Name: __________________ Block: ____ Date: ________

Calculus CP
4.2: The Definite Integral
Class Notes

In Section 4.1, we found area under a curve by computing the sum of areas of rectangles within a
given interval. The sum of the areas is also referred to as a Riemann sum, after the German
mathematician Bernhard Riemann.

We used the following formula to get the exact area under a given curve within a set interval:

It turns out that this same type of limit occurs in a wide variety of situations even when f is not
necessarily a positive function as seen in the figures below. If f takes on both positive and
negative values, then the sum is the areas of the rectangles that lie above the x-axis and the
negatives of the area of the rectangles that lie below the x-axis (or the difference of the areas
above and below the x-axis).

We therefore give this type of limit a special name and notation:

Definition of a Definite Integral

𝑏 𝑛

∫ 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = lim ∑ 𝑓(𝑥0 + 𝑘∆𝑥)∆𝑥

Where 𝑓(𝑥) is called the _______________________ 𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 are called ___________________________________

𝑎 𝑖𝑠 the ____________________________ and 𝑏 𝑖𝑠 the ____________________________

and the procedure of calculating an integral is ________________________________

***A definite integral is the limit of a Riemann Sum.

The symbol ∫ was introduced by Leibniz and is called an integral sign. It is an elongated S and was
chosen because an integral is a limit of sums.
Example 1

a) Evaluate the Riemann sum for 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥, taking the sample points to be right
endpoints and a = 0, b = 3, and n = 6.

3
b) Evaluate∫0 (𝑥 3 − 6𝑥) 𝑑𝑥. Interpret what this result represents.

5
Example 2: Set up an expression for ∫2 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 as a limit of sums. Then evaluate the expression
For now, you can use one of 2 ways to evaluate a definite integral:

1. Use the limit definition

2. Check to see whether the definite integral represents the area of a common
geometric region such as a rectangle, triangle, or semicircle.

Example 3: Evaluate using the limit process. Then sketch the region corresponding to the definite
integral and evaluate the definite integral using a geometric formula.
3
0
( x  2 )dx

Example 4: Evaluate the following integrals by interpreting each in terms of areas. (hint: sketch the
function)
1 3
a. ∫0 √1 − 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 b ∫0 (𝑥 − 1) 𝑑𝑥
Properties of the Definite Integral
a
If f is defined at x = a, then  a
f ( x )dx  0

b a
If f is integreable on [a, b], then a
f ( x )dx    f ( x )dx
b

Properties:
b b
(I) a
cf ( x )dx  c  f ( x )dx
a
b b b
(II)
 a
[ f ( x )  g( x )]dx   f ( x )dx   g( x )dx
a a

b c c
If f is integrable on the three closed intervals determined by a, b, and c, then 
a
f ( x )dx   f ( x )dx   f ( x )dx
b a

Graphical Example:

1.) Use the graph to the right to evaluate the following integrals:
b

b
f ( x )dx  ?
a.
 b
f ( x )dx  ? b.
a

b c
c.  0
f ( x )dx  ? d.  b
f ( x )dx  ?

c a
e.  d
f ( x )dx  ? f. 
0
f ( x )dx  ?

c e
g.  e
f ( x )dx  ? h.  a
f ( x )dx  ?
Algebraic Examples:
b c
2.) Given that  c
f ( x )dx  7 , find find  f ( x )dx
b


3.) Evaluate
 (sin x )dx
1 1 0
4.) Given that  1
f ( x )dx  0, f ( x )dx  5find  f(x)dx
0 -1

b c c
5.) Given that  a
f ( x )dx  5,  f ( x )dx  3 , find find  f ( x )dx
a b

1 1 1
6.) Given that 
1
f ( x )dx  0 , f ( x )dx  5find  3f(x)dx
0 0

You Try: