Step 1: Understand that the integral ∫₀⁶ f(x) dx represents the area under the curve y = f(x) from x = 0 to x = 6. This area can be calculated by summing the areas of geometric shapes formed by the graph.
Step 2: Break the graph into distinct geometric shapes between x = 0 and x = 6. In this case, the graph forms a triangle from x = 0 to x = 2, another triangle from x = 2 to x = 4, and a trapezoid from x = 4 to x = 6.
Step 3: Calculate the area of the first triangle (x = 0 to x = 2). The base is 2 units (from x = 0 to x = 2), and the height is 3 units (y = 3 at x = 2). Use the formula for the area of a triangle: A = 1/2 × base × height.
Step 4: Calculate the area of the second triangle (x = 2 to x = 4). The base is 2 units (from x = 2 to x = 4), and the height is 3 units (y = 3 at x = 2). Use the same formula for the area of a triangle: A = 1/2 × base × height.
Step 5: Calculate the area of the trapezoid (x = 4 to x = 6). The bases are y = 3 (at x = 4) and y = 1 (at x = 6), and the height is 2 units (from x = 4 to x = 6). Use the formula for the area of a trapezoid: A = 1/2 × (base₁ + base₂) × height.