Definite Integral & Riemann Sums

Section 5.
Riemann Sums and

The Definite Integral
1
Area under a curve
• The other day we found the area under a curve by

dividing that area up into equal intervals (rectangles
of equal width).
• This section goes one step further and says we can

divide the area into uneven intervals, and the same
concept will still apply.
• It will also examine functions that are continuous, but

are no longer entirely non-negative.
2
Area As An Integral
f(x)
• The area under
the curve on the A
interval [a,b] a c
b
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
D 
t a
v(t ) dt
• Think of a summation for many small

time slices of distance
If f(x) is a nonnegative, continuous function on the closed
interval [a, b], then the area of the region under the graph
of f(x) is given by
n
A  lim
n 
 f ( xi )x
i 1
where x 
ba
n
5
Notice that through the use of rectangles
of equal width, we were able to estimate
the area under a curve.
This curve was always non-negative (i.e.

it was always above the x-axis);
therefore, the values we got when we
multiplied f(xi) by Δx were always
positive.
6
The graph of a typical continuous function y = ƒ(x) over [a, b]:
Partition [a, b] into n subintervals a < x1 < x2 <…xn < b. Select any
number in each subinterval ck. Form the product f(ck)xk.
Then take the sum of these products.
n
 f (ck )xk
k 1 7
The sum of these rectangular areas is called the
Riemann Sum of the partition of x.
LRAM, MRAM, and RRAM are all examples of
Riemann Sums.
The width of the largest subinterval of a partition 

is the norm of the partition, written ||x||.
As the number of partitions, n, gets larger and

larger, the norm gets smaller and smaller.
As n, ||x|| 0
8
Formal Definition from p. 266 of your textbook
9
Finer partitions of [a, b] create more rectangles with shorter bases.
n
 f (ci )xi
i 1
n
lim  f ( ci )xi  L
 0 i 1
10
Why?
• Why is the area of the yellow rectangle at

x   f (b)  f (a ) 
the end =
a x b
Review
f(x)
a b
• We partition the interval into n sub-intervals

ba
x 
n
• Evaluate f(x) at right endpoints a  k  x
of kth sub-interval for k = 1, 2, 3, … n
This limit of the Riemann sum is also known as
the definite integral of f(x) on [a, b]
b
n
lim  f (ci )xi  L L   f ( x )dx
 0 i 1
a
n b
lim  f (ck )xk   f ( x)dx
n  a
k 1
This is read “the integral from a to b of f of x
dx,” or “the integral from a to b of f of x with
respect to x.” 13
Notation for the definite integral
upper limit of integration
Integration b
Symbol
(integral)  f  x  dx
a
integrand
variable of integration
lower limit of integration (differential)
14
Definite Integrals vs. Indefinite Integrals
A definite integral is number.
An indefinite integral is a family of functions.
They may look a lot alike, however,

• definite integrals have limits of integration while
the
b
  f
• indefinite integrals have not limits
a
f ( x)dx ( x
of ) dx
integration.
Definite Integral Indefinite Integral

Formal Definition from p. 267 of your textbook
16
NOW …
Before we go any further,
let’s make one quick – yet important –
clarification regarding INDEFINITE
INTEGRALS (with which we have worked
before in finding antiderivatives) and
DEFINITE INTEGRALS (which we are about
to study now):
17
 f ( x)dx  An indefinite integral
is a family of functions
 f ( x)dx  F  x   C
b
 f ( x)dx 
a
A definite integral
is a number b
 f ( x)dx  7.6
a
18
Today we will focus solely on the
DEFINITE integral.
The connection between the two types of

integrals will probably not be clear now,
but be patient. We will explore and
examine the connection between the two
next time. 
Woo-hoo!
19
Evaluate the following definite integrals using geometric
area formulas.
3

1
4 dx
y4
20
2

2
4  x dx
-2 2 2 2
y  4 x  x  y  4
Top half only!
21
3
y  x2

0
( x  2) dx
22
THEOREM:
If f(x) is continuous and non-negative on [a, b],
then the definite integral represents the area of
the region under the curve and above the x-axis
between the vertical lines x = a and x = b.
a b
23
The Integral of a Constant
If f ( x)  c, where c is a constant, on the interval [a, b], then

 f ( x) dx   cdx  c (b  a )
b b
a a
24
When functions are non-negative, the
Riemann sums represent the areas under
the curves, above the x-axis, over some
interval [a, b].
When functions are negative, however, the

Riemann sums represent the negative (or
opposite) values of those areas. In other
words, Riemann sums DO have direction
and CAN take on negative values.
25
You try…
• Consider the function

2x2 – 7x + 5, find area,
the rest is up to you
• I used 20 sub-intervals
x = 0.1
Ex: Find the enclosed area with the x-axis and
the function f(x) = x2 – 5x + 6 between the
function’s roots, using 4 subintervals.
Roots: x = 2, 3
Ex: First find the exact area enclosed by above the x-
axis and the function. Then use Riemann sums with 4
and then 8 sub-intervals and left endpoints.
To summarize that thought …
f
b

a
f ( x)dx  A
A
a b
b
A1
f
A3
a
f ( x)dx  A1  A3  A2
= area above – area below
a b
A2
29

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Section 5.

Riemann Sums and

• The other day we found the area under a curve by

• This section goes one step further and says we can

• It will also examine functions that are continuous, but

• Given that v(t) = the velocity function

• Think of a summation for many small

This curve was always non-negative (i.e.

The width of the largest subinterval of a partition 

As the number of partitions, n, gets larger and

• Why is the area of the yellow rectangle at

• We partition the interval into n sub-intervals

They may look a lot alike, however,

Definite Integral Indefinite Integral

The connection between the two types of

Top half only!

If f ( x)  c, where c is a constant, on the interval [a, b], then

When functions are negative, however, the

• Consider the function

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