Riemann Sums and the

Definite Integral
Lesson 5.3

Why?
Why is the area of the yellow rectangle at the
end = x f (b) f (a)

Review
f(x)
a

We partition the interval into n sub-intervals

ba
x
n

Evaluate f(x) at right endpoints a k x

of kth sub-interval for k = 1, 2, 3, n

Review
f(x)
a

Look
Lookatat
Goegebra
Goegebrademo
demo

f (a k x)
x
Sum S n lim

n
k 1

We expect Sn to improve
thus we define A, the area under the
curve, to equal the above limit.

Riemann Sum
1. Partition the interval [a,b] into n subintervals
a = x0 < x1 < xn-1< xn = b

Call this partition P

The kth subinterval is xk = xk-1 xk

Largest xk is called the norm, called ||P||

2. Choose an arbitrary value from each

subinterval,

call it

ci

Riemann Sum
3. Form the sum
nn

RRnn ff ((cc11))xx11 ff ((cc22))xx22 ...

... ff ((ccnn))xxnn
ff((ccii ))xxii
i i11

This is the Riemann sum associated with

the function f
the given partition P
the chosen subinterval representatives

ci

We will express a variety of quantities in

terms of the Riemann sum

The Riemann Sum

Calculated

Consider the function

2x2 7x + 5
Use x = 0.1

Let the ci = left edge

of each subinterval
Note the sum

xx

2x^2-7x+5
2x^2-7x+5
99
9.92
9.92
10.88
10.88
11.88
11.88
12.92
12.92
14
14
15.12
15.12
16.28
16.28
17.48
17.48
18.72
18.72
20
20
21.32
21.32
22.68
22.68
24.08
24.08
25.52
25.52
27
27
28.52
28.52
30.08
30.08
31.68
31.68
33.32
33.32

dx
dx**f(x)
f(x)
0.9
0.9
0.992
0.992
1.088
1.088
1.188
1.188
1.292
1.292
1.4
1.4
1.512
1.512
1.628
1.628
1.748
1.748
1.872
1.872
22
2.132
2.132
2.268
2.268
2.408
2.408
2.552
2.552
2.7
2.7
2.852
2.852
3.008
3.008
3.168
3.168
3.332
3.332

Riemann
Riemannsum
sum==

40.04
40.04

44
4.1
4.1
4.2
4.2
4.3
4.3
4.4
4.4
4.5
4.5
4.6
4.6
4.7
4.7
4.8
4.8
4.9
4.9
55
5.1
5.1
5.2
5.2
5.3
5.3
5.4
5.4
5.5
5.5
5.6
5.6
5.7
5.7
5.8
5.8
5.9
5.9

The Riemann Sum

f(x) = 2x2 7x + 5
n

f (c )x
i 1

40.04

We have summed a series of boxes

If the x were smaller, we would have gotten
a better approximation

The Definite Integral

b

I f ( x)dx
a

lim f ci xi
P 0

k 1

The definite integral is the limit of the

Riemann sum
We say that f is integrable when
the number I can be approximated as accurate

as needed by making ||P|| sufficiently small

f must exist on [a,b] and the Riemann sum
must exist

Example
Try

2
x
dx
1

use S 4 f (1 k x)x
k 1

Use summation on calculator.

x

ba
n

Example
Note increased accuracy with smaller x

Limit of the Riemann Sum

3

2
x
dx

The definite integral

1
limit of the Riemann sum.

is the

Properties of Definite Integral

Integral of a sum = sum of integrals
Factor out a constant
Dominance

f ( x) g ( x) on [a, b]
b

f ( x)dx g ( x)dx
a

Properties of Definite Integral

f(x)

Subdivision rule
a

f ( x)dx f ( x)dx f ( x)dx

Area As An Integral
The area under
the curve on the
interval [a,b]

f(x)

A
a

A f ( x)dx
a

Distance As An Integral
Given that v(t) = the velocity function with
respect to time:
Then Distance traveled can be
determined by a definite integral

t b

v(t ) dt

t a

Think of a summation for many small

time slices of distance

Assignment

Section 5.3
Page 314
Problems: 3 47 odd