Calculus 1

Chapter 5. Integrals
5.1. Area and Estimating with Finite Sums—Examples and Proofs

September 18, 2020

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 1 / 14

Table of contents

1 Exercise 5.1.6

2 Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream

3 Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function

4 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 2 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.6

Exercise 5.1.6
Exercise 5.1.6. Use rectangles each of whose height is given by the value
of the function at the midpoint of the rectangle’s base (the midpoint rule),
estimate the area under the graph of the function f (x) = x 3 over the
interval [0, 1] using first two and then four rectangles.
Solution. Consider the graph of y = x 3 with the interval [0, 1] partitioned
into two pieces (left) and four pieces (right).

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 3 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.6

Exercise 5.1.6
Exercise 5.1.6. Use rectangles each of whose height is given by the value
of the function at the midpoint of the rectangle’s base (the midpoint rule),
estimate the area under the graph of the function f (x) = x 3 over the
interval [0, 1] using first two and then four rectangles.
Solution. Consider the graph of y = x 3 with the interval [0, 1] partitioned
into two pieces (left) and four pieces (right).

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 3 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.6

Exercise 5.1.6
Exercise 5.1.6. Use rectangles each of whose height is given by the value
of the function at the midpoint of the rectangle’s base (the midpoint rule),
estimate the area under the graph of the function f (x) = x 3 over the
interval [0, 1] using first two and then four rectangles.
Solution. Consider the graph of y = x 3 with the interval [0, 1] partitioned
into two pieces (left) and four pieces (right).

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 3 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.6

Exercise 5.1.6 (continued 1)

Solution (continued).

With n = 2 subintervals, we have [0, 1/2] and [1/2, 1] which have

midpoints c1 = 1/4 and c2 = 3/4. Notice each interval is length
∆x = 1/2. So we have the sum
f (c1 )∆x + f (c2 )∆x = (1/4)3 (1/2) + (3/4)3 (1/2)
= 1/128 + 27/128 = 28/128 = 7/32 .
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 4 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.6

Exercise 5.1.6 (continued 1)

Solution (continued).

With n = 2 subintervals, we have [0, 1/2] and [1/2, 1] which have

midpoints c1 = 1/4 and c2 = 3/4. Notice each interval is length
∆x = 1/2. So we have the sum
f (c1 )∆x + f (c2 )∆x = (1/4)3 (1/2) + (3/4)3 (1/2)
= 1/128 + 27/128 = 28/128 = 7/32 .
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 4 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.6

Exercise 5.1.6 (continued 2)

Solution (continued).

With n = 4 subintervals, we have [0, 1/4], [1/4, 1/2], [1/2, 3/4], and
[3/4, 1] which have midpoints c1 = 1/8, c2 = 3/8, c3 = 5/8, and
c4 = 7/8, respectively. Notice each interval is length ∆x = 1/4. So we
have the sum
f (c1 )∆x + f (c2 )∆x + f (c3 )∆x + f (c4 )∆x = (1/8)3 (1/4) + (3/8)3 (1/4)
+(5/8)3 (1/4) + (7/8)3 (1/4) = (1 + 27 + 125 + 343)/2048 = 31/128 .
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 5 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.6

Exercise 5.1.6 (continued 2)

Solution (continued).

With n = 4 subintervals, we have [0, 1/4], [1/4, 1/2], [1/2, 3/4], and
[3/4, 1] which have midpoints c1 = 1/8, c2 = 3/8, c3 = 5/8, and
c4 = 7/8, respectively. Notice each interval is length ∆x = 1/4. So we
have the sum
f (c1 )∆x + f (c2 )∆x + f (c3 )∆x + f (c4 )∆x = (1/8)3 (1/4) + (3/8)3 (1/4)
+(5/8)3 (1/4) + (7/8)3 (1/4) = (1 + 27 + 125 + 343)/2048 = 31/128 .
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 5 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream

Exercise 5.1.10
Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream.
You are sitting on the bank of a tidal river watching the incoming tide
carry a bottle upstream. You record the velocity of the flow every 5
minutes for an hour, with the results shown in the accompanying table.
About how far upstream did the bottle travel during that hour? Find an
estimate using 12 subintervals of length 5 with (a) left-endpoint values,
and (b) right-endpoint values.
TIME 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
VELOCITY 1 1.2 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4
TIME 35 40 45 50 55 60
VELOCITY 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.5 1.2 0
Here, time is measured in minutes and velocity is measured in
centimeters/second.
Solution. We have n = 12 subintervals, each of width
∆t = 5 min = 300 sec.
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 6 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream

Exercise 5.1.10
Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream.
You are sitting on the bank of a tidal river watching the incoming tide
carry a bottle upstream. You record the velocity of the flow every 5
minutes for an hour, with the results shown in the accompanying table.
About how far upstream did the bottle travel during that hour? Find an
estimate using 12 subintervals of length 5 with (a) left-endpoint values,
and (b) right-endpoint values.
TIME 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
VELOCITY 1 1.2 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4
TIME 35 40 45 50 55 60
VELOCITY 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.5 1.2 0
Here, time is measured in minutes and velocity is measured in
centimeters/second.
Solution. We have n = 12 subintervals, each of width
∆t = 5 min = 300 sec.
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 6 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream

Exercise 5.1.10 (continued 1)

TIME 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
VELOCITY 1 1.2 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4
TIME 35 40 45 50 55 60
VELOCITY 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.5 1.2 0

Solution (continued). (a) Using left-endpoint values (for example, in the

subinterval [0, 5] we use the velocity at time t1 = 0, in [5, 10] we use the
velocity at time t2 = 5, etc.) So we have the sum

v (t1 )∆t + v (t2 )∆t + · · · + v (t12 )∆t = (v (t1 ) + v (t2 ) + · · · + v (t12 ))∆t

= (1 + 1.2 + 1.7 + 2.0 + 1.8 + 1.6 + 1.4 + 1.2 + 1.0 + 1.8 + 1.5 + 1.2)(300)
= (17.4)(300) = 5220 cm .

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 7 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream

Exercise 5.1.10 (continued 1)

TIME 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
VELOCITY 1 1.2 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4
TIME 35 40 45 50 55 60
VELOCITY 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.5 1.2 0

Solution (continued). (a) Using left-endpoint values (for example, in the

subinterval [0, 5] we use the velocity at time t1 = 0, in [5, 10] we use the
velocity at time t2 = 5, etc.) So we have the sum

v (t1 )∆t + v (t2 )∆t + · · · + v (t12 )∆t = (v (t1 ) + v (t2 ) + · · · + v (t12 ))∆t

= (1 + 1.2 + 1.7 + 2.0 + 1.8 + 1.6 + 1.4 + 1.2 + 1.0 + 1.8 + 1.5 + 1.2)(300)
= (17.4)(300) = 5220 cm .

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 7 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream

Exercise 5.1.10 (continued 2)

TIME 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
VELOCITY 1 1.2 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4
TIME 35 40 45 50 55 60
VELOCITY 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.5 1.2 0

Solution (continued). (b) Using right-endpoint values (for example, in

the subinterval [0, 5] we use the velocity at time t1 = 5, in [5, 10] we use
the velocity at time t2 = 10, etc.) So we have the sum

v (t1 )∆t + v (t2 )∆t + · · · + v (t12 )∆t = (v (t1 ) + v (t2 ) + · · · + v (t12 ))∆t

= (1.2 + 1.7 + 2.0 + 1.8 + 1.6 + 1.4 + 1.2 + 1.0 + 1.8 + 1.5 + 1.2 + 0)(300)
= (16.4)(300) = 4920 cm . 

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 8 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.10. Distance Traveled Upstream

Exercise 5.1.10 (continued 2)

TIME 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
VELOCITY 1 1.2 1.7 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4
TIME 35 40 45 50 55 60
VELOCITY 1.2 1.0 1.8 1.5 1.2 0

Solution (continued). (b) Using right-endpoint values (for example, in

the subinterval [0, 5] we use the velocity at time t1 = 5, in [5, 10] we use
the velocity at time t2 = 10, etc.) So we have the sum

v (t1 )∆t + v (t2 )∆t + · · · + v (t12 )∆t = (v (t1 ) + v (t2 ) + · · · + v (t12 ))∆t

= (1.2 + 1.7 + 2.0 + 1.8 + 1.6 + 1.4 + 1.2 + 1.0 + 1.8 + 1.5 + 1.2 + 0)(300)
= (16.4)(300) = 4920 cm . 

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 8 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function

Exercise 5.1.16

Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function.

Use a finite sum to estimate the average value of f (x) = 1/x on the
interval [1, 9] by partitioning the interval into four subintervals of equal
length and evaluating f at the subinterval midpoints.
Solution. A sketch of the curve and the area we need to approximate is:

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 9 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function

Exercise 5.1.16

Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function.

Use a finite sum to estimate the average value of f (x) = 1/x on the
interval [1, 9] by partitioning the interval into four subintervals of equal
length and evaluating f at the subinterval midpoints.
Solution. A sketch of the curve and the area we need to approximate is:

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 9 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function

Exercise 5.1.16

Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function.

Use a finite sum to estimate the average value of f (x) = 1/x on the
interval [1, 9] by partitioning the interval into four subintervals of equal
length and evaluating f at the subinterval midpoints.
Solution. A sketch of the curve and the area we need to approximate is:

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 9 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function

Exercise 5.1.16 (continued)

Solution (continued).

With n = 4 subintervals, we have [1, 3], [3, 5], [5, 7], and [7, 9] which have
midpoints c1 = 2, c2 = 4, c3 = 6, and c4 = 8, respectively. Notice each
interval is length ∆x = 2. So we have the sum

f (c1 )∆x + f (c2 )∆x + f (c3 )∆x + f (c4 )∆x = (1/(2))(2) + (1/(4))(2)

+(1/(6))(2) + (1/(8))(2) = 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 = 25/12.

So we approximate the average value of f on [a, b] = [1, 9] as the
approximation of the area divided by b − a = 9 − 1 = 8, and we have
approximate average value is 25/96 . 
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 10 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.16. Average Value of a Function

Exercise 5.1.16 (continued)

Solution (continued).

With n = 4 subintervals, we have [1, 3], [3, 5], [5, 7], and [7, 9] which have
midpoints c1 = 2, c2 = 4, c3 = 6, and c4 = 8, respectively. Notice each
interval is length ∆x = 2. So we have the sum

f (c1 )∆x + f (c2 )∆x + f (c3 )∆x + f (c4 )∆x = (1/(2))(2) + (1/(4))(2)

+(1/(6))(2) + (1/(8))(2) = 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 = 25/12.

So we approximate the average value of f on [a, b] = [1, 9] as the
approximation of the area divided by b − a = 9 − 1 = 8, and we have
approximate average value is 25/96 . 
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 10 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20
Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution (modified). A power plant generates
electricity by burning oil. Measurements are taken at the end of each
month determining the rate at which pollutants are released into the
atmosphere (in tons/day), recorded as follows:
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95
(a) Assuming a 30-day month, give an upper estimate of the total
tonnage of pollutants released by the end of June. What is a lower
estimate? (b) In the worst case, approximately when will a total of 125
tons of pollutants have been released into the atmosphere?
Proof. We consider the subintervals as the 30-day months. Since the
rates increase over the year, an upper estimate would use the right-hand
endpoint to estimate tons of pollutants released during the month and a
lower estimate would use the left-hand endpoint.
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 11 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20
Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution (modified). A power plant generates
electricity by burning oil. Measurements are taken at the end of each
month determining the rate at which pollutants are released into the
atmosphere (in tons/day), recorded as follows:
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95
(a) Assuming a 30-day month, give an upper estimate of the total
tonnage of pollutants released by the end of June. What is a lower
estimate? (b) In the worst case, approximately when will a total of 125
tons of pollutants have been released into the atmosphere?
Proof. We consider the subintervals as the 30-day months. Since the
rates increase over the year, an upper estimate would use the right-hand
endpoint to estimate tons of pollutants released during the month and a
lower estimate would use the left-hand endpoint.
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 11 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20 (continued 1)

Solution (continued).

MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95

(a) Using the right-hand endpoints to determine rates R(tk ) corresponds

to using the rate at the end of the month. The fact that each month has
∆t = 30 days, gives the sum for the upper estimate as:

R(t1 )∆t + R(t2 )∆t + · · · + R(t6 )∆t = (R(t1 ) + R(t2 ) + · · · + R(t6 ))∆t

= (0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52)(30) = (2.03)(30) = 60.9 tons .

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 12 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20 (continued 1)

Solution (continued).

MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95

(a) Using the right-hand endpoints to determine rates R(tk ) corresponds

to using the rate at the end of the month. The fact that each month has
∆t = 30 days, gives the sum for the upper estimate as:

R(t1 )∆t + R(t2 )∆t + · · · + R(t6 )∆t = (R(t1 ) + R(t2 ) + · · · + R(t6 ))∆t

= (0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52)(30) = (2.03)(30) = 60.9 tons .

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 12 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20 (continued 2)

Solution (continued).

MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95

Using the left-hand endpoints to determine rates R(tk ) corresponds to

using the rate at the beginning of the month (where we use a rate of 0 in
January due to the absence of that information). The fact that each
month has ∆t = 30 days, gives the sum for the upper estimate as:

R(t1 )∆t + R(t2 )∆t + · · · + R(t6 )∆t = (R(t1 ) + R(t2 ) + · · · + R(t6 ))∆t

= (0 + 0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45)(30) = (1.51)(30) = 45.3 tons .

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 13 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20 (continued 2)

Solution (continued).

MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95

Using the left-hand endpoints to determine rates R(tk ) corresponds to

using the rate at the beginning of the month (where we use a rate of 0 in
January due to the absence of that information). The fact that each
month has ∆t = 30 days, gives the sum for the upper estimate as:

R(t1 )∆t + R(t2 )∆t + · · · + R(t6 )∆t = (R(t1 ) + R(t2 ) + · · · + R(t6 ))∆t

= (0 + 0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45)(30) = (1.51)(30) = 45.3 tons .

() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 13 / 14

 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20 (continued 3)

Solution (continued). MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95
(b) In the worst case, the maximum amount of pollution is released, so
the question is: When is the total amount of pollution exceed 125 tons
when we use right hand end-points? Since such a sum through June gave
60.9 tons, we now consider such sums for additional months:
(0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52 + 0.63)(30)
= (2.66)(30) = 79.8 tons (through July),
(0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52 + 0.63 + 0.70)(30)
= (3.36)(30) = 100.8 tons (through August), and
(0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52 + 0.63 + 0.70 + 0.81)(30)
= (4.17)(30) = 125.1 tons (through September) .
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 14 / 14
 Exercise 5.1.20. Air Pollution

Exercise 5.1.20 (continued 3)

Solution (continued). MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
RATE 0.20 0.25 0.27 0.34 0.45 0.52
MONTH JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
RATE 0.63 0.70 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.95
(b) In the worst case, the maximum amount of pollution is released, so
the question is: When is the total amount of pollution exceed 125 tons
when we use right hand end-points? Since such a sum through June gave
60.9 tons, we now consider such sums for additional months:
(0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52 + 0.63)(30)
= (2.66)(30) = 79.8 tons (through July),
(0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52 + 0.63 + 0.70)(30)
= (3.36)(30) = 100.8 tons (through August), and
(0.20 + 0.25 + 0.27 + 0.34 + 0.45 + 0.52 + 0.63 + 0.70 + 0.81)(30)
= (4.17)(30) = 125.1 tons (through September) .
() Calculus 1 September 18, 2020 14 / 14