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Haley Le
Mrs. Tallman
AP Calculus
23 March 2015
Riemann Sums
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus states that the derivative and the integral are
inverse computations of each other; this connection allows us to calculate integrals explicitly. It
is known that the definite integral of a function is defined as the product of x and y values where
the integral is represented by the area of a region under the graph. Typically, in the introduction
to the definite integral, students are taught that the definite integral of a function can be estimated
by simply counting the squares underneath a given curve. There are, however, more efficient
and accurate ways to calculate the definite integral. The most commonly used methods are
Riemann sum, the trapezoid rule, and Simpsons rule. The three methods share various
characteristics and also display unique innovations in calculating an area underneath a curve.
As previously mentioned, Riemann sums and limits are used to define and estimate
values of definite integrals. Riemann sums use rectangles where the area of the rectangle is
determined by the height of f(ck) for a specific k value multiplied by the change in x for a
specific k where k is equal to 1, 2, 3n demonstrated below:
Area of a rectangle=f (c k )dx k
The integral is thus approximately equal to the sum of the areas of the rectangles:
n

Area underneathcurve f (c k )dx k

k=1

Riemann sums can be illustrated in numerous ways with intervals created at upper bounds or
lower bounds, at midpoints, or at right bounds and left bounds.

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The definite integral uses a lower Riemann sum, Ln, and an upper Riemann sum, Un, where the
integral lies between the lower and upper sum.
b

ln f ( x ) dx Un
a

If the lower and upper sums approach the same limit as the largest value of dx approaches zero,
then the value of the integral is squeezed to this common limit. When this happens, the function f
can be integrated on [a, b], and the common limit is defined as the definite integral. The
advantage of using a Riemann sum is that if a function can be integrated, the limit of any
Riemann sum equals the value of the integral.
(rectangle 1) f(x)(dx) + (rectangle 2) f(x)(dx)
f(1)(3-1)+f(3)(5-3)
((13)(2))+((5)(2))

26+10 = 36 units squared

Figure. 1 Left Riemann Sum and Calculation

Figure 1 illustrates two intervals (rectangles) used to estimate the area underneath the
4
3
curve f(x) = ( x3) +2(x3) 4 ( x3 )+ 5 using the left points on the function in the interval

of x = 1 to x = 5. To the right of the graph is the calculation performed to determine the sum
estimated, 36 units squared.

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(rectangle 1) f(x)(dx) + (rectangle 2) f(x)(dx)
f(3)(3-1)+f(5)(5-3)
((5)(2))+((29)(2))

10+58 = 68 units squared

Figure 2. Right Riemann Sum and Calculation

Figure 2 illustrates two intervals (rectangles) used to estimate the area underneath the
4

curve f(x) = ( x3) +2(x3) 4 ( x3 )+ 5 using the right points on the function in the
interval of x = 1 to x = 5. To the right of the graph is the calculation performed to determine the
sum estimated, 68 units squared. It is apparent that the right Riemann Sum is almost double the
left Riemann sum.

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(rectangle 1) f(x)(dx) + (rectangle 2) f(x)(dx)
f(2)(3-1)+f(4)(5-3)
((8)(2))+((4)(2))

16+8 = 24 units squared

Figure 3. Midpoint Riemann Sum and Calculation

Figure 3 illustrates two intervals (rectangles) used to estimate the area underneath the
4

curve f(x) = ( x3) +2(x3) 4 ( x3 )+ 5 using the midway points on the function in the
interval of x = 1 to x = 5. To the right of the graph is the calculation performed to determine the
sum estimated, 24 units squared.

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(rectangle 1) f(x)(dx) + (rectangle 2) f(x)(dx)
f(1)(3-1)+f(5)(5-3)
((13)(2))+((29)(2))

26+58 = 84 units squared

Figure 4. Upper Riemann Sum and Calculation

Figure 4 illustrates two intervals (rectangles) used to estimate the area underneath the
4

curve f(x) = ( x3) +2(x3) 4 ( x3 )+ 5 using the upper points on the function in the
interval of x = 1 to x = 5. To the right of the graph is the calculation performed to determine the
sum estimated, 84 units squared.

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(rectangle 1) f(x)(dx) + (rectangle 2) f(x)(dx)
f(3)(3-1)+f(3.68)(5-3)
((5)(2))+((3.12)(2))

10+6.24 = 16.24 units squared

Figure 5. Lower Riemann Sum and Calculation

Figure 5 illustrates two intervals (rectangles) used to estimate the area underneath the
4
3
curve f(x) = ( x3) +2(x3) 4 ( x3 )+ 5 using the lower points on the function in the

interval of x = 1 to x = 5. To the right of the graph is the calculation performed to determine the
sum estimated, 16.24 units squared.
Just like the Riemann sum, the trapezoid rule can be used to estimate the value of the
definite integral. The trapezoid rule consists of dividing the area into vertical strips. Line
segments connect the points where the strip boundaries meet the graph. The result is a set of
trapezoids whose areas add up to a number approximately equal to the area of the region.
The definite integral of f(x) from x = a to x = b is approximately equal to
1
1
Tn = x ( 2 f ( a )+ f ( x 1 )+ f ( x 2 ) +f ( x 3 ) + f ( xn 1 ) + 2 f ( b ) )

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where n is a number of increments (trapezoids), x

the values of

x 1 , x 2 , x 3 are spaced delta x

= (b-a)/n the width of each increment and

units apart.

AREA =

1
1
x ( f ( a )+ f ( x 1 )+ f ( x 2 ) +f ( x 3 ) + f ( xn 1 ) + f ( b ) )
2
2

AREA =

(1)

( 12 f ( 1) +f ( 2) + f (3 )+ f ( 4 ) + 12 f ( 5) )

AREA =

(1)

( 12 ( 13) +( 8)+( 5) +( 4) + 12 ( 29) )

AREA = 38 units squared

Figure 6. Trapezoid Rule and Calculation

Figure 6 demonstrates four trapezoids used to estimate the area underneath the function
4
3
f(x) = ( x3) +2(x3) 4 ( x3 )+ 5 using the trapezoid rule in the interval of x = 1 to x = 5.

To the right of the graph is the calculation of the sum, 38 units squared.
Simpsons rule uses parabolas in order to approximate the definite integral. This is the
most accurate estimate because a parabolic shape accounts for a curve within a function. The
basic formula for a parabola is
y = ax2 + bx + c
The area of a parabolic region can be found in terms of three y-values, one at the left, the middle
and at the right of the region. So the area, A, of a region is

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2

ax + bx+ c
()dx
h

A=
h

By FTC, the integral can be rewritten as

1
1
1 3 1 2
( a h3 + bh2 +ch)(
a h + bh ch)
3
2
3
2
which simplifies to
2
a h3 +2 ch
3
1
(h)(2 a h2 +6 c)
3
2

When h, 0, and h are substituted in for x in the equation y = ax + bx+ c

2

y 0=2 a h bh+c
y 1=+c
2

y 2=2 a h +bh+ c
Adding the first and third equations yields
2

2 a h +2 c
y 0 y 2 can be substituted into

1
2
( h)(2 a h +6 c) as 2 a h2 +2 c leaving a positive 4c,
3

generating the equation,

1
A= h( y 0 + y 2 +4 y 1)
3

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1
A= h( y 0 +4 y 1+ y 2)
3
So the area underneath one parabolic region is thus calculated by summing the first y-value, four
times the middle value, and the last value and then multiplying one third of the spacing between
the x-values. The subjected area underneath the curve can then be found as illustrated below
where I represents the value of the area of the region underneath under the graphs,
1
1
1
1
I h ( y 0 + 4 y 1+ y 2 )+ h ( y 2+ 4 y 3 + y 4 ) + h ( y 4 + 4 y 5 + y 6 ) + h ( y n2 + 4 y n1 + y n )
3
3
3
3
The simplified version of the equation above is equal to Simpsons rule, which states that the
definite integral is equal to:
1
I ( x) ( y 0 +4 y 1+2 y 2 +4 y 3+ +2 y n2+ 4 y n1 + y n )
3
where n must be an even number.

Figure 7. Simpsons Rule vs. Trapezoid Rule (Wesstein)

Since Simpsons rule uses quadratic polynomials to approximate functions, it gives
almost exact results when approximating integrals of polynomials up to cubic degree, as opposed
to the Trapezoid rule which uses a linear function.

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It can be inferred that if the Simpsons rule was used to estimate the area underneath the
4

function f(x) = ( x3) +2(x3) 4 ( x3 )+ 5 , it would be the most accurate to use out of the
three methods. However, the other approximations can be relatively good estimates. The area

underneath the curve f(x) is equal to

((x3)4 + 2(x3)34 ( x 3 ) +5)dx

1

, which is equal to

32.8 units squared. The method that came closest to approximating this value is the left Riemann
sum with 36 units squared. The second closest approximation was the trapezoid rule with 38
units squared. Both of these methods were very close to the actual value of the area, illustrating
that these methods are useful and provide a reliable estimation.
Going back to the Riemann sum, the Mean Value Theorem can also be used to find the
height of two intervals in calculating the exact area underneath a curve like that of f(x) illustrated
in the previous figures. As previously mentioned, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
describes the relationship between the integral and derivative, which implies F(x) = f(x). The
Mean Value Theorem states the existence of c in the interval (a, b) such that (f(b) f(a)) / (b-a) =
f(c) or f(b) f(a) = f(c) (b-a) which implies the First Mean Value Theorem for integrals:
b

f ( x ) dx=f (c )(ba)
a

Where the point f(c) is called the average value of f(x) on [a, b]

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b

f ( x ) dx=f (c )(ba)
a

( x3)
( 4 +2( x3) 4 ( x3 ) +5)dx=f ( c ) (31)
3

f(c) = 8.2

( x3)
( 4 +2( x3) 4 ( x3 ) +5) dx=f ( c ) (53)
3

Figure 8. MVT for Integrals

Figure 8 illustrates the height, 8.2 units, of two intervals produced by the Mean Value
Theorem. To the right of the graph shows the calculation performed to solve for f(c).
What this means is in order to have a perfect Riemann sum that calculates the area exactly, the
height of the two rectangles (essentially one) has to be 8.2 units.

Problems to consider
a) Estimate the radius of the balloon when t = 7.2 using the tangent line approximation at
t = 7. Is your estimate greater than or less than the true value? Give a reason for your
answer.
(y-32) = 1.4(x-7)
(y-32) = 1.4(7.2-7)
y = 32.28 feet

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This value overestimates the true value because the slope is constantly decreasing.
b) Find the rate of change of the volume of the balloon with respect to time when t = 7.
Indicate the units of measure.
4
V = r3
3
dV
2 dr
=4 r ( )
dt
dt
dV
2
=4 ( 32 ) (1.4)
dt
dV
3
=18015.1 ft /s
dt
c) Use a right Riemann sum with 5 subintervals indicated by the data in the table to

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approximate

12

r ( t ) dt
'

. Using correct units, explain the meaning of

r ' ( t ) dt
0

in terms

of the radius of the balloon.

(rect. 1) f(x)(dx) + (rect. 2) f(x)(dx) + (rect. 3) f(x)(dx) + (rect. 4) f(x)(dx) + (rect. 5) f(x)(dx)
f(1)(1-0) + f(4)(4-1) + f(7)(7-4) + f(11)(11-7) + f(12)(12-11)
(4)(1)+(2)(3)+(1.4)(3)+(.5)(4)+(.4)(1)
= 16.6 ft.
The sum of the changing radius (ft/s) from 0 to 12 seconds is equal to the radius in feet. The
definite integral is known as the product between the x and y values. In this case, x is in seconds
and y is in feet per second. When you multiply the units together, the variable for seconds
cancels out and simplifies to feet. Therefore, the definite integral of the derivative function is
radius in feet.

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12

d) Is your approximation in part c greater than or less than

r ' ( t ) dt
0

? Give a reason.

12

The approximation in part c is less than

r ' ( t ) dt
0

because r(t) is decreasing and if a right

Riemann sum is used to estimate the area, only the lowest height values for each rectangle will
be taken into consideration in the calculation.
Overall, the three methods Riemann sums, trapezoid rule, and Simpsons rule are very
similar in that they all use a known shape or curve to estimate an area using changes in x and
different y values and that as the number of data points increases, so does the accuracy of the
methods estimation. However, they also contrast in correspondence to the shape that they use to
estimate the definite integral. Riemann sums and trapezoid rule both use linear approximations in
order to determine an estimation, but they differ in that Riemann sums have lines that are
constant and trapezoid rule have lines with slope. Simpsons rule uses parabolas to estimate the
value of an area, allowing it to be more accurate with curved graphs, but using a Riemann sum
with a height produced from MVT will produce an exact value for the definite integral. Each
method has advantages and disadvantages, but the basic understanding of how each method
works allows us to understand the underlying technology that instantly computes integrals and
allow us to better understand what the integral represents in real world situations.

Works Cited
Wesstein, Eric. "Simpson's Rule." Wolfram MathWorld. Wolfram Research, 2 Mar.2015. Web.
22 Mar. 2015. <http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SimpsonsRule.html>.

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