ACTIVITY 8.

1
ILLUSTRATING THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL AS THE LIMIT OF RIEMANN SUMS
Learning Outcome: At the end of this activity, I can illustrate the definite integral as the
limit of the Riemann sums.

EXPLORATION
Estimate the area under the curve y=x 2 over the interval [0 ,2] .

Solution: The graph of the curve is

2
Divide the interval into n equal pieces of length and estimate the area using rectangles.
n
2 1
Diving the interval into 4 equal pieces of length =
4 2
 1
The length of each rectangular piece is . The width (or height) is y=x 2.
2
R
Let n be the estimate using right end-points and
Ln be the estimate using left end-points

R4 = ()
2 2 2 ()
1 1 2 1 ( )2 1 3 2 1 ( ) 2
+ 1 +
2 2
+ 2
2

R4 =3.75

()
1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 3
()
2
Ln = ( 0 ) + + (1) +
2 2 2 2 2 2

Rn =1.75

To get more accuracy, we partition the interval into more pieces.

n Rn Ln
4 3.75 1.75
10 3.08 2.28
100 2.7068 2.627
1000 2.6707 2.6627
10000 2.6671 2.6663
1000000 2.66667 2.66667

2
Actual Area=lim Rn=¿ lim Ln =¿ 2 ≈ 2.66667 ¿ ¿
n→∞ n→ ∞ 3

R8 L8
RIEMANN SUMS
Let f (x) be a continuous function on [a , b].

Divide [a , b] into n equal pieces, each of length

b−a
∆ x=
n

Let x i=a+ i∙ ∆ x =¿ right end-point

of the ith piece.

Rn =¿ Riemann Sum using right end points

¿ f ( x 1 ) ∙ ∆ x + f ( x2 ) ∙ ∆ x + …+ f ( x r ) ∙ ∆ x +…+ f (x n)∙ ∆ x
n
¿ ∑ f ( xi ) ∙ ∆x
i=1

≈ Area above x -axis bounded by f ( x) – Area below x -axis bounded by f ( x)

(where f (x) is positive) (where f ( x) is positive)

PRACTICE TEST 8.1

Compute the left and right Riemann sums for f on the given interval.

1. L4 and R4 for f ( x )= √ 4−x2 on [ −2 ,2 ] 2. L6 and R6 for f ( x )= √9−( x−3 ) on [ 0 , 6 ]

2

THE DEFINITE INTEGRAL

The definite integral of f (x) over the interval [a , b] is given by

(∑ )
b n

∫ f ( x ) dx=lim
n→∞
f (x i)∙ ∆x
a i=1

∫ f ( x ) dx=¿ “Integral of f ( x) from a to b”

a

(∑ )
n
lim f ( x i )∙ ∆ x =¿ “Limit of the Riemann sums as n → ∞”
n→∞ i=1

The definite integral exists, that is, the above limit exists, for any continuous function on [a , b]
The definite integral equals the area above x -axis bounded by f ( x) over [a , b] minus the area below x
-axis bounded by f ( x) over [a , b]

ACTIVITY 8.2
EVALUATING DEFINITE INTEGRALS
Learning Outcome: At the end of this activity, I can evaluate definite integrals.

The quantity
b

∫ f ( x ) dx
a

is called the definite integral of f ( x) from a to b . The letters a and b are the lower and upper limits of
the integral.

THE FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF CALCULUS

If f(x) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and F(x) is an antiderivative of f(x) on [a, b],
then
b

∫ f ( x ) dx=F ( b )−F ( a )
a

This can be written as

b

∫ f ( x ) dx= F ( x ) ]a
b

The following are the integration rules for definite integrals.

1. If a< b, then
a b

∫ f ( x ) dx=−∫ f ( x ) dx
b a
a

if ∫ f ( x ) dx exists.
b

2. If f (a) exists, then

a

∫ f ( x ) dx=0
a

3. If c is any constant, then

b

∫ c dx=c ( b−a )
a

4. If the function f is integrable on the closed interval [a , b], and if c is any constant, then
 b b

∫ cf ( x ) dx=c ∫ f ( x ) dx
a a

5. If the functions f and g are integrable on [a , b], then f ± g is integrable on [a , b] and

b b b

∫ [ f ( x ) ± g ( x ) ] dx=∫ f ( x ) dx ±∫ g ( x ) dx
a a a

6. If the function f is integrable on the closed intervals [a , b], [a , c ], and [c , b ], then

b c b

∫ f ( x ) dx=∫ f ( x ) dx +∫ f ( x ) dx
a a c

where a< c< b.

7. If the function f is integrable on a closed interval containing the three numbers a , b , and c ,
then
b c b

∫ f ( x ) dx=∫ f ( x ) dx +∫ f ( x ) dx
a a c

regardless of the order of a , b , and c .

Example 1 Evaluate ∫ x 2 dx
3

Solution:
1 3

∫x 2
dx ¿−∫ x dx
2

3 1

( ])
3
x3
¿−
3 1

( )
3 3
3 1
¿− −
3 3
¿− (
27 1
−
3 3 )
1
26
∫ x 2 dx ¿− 3
3

Example 2 Evaluate ∫ x 2 dx
1

Solution:
1

∫ x 2 dx ¿ 0
1
 5

Example 3 Evaluate ∫ 4 dx
−3

Solution:
5

∫ 4 dx ¿ 4 [ 5−(−3 ) ]
−3
¿ 4 ( 5+3 )
¿ 4 ( 8)
5

∫ 4 dx ¿ 32
−3
3

Example 4. Evaluate ∫ ( 3 x 2−5 x +2 ) dx

1

Solution:
3 3 3 3

∫ ( 3 x 2−5 x +2 ) dx ¿ ∫ 3 x dx−∫ 5 x dx+∫ 2 dx

2

1 1 1 1

3 3 3
¿ 3∫ x2 dx−5 ∫ x dx+∫ 2 dx
1 1 1

] ]
3 3 2 3
x x
¿3∙ −5 ∙ + 2 ( 3−1 )
3 1 2 1

¿3∙ ( 33 13
3 3 ) (
3 2 12
− −5 ∙ − +2 ( 2 )
2 2 )
¿3∙ ( 273 − 13 )−5 ∙( 92 − 12 )+ 4
26 8
¿3∙ −5 ∙ + 4
3 2

¿ 26−5∙ 4+ 4

¿ 26−20+4

∫ ( 3 x 2−5 x +2 ) dx ¿ 10
1

( )
3 1
3 3
¿− −
3 3
 ( )
3 3
3 1
¿− −
3 3

( 273 − 13 )
¿−

1
26
∫ x 2 dx ¿− 3
3

PRACTICE TEST 8.2

Evaluate the following.

3 2

1. ∫ ( 3 x 2 +4 x ) dx 2. ∫ 4 x ( x+ 1 ) dx
2 −1

4 1

3. ∫ ( 2 x−3 √ x ) dx 4. ∫ ( 3 x−2 ) dx
1 3

2 2

5. ∫ ( 3 x + 2 x−1 ) dx
2
6. ∫ ( x 3−4 x ) dx
−2 −2
 2 2

∫ ( 4 x+ 1 ) dx ∫ ( 3 x 2−4 x−5 ) ( 6 x−4 ) dx

3 2
7. 8.
0 1

ACTIVITY 8.3
DETERMINING THE AREA OF A PLANE REGION
Learning Outcome: At the end of this activity, I can determine the area under a curve
using the concept of antiderivatives.

The area of a region under a curve can be approximated by using Riemann Sums. Definite
integrals can be defined as the limit of Riemann Sums. The following is the Riemann Sum formula.
b

( )
n
b−a
∫ f ( x ) dx= xlim ∑
→∞ i=1
f ( xi )
n
a

or
b n

∫ f ( x ) dx= xlim
→∞
∑ f ( xi ) ∆ x
a i=1

The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus can also be used to determine the area of a region
under a curve. Recall the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus:

∫ f ( x ) dx=F ( b )−F ( a )
a

AREA UNDER A CURVE

 If a curve is above the x -axis, use
b
Area=∫ f ( x ) dx
a

If a curve is below the x -axis, use

b
Area=−∫ f ( x ) dx
a

1 2
Example 1. Find the area beneath the curve y= x +1 from x=0 to x=4.
2

Solution:

Sketch the graph.

Since the area is above the x-axis, use Area=∫ f ( x ) dx

a

4
Area ¿∫
0
( 12 x +1) dx
2

]
3 4
1 x
¿ ∙ +x
2 3 0

]
4
x3
¿ +x
6 0

¿ [ ( 4 )3
6
+4 −
6 ][
( 0 )3
+0 ]
¿
[ 64
6
0
+4 − + 0
6 ][ ]
44
¿
3
 Area ≈ 14.67 square units

Example 2. Find the area between the graph of y=−x3 and the x -axis from x=−2 to x=2.

Solution:

Sketch the graph.

A part of the graph is above the x -axis

and another part is below the x -axis.

Let A1 be the area above the x -axis

from x=−2 to x=0
A2 be the area below the x -axis
from x=0 to x=2

For A1, use A1=∫ f ( x ) dx

a

0
¿ ∫ −x dx
3
A1
−2

]
0
x4
¿−
4 −2

[ ][ ]
4 4
−( 0 ) −( 2 )
¿ −
4 4

0 −16
¿− −
4 4 ( )
¿ 0+ 4

A1 ¿ 4 square units
 b

For A2, use A2=−∫ f ( x ) dx

a

2
¿−∫ −x dx
3
A2
0

( )]
2
−x 4
¿−
4 0

{[ ] [ ]}
4 4
−( 2 ) −( 0 )
¿− −
4 4

¿−
[ −16 −0
4
−
4 ( )]
¿−(−4 +0 )

¿−(−4 )

A1 ¿ 4 square units

Area
Area ¿ A1 + A2

¿ 4 +4

Area ¿ 8 square units

PRACTICE TEST 8.3
A. Find the area underneath the given curve.

2 2
1. y=−2 x +8 2. y=−x +7
from x=0 to x=1 from x=0 to x=1
 B. Find the area enclosed by the given curve, the x-axis, and the given lines.

−1 2
3. y= x +10, 4. 3
y=x −8
3
x=1 and x=3 from x=−1 to x=2

ACTIVITY 8.4
DETERMINING THE AREA OF A PLANE REGION
Learning Outcome: At the end of this activity, I can determine the area between curves
using the concept of antiderivatives.

AREA BETWEEN CURVES

Example 1. Find the area bounded by y=x 2−4 and y=x +2.

Solution:
Determne the points of intersection
of the two graphs. This can be done
by sketching the graphs, by setting
up tables of values or by using the
equations.

Using the equations:

y=x +2 Equation 1
y=x 2−4 Equation 2

Using substitution, replace y in the

Equation 1 by x 2−4 and solve for x .

x −4 ¿ x+ 2
2

2
x −4−x −2=0
x −x−6 ¿ 0
2

( x−3 ) ( x+ 2 ) ¿ 0

x−3=0 x +2=0
x=3 x=−2

In y=x +2,
when x=−2 when x=3 ,
y=−2+ 2 y=3+ 2
y=0 y=5

In y=x 2−4 ,
when x=−2 when x=3 ,
2 2
y= (−2 ) −4 y= (3 ) −4
y=4−4 y=9−4
y=0 y=5

So, the points of intersection are (−2 , 0) and (3 , 5).

Find the area of the region.

3
Area ¿ ∫ [ ( x +2 )−( x2 −4 ) ] dx
−2

3
¿ ∫ ( x +2−x + 4 ) dx
2

−2

3
¿ ∫ (−x + x +6 ) dx
2

−2

]
3
−x 3 x 2
¿ + +6x
3 2 −2
 [ ][ ]
3 2 3 2
−( 3 ) ( 3 ) − (−2 ) (−2 )
¿ + +6 ( 3 ) − + +6 (−2 )
3 2 3 2

¿ ( −273 + 92 +18)−( −−8

3
+ −12 )
4
2

¿
27 −22
2
−
3 ( )
27 22
¿ +
2 3

125
¿
6

Area ≈ 20.83 square units

PRACTICE TEST 8.4

Find the area bounded by the given curve and line.

2 2
1. y=x +3 2. y=2 x
and y=7 and y=4 x +6

3. y=−x2 + 4 x 4. y=x 3−6 x2 +8 x

2 2
and y=x and y=x −4 x