Riemann Sums and definite integrals

(1). Riemann Sums For a function f defined on [a, b], a partition P of [a, b] into a
collection of subintervals
[x0 , x1 ], [x1 , x2 ], , [xn1 , xn ],
and for each i = 1, 2, , n, a point xi in [xi1 , xi ], the sum
n
X

f (xi )(xi xi1 ) =

i=1

n
X

f (xi )xi

i=1

is called a Riemann sum for f determine by the partition P . Let |P | = max{xi xi1 for all
i = 1, 2, , n} denote the longest length of all the subintervals.
(2). The Definite Integral The definite integral of f from a to b is the number
b

f (x)dx = lim

|P |0

n
X

f (xi )xi

i=1

provided the limit exists. (We in this case say f is integrable on [a, b]).
R
(3). Computing Riemann Sums For a continuous function f on [a, b], ab f (x)dx always
exists and can be computed by
Z

f (x)dx = lim

n
X

f (xi )xi

i=1

for any choice of the xi in [x[ i 1, xi ] with x = ba

n and xi a + ix. That is, P partitions [a, b]
into equal length subintervals (called a regular partition.

Example 1 Compute the Riemann sum

n
X

f (xi )x for the function f (x) =

1
x

on [1, 6] with

i=1

a regular partition into n = 5 subintervals, and with xi = xi .

Solution: Note that a = 1, b = 6 and n = 5. Compute the following
61
ba
=
= 1.
n
5
xi = a + ix = 1 + i, for each i.
1
f (xi ) = f (xi ) =
, for each i.
1+i
x =

Therefore, (the answer is intentionally not simplified for students to see the algebra)
5
X
i=1

f (xi )x =

5
X
i=1

1
1 1 1 1 1
= + + + + .
i+1
2 3 4 5 6
1

Example 2 Compute the integral

x3 dx by computing Riemann sums for a regular partition.

Solution: Note that a = 0, b = 4 and f (x) = x3 . Use a regular partition for each positive
integer n. Note that when n , |P | 0. Compute the following
ba
40
4
=
= .
n
n
n
4i
xi = a + ix = , for each i.
n
 3
4i
i3
f (xi ) = f (xi ) =
= 64 3 , for each i.
n
n
x =

Therefore, the corresponding Riemann sum becomes (note that n14 is viewed as constant with
respect to the index i, and so it can be moved out of the summation sign. The last step follows
from summation formulas)
n
X

f (xi )x =

i=1

n
X
i=1

64

n
i3 4
256 X
256 n2 (n + 1)2
3
=
i
=
.
n3 n
n4 i=1
n4
4

Thus the answer is

Z
0

x3 dx = lim

n
X
i=1

f (xi )x = lim

n
X
i=1

64

i3 4
256 n2 (n + 1)2
=
lim
= 64.
n3 n n n4
4