Topic: Riemann sums, left endpoints

Question: Use a lower sum (inscribed rectangles) to find the area under the
curve.

y= x+1

on the interval [0,3]

with n = 6

Answer choices:

A 3.75

B 6.48

C 6.83

D 5.96

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Solution: D

The Riemann sum is a tool we can use to approximate the area under a
function over a set interval a ≤ x ≤ b.

We’ll divide the area into rectangles and then sum the areas of all of the
rectangles in order to get an approximation of area. The greater the
number of rectangles, the more accurate the approximation will be. Of
course, if we use an infinite number of rectangles, taking the limit as n → ∞
of the sum of the area of each rectangle, then we’d be taking the integral
and calculating exact area.

When we approximate area with Riemann sums we consider the area

above the x-axis to be positive, and the area below the x-axis to be
negative. If our final result is positive, it tells us that there’s more area
above the x-axis than below it. On the other hand, if our final result is
negative, it means that there’s more area below the x-axis than above it.

The Riemann sum formula is

n

∑
Rn = f (xi)Δx
i=1

where Δx = (b − a)/n and Δx is the width of each rectangle, and where n is

the number of rectangles we’re using to approximate area. If we expand
the Riemann sum, we get the formula

Rn = Δx [ f (x1) + f (x2) + … + f (xn)]

Our plan is to solve for Δx, divide the interval into even segments that are
each Δx wide, and then use an endpoint of each segment as the values of

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xn. When we’re using a Riemann sum to approximate area, we can choose
the left endpoints, right endpoints, or midpoints of our rectangles.

Plugging the interval and the value of n we’ve been given into the formula
for Δx, we get

b−a
Δx =
n

3−0
Δx =
6

1
Δx =
2

Next, we need to figure out whether to use left endpoints, right endpoints,
or a combination in order to get the lower sum, so we take the derivative of
the function to see where it’s increasing and decreasing.

1 −1
y′ = x 2
2

Since this derivative function is always positive, the original function is

increasing on the interval [0,3], and so we use the left endpoints to find the
lower sum.

ci = a + (i − 1)Δx

1 3 5
c1 = 0 c2 = c3 = 1 c4 = c5 = 2 c6 =
2 2 2

Finally, we plug everything into the lower sum formula.

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 n

∑
s(n) = f (ci)Δx
i=1

∑
s(6) = f (ci)Δx
i=1

(2) ( )(2) (2)

1 1 1 1
s(6) = ( 0 + 1) + +1 + ( 1 + 1)
2

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )(2)
3 1 1 5 1
+ +1 + ( 2 + 1) + +1
2 2 2 2

s(6) ≈ 5.96

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Topic: Riemann sums, left endpoints

Question: Approximate the area under the curve using a left rectangular
approximation method, and five equal subintervals.

x 2 + 6x + 5
f (x) =
x+4

on the interval [0,5]

Answer choices:

20,171
A
840

4,857
B
280

4,507
C
280

19,121
D
840

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Solution: B

The term rectangular approximation method means we will approximate

the area under the curve using rectangles. We calculate the area of each
rectangle by multiplying the height of the rectangle (the function value)
times the width of the rectangle (the length of the subinterval).

Because we are using a left rectangular approximation method, we will find

the height of the rectangle by calculating the function value at the left
endpoint of each subinterval.

The five equal subintervals in the interval [0,5] are [0,1], [1,2], [2,3], [3,4], and
[4,5]. Each subinterval is 1 unit wide. We will calculate the function values at
0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.

(0)2 + 6(0) + 5 5
f (0) = =
0+4 4

(1)2 + 6(1) + 5 1 + 6 + 5 12
f (1) = = =
1+4 5 5

(2)2 + 6(2) + 5 4 + 12 + 5 21 7
f (2) = = = =
2+4 6 6 2

(3)2 + 6(3) + 5 9 + 18 + 5 32
f (3) = = =
3+4 7 7

(4)2 + 6(4) + 5 16 + 24 + 5 45
f (4) = = =
4+4 8 8

Now that we know the height of each rectangle at the left endpoints of the
subintervals, we will add the areas together to get the final approximation.

118
Since the widths of the subintervals are all one unit, we do not have to
multiply the heights by the width in this question.

5 12 7 32 45
+ + + +
4 5 2 7 8

350 672 980 1,280 1,575

+ + + +
280 280 280 280 280

4,857
280

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Topic: Riemann sums, left endpoints

Question: Approximate the area under the curve using a left rectangular
approximation method, and three equal subintervals.

1 3
g(x) = − x + 5x 2 − 3x − 8
2

on the interval [2,8]

Answer choices:

349
A
2

B 76

C 106

D 152

120
Solution: D

The term rectangular approximation method means we will approximate

the area under the curve using rectangles. We calculate the area of each
rectangle by multiplying the height of the rectangle (the function value)
times the width of the rectangle (the length of the subinterval).

Because we are using a left rectangular approximation method, we will

find the height of the rectangle by calculating the function value at the left
endpoint of each subinterval.

The three equal subintervals in the interval [2,8] are [2,4], [4,6], and [6,8].
Each subinterval is 2 units wide. We will calculate the function values at 2,
4, and 6, and then multiply each value by 2 to find the area of the
rectangles.

1 3
g(2) = − (2) + 5(2)2 − 3(2) − 8 = − 4 + 20 − 6 − 8 = 2
2

Area: 2 × 2 = 4

1
g(4) = − (4)3 + 5(4)2 − 3(4) − 8 = − 32 + 80 − 12 − 8 = 28
2

Area: 2 × 28 = 56

1
g(6) = − (6)3 + 5(6)2 − 3(6) − 8 = − 108 + 180 − 18 − 8 = 46
2

Area: 2 × 46 = 92

Now we know the area of each rectangle at the left endpoints of the
subintervals, we will add the areas together to get the final approximation.

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4 + 56 + 92 = 152

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