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Ch. 5 - Integration
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 5, Problem 5.2.31d

{Use of Tech} Approximating definite integrals Complete the following steps for the given integral and the given value of n. 
(d) Determine which Riemann sum (left or right) underestimates the value of the definite integral and which overestimates the value of the definite integral.


โˆซโ‚ƒโถ (1โ€•2๐“) d๐“ ; n = 6

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Step 1: Understand the problem. The integral โˆซโ‚ƒโถ (1 - 2๐“) d๐“ represents the area under the curve of the function f(๐“) = 1 - 2๐“ from x = 3 to x = 6. We are tasked with determining which Riemann sum (left or right) underestimates or overestimates the value of the definite integral, given n = 6 subintervals.
Step 2: Divide the interval [3, 6] into n = 6 subintervals. The width of each subinterval, ฮ”๐“, is calculated as ฮ”๐“ = (b - a) / n, where a = 3 and b = 6. Substitute the values to find ฮ”๐“.
Step 3: For the left Riemann sum, use the left endpoints of each subinterval to approximate the integral. The formula for the left Riemann sum is: Sโ‚— = ฮฃ [f(๐“แตข) * ฮ”๐“], where ๐“แตข represents the left endpoint of each subinterval. Compute the left endpoints and set up the summation.
Step 4: For the right Riemann sum, use the right endpoints of each subinterval to approximate the integral. The formula for the right Riemann sum is: Sแตฃ = ฮฃ [f(๐“แตข) * ฮ”๐“], where ๐“แตข represents the right endpoint of each subinterval. Compute the right endpoints and set up the summation.
Step 5: Analyze the behavior of the function f(๐“) = 1 - 2๐“. Since f(๐“) is a decreasing linear function, the left Riemann sum will underestimate the integral (as it uses lower values of f(๐“)), while the right Riemann sum will overestimate the integral (as it uses higher values of f(๐“)).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Definite Integral

A definite integral represents the signed area under a curve defined by a function over a specific interval. It is calculated using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, which connects differentiation and integration. The notation โˆซโ‚แต‡ f(x) dx indicates the integral of f(x) from a to b, providing a numerical value that reflects the net area between the curve and the x-axis.
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Definition of the Definite Integral

Riemann Sum

A Riemann sum is a method for approximating the value of a definite integral by dividing the area under the curve into smaller rectangles. The sum can be calculated using left endpoints, right endpoints, or midpoints of the subintervals. The choice of endpoints affects whether the sum underestimates or overestimates the integral, depending on the function's behavior over the interval.
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Introduction to Riemann Sums

Underestimation and Overestimation

In the context of Riemann sums, underestimation occurs when the chosen rectangles fall below the curve, while overestimation happens when they extend above it. For a decreasing function, the left Riemann sum will typically overestimate the integral, and the right sum will underestimate it. Conversely, for an increasing function, the left sum will underestimate, and the right sum will overestimate the integral.
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Left, Right, & Midpoint Riemann Sums Example 1
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Matching functions with area functions Match the functions ฦ’, whose graphs are given in aโ€• d, with the area functions A (๐“) = โˆซโ‚€หฃ ฦ’(t) dt, whose graphs are given in Aโ€“D.



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Textbook Question

{Use of Tech} Approximating definite integrals Complete the following steps for the given integral and the given value of n. 

(d) Determine which Riemann sum (left or right) underestimates the value of the definite integral and which overestimates the value of the definite integral.


โˆซโ‚โท 1/๐“ d๐“ ; n = 6

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Textbook Question

Left and right Riemann sums Complete the following steps for the given function, interval, and value of n.

ฦ’(๐“) = xยฒ โ”€ 1 on [2,4]; n = 4

(d) Calculate the left and right Riemann sums. 

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Textbook Question

Explain why or why not Determine whether the following statements are true and give an explanation or counterexample.

(d) If โˆซโ‚แต‡ ฦ’(๐“) d๐“ = โˆซโ‚แต‡ ฦ’(๐“) d๐“, then ฦ’ is a constant function. 

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Textbook Question

Area functions The graph of ฦ’ is shown in the figure. Let A(x) = โˆซโ‚€หฃ ฦ’(t) dt and F(x) = โˆซโ‚‚หฃ ฦ’(t) dt be two area functions for ฦ’. Evaluate the following area functions.

(d) F(8)

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Textbook Question

Sigma notation Express the following sums using sigma notation. (Answers are not unique.)

(d) 1 + 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4

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