interval [0,.], but it is not re"ular. Also, note that P = -. P = {0, /, 0, . is a partition of [0,.] that is not re"ular. P = /. P = {0, 2, -, 0, . is a re"ular partition of [0,.] !ith P = 2.

b. c. 2.

1et f be a function defined on the interval [a,b]. 1et P = { a=x0 < x1 < x2 < . . . < xn=b be a partition of [a,b]. 2elect a nu#ber in each of the subintervals deter#ined b% P3 i.e., choose uk [xk-1,xk] for each k, 1 k n. *he su#, Riemann sum for the function f deter#ined b% the partition P.

xk
b a

, is called a

/.

*he definite integral of a function f from x = a to x = b , denoted , is the li#it of the 4ie#ann su#s for f as the nor# or #esh of the deter#inin" partitions approaches 0, provided the li#it e+ists. &f the li#it e+ists, f is called inte"rable on the interval. &f P is a re"ular partition of [a,b] that divides the interval into n subintervals, then

f(x) dx

z
b a

f(x) dx !here uk [xk-1,xk] for each k, 1 k n.

The Definite Integral

Pa"e 2 -. 5eo#etricall%, the definite inte"ral of a function f fro# x = a to x = b !here a < b, , represents the area of the re"ion bounded b% the "raphs of y= f(x$, the x'a+is, and the lines x = a and x = b that lies above the x'a+is #inus the area bounded b% the sa#e "raphs that lies belo! the x'a+is.
a

z
b

f(x) dx

Example6

(or appro+i#atel% '1-./2272$ is the ne"ative of the area of the shaded re"ion belo! the x'a+is in the fi"ure to the ri"ht.
a

z
b b

z
b a

f (x) d x

f(x) dx

(or appro+i#atel% /.08028$ is the area of the shaded re"ion above the x'a+is in the fi"ure to the ri"ht.
a

f(x) dx

is the area of the shaded re"ion above the x-a+is #inus the area of the shaded re"ion belo! the x'a+is (or the su# of the t!o nu#bers above$.
a

z
b

f(x) dx

8.

&f an ob9ect is #ovin" alon" a line !ith velocit% at ti#e t "iven b% v(t$, then the total distance traveled b% the ob9ect fro# t = a to t = b is "iven b%

z
b a

v(t) dt .

The Definite Integral