Matthew Butkowski

Mr. Acre

AP Calculus

3-25-18

Riemann Sums
Methods

Among calculus topics, the Riemann Sum is one of the most important. Riemann Sums,

as used in calculus, are primarily for approximating the total area underneath a curve on the

graph, otherwise referred to as the integral. A Riemann Sum uses either a rectangle or trapezoid,

depending on the method, to estimate this value. Riemann Sums can be used in a multitude of

ways, with each of them having varying accuracies to approximate the total area under the graph

within a certain interval. For instance, a standard Riemann Sum has alone has several ways with

which to calculate the area under the graph. Among these are the left-hand, right-hand, and

midpoint Riemann Sum methods. The left-hand and right-hand methods use the left and right

endpoints, respectively, of each subinterval to approximate the area. Using the left-hand

Riemann Sum, the upper left corner of each rectangle will fall on the graph, while the upper right

corner of each rectangle will fall on the graph should a right-hand Riemann Sum be used. Figure

1 (statisticshowto.com), below, illustrates this.

Left-Hand vs Right-Hand
Figure 1.
 As is also shown in Figure 1, the left-hand rule will overestimate the area of the graph

when the function is decreasing, and will underestimate the area when the function is increasing.

In contrast with this, the right-hand rule will underestimate the area of the graph while it is

decreasing, and overestimate the area when the graph is increasing.

Upper and Lower Riemann Sums can be found by using the greatest and lowest points,

respectively, of the left-hand and right-hand methodologies. This will become clearer in a later

example problem.

The midpoint method of Riemann Sums, clearly, uses the midpoint of each rectangle as

the basis for estimation, the midpoint of each rectangle will fall on the graph, as shown by Figure

2 (statisticshowto.com). The midpoint rule approximates the area beneath the graph much better

than either the left-hand or right-hand rules, and so it is best to be used when trying to

approximate the exact area under the graph as an integral would. Each of these three methods,

the left-hand, right-hand, and midpoint rules, are able to calculate the area by multiplying the

width of each rectangle (subinterval) by the height of the rectangle.

Figure 3.

Additionally, the trapezoid rule can be used for calculating the area under the graph. The

trapezoid rule uses the average of the right-hand and left-hand values. Since the trapezoids align

with the graph more accurately than the rectangles used by the right- and left-hand methods, the

Trapezoid rule is a better approximation than either of them when compared. However, it is still
not as accurate as the above mentioned midpoint rule. The trapezoid rule works through use of

the formula provided by Figure 4 (statisticshowto.com), along with a graphical representation of

this rule, where A is the area under the graph, H1 is the height of the left side of the trapezoid,

H2 is the height of the right side of the trapezoid, and W is the width of the trapezoid (along the

x-axis). However, the formula shown only denotes the area for one trapezoid. To determine the

complete area of the graph, one must add the area of each trapezoid being used within the

interval.

𝐴 = (1/2) ∗ (𝐴1 + 𝐴2) ∗ 𝐴

Figure 4.

One final way to calculate the area under the graph is by using parabolas. Simpson’s

Rule, as it is most often referred to, uses parabolas to determine the exact area under the graph

for any polynomial of degree 3 or less, and as such is most accurate in these cases. Simpson’s

Rule uses a combination of both the midpoint and trapezoid rules, both already being accurate

ways of determining the area, to approximate the area under the graph. The formula used for

Simpson’s Rule, shown in Figure 5 along with graphical representation (statisticshowto.com) is

obtained by finding the sums of the areas under parabolic approximations of the graph.
 𝐴 = (𝐴𝐴/3)* (f (x₀) + 4*f (x₁) + 2*f (x₂) + 4*f (x₃) + 2*f(x₄) … + f (xₙ))
Figure 5.
Where A represents the total area underneath the graph, Δx is the change in x along each

subinterval, x₀ represents the starting point of the interval (the x value of the lower bound along

the interval), x₁ - x₄ represent the x values at which a subinterval ends, and xₙ represents the final

point along the interval (the x value of the upper bound). Among the various methods, Simpson’s

Rule is most accurate for approximating the area under a polynomial graph of degree 3 or less.

Example Problems

Given the function f(x) = (x-3)⁴ + 2(x-3)³ - 4(x-3) + 5 along the interval x = 1 to x = 5, it

is possible to calculate the area underneath this curve using each of the above methods, using 2

subintervals. To calculate the width of each subinterval, or the base of each of the 2 rectangles,

the difference between the upper and lower bound must be found and divided by 2. 5 - 1 is equal

to 4, which, when divided by 2, is equal to 2. Thus, the base of each rectangle along the x-axis

will be equal to 2, meaning the base of the first rectangle will go from 1 to 3, and the base of the

second rectangle will go from 3 to 5. Knowing this, and the formula for each of these methods,

the area pertaining to each method, can be found, as evidenced by Figure 6 (desmos.com). Of

these three methods, the midpoint sum will provide the closest approximation to the exact area of

the area under the graph of f(x).

 Left-Hand Sum Midpoint Sum Right-Hand Sum
A = f(x₁)*b₁ + f(x₂)*b₂ A = f(x₁)*b₁ + f(x₂)*b₂ A = f(x₁)*b₁ + f(x₂)*b₂
A = f(1)*2 + f(3)*2 A = f(2)*2 + f(4)*2 A = f(3)*2 + f(5)*2
A = 13*2 + 5*2 A = 8*2 + 4*2 A = 5*2 + 29*2
A = 26 + 10 A = 16 + 8 A = 10 + 58
A = 36 un² A = 24 un² A = 68 un²
Figure 6.

As mentioned earlier, the upper Riemann Sum can be found by adding the highest points

of both the left-hand and right-hand methods. In this case, the upper most point of the left-hand

method is equal to the point (1, 13). The lowest point in the left-hand graph is (3, 5), and can be

used for the lower Riemann Sum. On the right-hand methodology, the higher of the two points is

(5, 29), while the lower point is, again, (3, 5). Using this, it is possible to find the Upper and

Lower Riemann Sums, as calculated in Figure 7.

Upper Sum Lower Sum

A = f(x₁)*b₁ + f(x₂)*b₂ A = f(x₁)*b₁ + f(x₂)*b₂
A = f(1)*2 + f(5)*2 A = f(3)*2 + f(3)*2
A = 13*2 + 29*2 A = 5*2 + 5*2
A = 26 + 58 A = 10 + 10
A = 84 un² A = 20 un²
Figure 7.
 Finally, using the same graph, the area underneath between x = 1 and x = 5 can be

approximate via the trapezoid rule and Simpson’s rule, using 4 subintervals. Graphical

representations and calculations are presented in Figure 8.

Trapezoid Rule Simpson’s Rule

A = (½)*(f(x₁) + f(x₂))*b +...
A = (½) * (f(1)+f(2))*1 + (½)*(f(2)+f(3))*1
+(½)*(f(3) + f(4))*1 + (½)*(f(4) + f(5))*1
A = (½)*(13+8)*1 + (½)*(8+5)*1 +
(½)*(5+4)*1 + (½)*(4+29)*1
A = (½)*(21) + (½)*13 + (½)*9 + (½)*33
A = 10.5 + 6.5 + 4.5 + 16.5
A = 38 un²
Figure 8.
A = (Δx/3)*((f (x₀) + 4*f (x₁) + 2*f (x₂) + ...+ f (xₙ))
A = (⅓)*(f(1) + 4*f(2) + 2*f(3) + 4*f(4) + f(5))
A = (⅓)*(13 + 4*8 + 2*5 + 4*4 + 29)
A = (⅓)*(13 + 32 + 10 + 16 + 29)
A = (⅓)*(100)
A = 33.33 un²

Most Accurate

To determine which of these approximations is the most accurate, they must each be

compared to the true answer to the problem, that is, the exact area of F(x) = (x-3)⁴ + 2(x-3)³ -

4(x-3) + 5 along the interval of x = 1 to x = 5. This calculation is shown in Figure 9, and

compared with the approximation found using each of the above methods.

Definite Integral
 5
∫ (𝐴 − 3)⁴ + 2(𝐴 − 3)³ − 4(𝐴 − 3) + 5 𝐴𝐴 = 32.8 𝐴𝐴 ²
1

Left-Hand Sum Midpoint Sum Right-Hand Sum

A = 36 un² A = 24 un² A = 68 un²
Upper Sum Lower Sum
A = 84 un² A = 20 un²
Trapezoid Rule Simpson’s Rule
A = 38 un² A = 33.33 un²
Figure 9.

As Figure 9 shows, the method which had the closest approximation to the exact area of

the area beneath the curve was that of Simpson’s Rule. The midpoint and lower Riemann Sums

both underestimated the area beneath the graph, while the left-hand, right-hand, upper, trapezoid,

and Simpson’s Rule Riemann Sums all overestimated the correct area beneath the graph. As the

polynomial was above the third degree, Simpson’s Rule could not approximate exactly the

correct area, but still came closest of the seven methods attempted. Strangely, the trapezoid rule

produced an approximation which was closer to the exact area than the midpoint approximation.

The same can be said for the left-hand sum, which also came closer than the midpoint sum

approximation as well as overestimating the actual area beneath the curve.

Mean Value Theorem Applications

The integral form of the Mean Value Theorem states that if a function f(x) is continuous

along a closed interval [a, b], then there is a number c which makes the equation given by Figure

10 true. The rectangle which will be created has the same area which exists beneath the graph of

f(x).
𝐴
𝐴(𝐴) = (∫ 𝐴(𝐴))/(𝐴 − 𝐴)
𝐴
Figure 10.
The area along this interval is found by multiplying the width, dx, by the height of the

rectangle, f(c), which is found using the Mean Value Theorem. Using the Mean Value Theorem,
it is possible to calculate the area beneath the graph of f(x) = (x-3)⁴ +2(x-3)³-4(x-3)+5 along the

interval [1, 5] using two subintervals, each of width 2. Due to the usage of two rectangles, the

Mean Value Theorem will need to be done twice in order to calculate the area of each rectangle.

These areas can then be added together to calculate the exact area under the graph f(x). The first

of the two subintervals is [1, 3], and the second subinterval is [3, 5]. Using the equation from

Figure 10, it is possible to calculate the areas of each of the two rectangles, as shown in Figure

11.

Interval [1, 3]
1 𝑓 1 3
𝑓(𝑓) = ∫ 𝑓(𝑓)𝑓𝑓 ---> 𝑓(𝑓) = 3−1 ∫1 ((𝑓 − 3)4 + 2(𝑓 − 3)3 − 4(𝑓 − 3) + 5)𝑓𝑓-
𝑓−𝑓 𝑓
--> 𝐴(𝐴) = 8.2 𝐴𝐴²
Interval [3, 5]
1 𝑓 1 5
𝑓(𝑓) = 𝑓−𝑓 ∫𝑓 𝑓(𝑓)𝑓𝑓 ---> 𝑓(𝑓) = 5−3 ∫3 ((𝑓 − 3)4 + 2(𝑓 − 3)3 − 4(𝑓 − 3) + 5)𝑓𝑓-
--> 𝐴(𝐴) = 8.2 𝐴𝐴²
Figure 11.

The height of each rectangle is equal to 8.2, and it is now possible to calculate the area

underneath the graph of f(x) by multiplying the base of each rectangle (2) by it’s height (8.2).

Multiplying 2 * 8.2 gives 16.4, and since this is true for both rectangles, 2 * 16.4 is equal to the

total area under the curve, 32.8 un², the same area as that which was given by the definite

integral in Figure 9.

Hot Air Balloon Problem

A spherical hot air balloon expands as the air inside of it is heated. The radius of the

balloon, r, in feet, is modeled by a twice-differentiable function r of time t [r’(t)], where t is in

seconds. Along the interval 0 < t < 12, the graph is concave down. Table 1 shows values of the

rate of change, r’(t), of the radius of the balloon along the time interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 12. When t = 7,

the radius of the balloon is equal to 32 feet.

Table 1. Values of r’(t) and t

 t (seconds) 0 1 4 7 11 12

r’(t) (ft/sec) 5.7 4.0 2.0 1.4 0.5 0.4

Using the tangent line approximation, it is possible to estimate the value of r when t is

equal to 7.2 seconds. It is known that r(7.2) is nearly equal to r(7), plus r’(7), multiplied by the

change in time, Δt. Figure 12 shows the correct calculation for this problem.

𝐴(7.2) ≈ 𝐴(7) + 𝐴′(7) ∗ 𝐴𝐴

𝐴(7.2) ≈ 32 + 1.4 ∗ 0.2
𝐴(7.2) ≈ 32.28 𝐴𝐴
Figure 12.

It is also known that the graph is concave down on the time interval of 7 < t < 7.2, and

thus it can be concluded that the value approximated in Figure 12 is an overestimation of r(7.2).

It is also possible to calculate the rate of change in the volume of the balloon, given the

equation for the volume of a sphere, as shown and calculated by Figure 13.

4
𝑓 = 𝑓𝑓3
3
𝑓𝑓 4 2 𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓
= 3 ∗ 𝑓𝑓 = 4𝑓𝑓2
𝑓𝑓 3 𝑓𝑓 𝑓𝑓
𝑓𝑓
= 4𝑓(32)2 (1.4)
𝑓𝑓
𝑓𝑓3
= 18015
𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
Figure 13.

Using a right-hand Riemann Sum, with 5 subintervals, it is possible to calculate the area

underneath the graph of r’(t) along the interval of t = 0 to t = 12. Figure 14 illustrates this

calculation. The answer provides the change in radius of the balloon, in feet, along the interval

t = 0 to t = 12.
 12
∫ 𝑓′ (𝑓)𝑓𝑓
0
= 𝑓𝑓₁ ∗ 𝑓′(𝑓₁) + 𝑓𝑓₂ ∗ 𝑓′(𝑓₄) + 𝑓𝑓₃ ∗ 𝑓′(𝑓₇) + 𝑓𝑓₄ ∗ 𝑓′(𝑓₁₁) + 𝑓𝑓₅
∗ 𝑓′(𝑓₁₂)
12
∫ 𝑓′ (𝑓)𝑓𝑓 = 1 ∗ 𝑓′(1) + 3 ∗ 𝑓′(4) + 3 ∗ 𝑓′(7) + 4 ∗ 𝑓′(11) + 1 ∗ 𝑓′(12)
0
12
∫ 𝑓′ (𝑓)𝑓𝑓 = 1(4) + 3(2) + 3(1.4) + 4(0.5) + 1(0.4)
0
12
∫ 𝑓′ (𝑓)𝑓𝑓 = 4 + 6 + 4.2 + 2 + 0.4
0
12
∫ 𝑓′ (𝑓)𝑓𝑓 = 16.6 𝑓𝑓
0
Figure 14.

Finally, it is determined that the approximation in Figure 14 is less than the exact value of

12
∫0 𝑓′ (𝑓)𝑓𝑓because the graph of r(t) is concave down, meaning that r’(t) would need to be

decreasing along the interval t = 0 to t = 12.

The various ways used to calculate a Riemann Sum each have their uses and applications.

While some are more accurate than others under certain circumstances, and less accurate under

others, it is still best to be familiar with each of them to become well-rounded in this topic of

calculus. The examples provided have gone through a multitude of different methods, each of

which are frequently used to approximate the area underneath a graph along a closed interval. It

should be noted that most Riemann Sums (save for Simpson’s rule in a polynomial of third

degree or less) do not produce the exact answer however, and that the only way to solve for the

exact area under a graph is through the definite integral. However, Riemann Sums remain among

the most important of calculus topics.

Works Cited
 Stephanie. “Riemann Sum: How to Find the Area Under the Curve.” Statistics How To,

20 July 2012, www.statisticshowto.com/how-find-the-area-under-the-curve-calculus-using-

riemann-sum/.

“Numerical Integration Comparison.” Desmos Graphing Calculator,

www.desmos.com/calculator/gdn6ldu1mw.

“Riemann Sums.” Desmos Graphing Calculator,

www.desmos.com/calculator/tgyr42ezjq.