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CALCULUS 1  PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

6.2.1
The Definite Integral



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Review


1.  Upper And Lower Riemann Sums

Let f be a continuous function on the closed interval [a, b], n a positive integer, Pn the regular partition
of order n of [a, b], and Dx = (ba)/n. We use an example of n = 10 in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Let Rn( f, a, b) be a Riemann sum for f on [a, b] relative to Pn and using arbitrary points of the subintervals, ie:



where ci is an arbitrary point of the ith subinterval [xi1, xi], for i = 1, 2, ..., n. See Fig. 1. Since the
points of the subintervals used are arbitrary, Rn( f, a, b) is called the general Riemann sum for f on
[a, b].

Fig. 1

General Riemann
sum.

 

Fig. 2

Upper Riemann
sum.

 

Fig. 3

Lower Riemann
sum.


Because f is continuous on each subinterval, it has a maximum and a minimum there (see Section 1.2.2
Theorem 1
). Let ui and li be points of [xi1, xi] where f(ui) is the maximum and f(li) the minimum of f
on [xi1, xi]. Let Un( f, a, b) and Ln( f, a, b) be the Riemann sums for f on [a, b] relative to Pn, Un
using the points ui's and Ln using the points li's, ie:



as shown in Fig. 2 for Un and in Fig. 3 for Ln. For each i = 1, 2, ..., n, we have f(li) £ f(ci) £ f(ui).
Thus, multiplying each side by Dx > 0 and summing it up for i from 1 to n we obtain:

Ln( f, a, b) £ Rn( f, a, b) £ Un( f, a, b).

That's the reason for the following definition.


Definition 1
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
Un( f, a, b) is called the upper Riemann sum for f on [a, b], and Ln( f, a, b) is called the lower
Riemann sum for f on [a, b].
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾


Remarks 1

·  Recall that each rectangle above the x-axis contributes its area to, thus increases, the Riemann
   sum, while each rectangle below the x-axis contributes the negative of its area to, thus decreases,
   the Riemann sum.
·  For a rectangle above the x-axis, if its height increases (decreases), then the Riemann sum
   increases (decreases).
·  For a rectangle below the x-axis, if its height increases (decreases), then the Riemann sum
   decreases (increases).

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2.  The Definite Integral

In Section 6.1.3, every function f is positive on an interval of the form [a, b], and limn®¥ Rn( f, a, b) is
the area A of the plane region bounded by the graph of f, the x-axis, the vertical line x = a, and the
vertical line x = b. Here, f can be positive or negative on [a, b] or some subset of it, as illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In these figures, limn®¥ Rn( f, a, b) isn't A. Rather, as shown in Fig. 4, it's the area
under the positive-valued parts of the graph of f and above the x-axis plus the negative of, thus minus,
the area above the negative-valued parts of the graph of f and under the x-axis. In Fig. 4, it equals
area A1 – area A2. That quantity is defined in the following definition.

Fig. 4



Definition 2
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾
¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾¾




Terminology

·  ò is called the integral sign. It's an elongated letter S, because it represents the limit of a sum.
·  a is called the lower limit of integration and b the upper limit of integration, both referred to
   collectively as the limits of integration.
·  f is called the integrand.
·  x is called the variable of integration.
·  Recall that dx is the differential of x (see Section 2.6 Definitions 1).


Remarks 2



Fig. 5

·  Partitions not regular.
·  Number of subintervals between a
   and xk–1 and between xk and b
   approaches ¥ while subinterval
   [xk–1, xk] stays fixed.
·  Thus, n approaches ¥, but Un ( f, a,
    b) doesn't approach definite integral
  


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3.  Definite Integrals And Areas



i.   If f ³ 0 on [a, b], then A is defined to be I: A = I.
ii.  If f < 0 on [a, b], then A =I (A > 0 because I < 0).
iii.  For general f like the one in Fig. 4, I equals the total area of the parts of R lying above the x-axis
     minus the total area of the parts of R lying under the x-axis.

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Problems & Solutions


 

Solution

The points xi's are x0 = 0, x1 = 0 + b/n = b/n, x2 = 0 + 2b/n = 2b/n, ..., xn = 0 + nb/n = nb/n. In
each subinterval [xi–1, xi] the maximum of f occurs at xi and the minimum at xi–1. Thus:

 

 





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Solution





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Solution

a.



b.



c.




d.



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