Definition of Integration (Reimann sums, etc.)

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the integration of the function f(x) = x using the trapezoidal rule and Riemann sums. The relevant equation for the trapezoid area is established as 1/2(b-a)(b+a). The participant describes the process of subdividing the interval [a, b] into n equal parts, leading to the formulation of the integral as the limit of a sum as n approaches infinity. Confusion arises regarding the role of the variable h, which represents the width of each subinterval, and the application of the arithmetic series formula to simplify the resulting expression.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic calculus concepts, specifically integration.
  • Familiarity with Riemann sums and their application in calculating integrals.
  • Knowledge of the trapezoidal rule for approximating areas under curves.
  • Ability to manipulate arithmetic series and their summation formulas.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the trapezoidal rule in calculus.
  • Learn about Riemann sums and their convergence properties.
  • Explore the arithmetic series formula and its applications in calculus.
  • Practice integration techniques using various functions and limits.
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Students studying calculus, educators teaching integration methods, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of numerical integration techniques.

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So I was just working through Courant's calculus and am a bit confused as to where a few variables are pulled out of.

Homework Statement



Integration of f(x) = x

We can see that a trapezoid is formed, so the relevant equation:
1/2(b-a)(b+a) is the value of this integral.

To confirm that our limiting process leads analytically to the same result, we subdivide the interval from a to b into n equal parts by means of the points of division
a + h, a + 2h, . . ., a + (n-1)h, where h = (b-a)/n.
(I still understand at this point as this is simply diving into n pieces)

Taking for εi the right-hand end point of each interval we find the integral as the limit as n -> ∞ of the sum

Fn = (a+h)h + (a+2h)h + . . . + (a + nh)h
(At this point I am not sure where the h outside the brackets has come from and what it represents, I thought h was the distance between segments?)
= nah + (1+2+3+ . . . + n)h2
= nah + (1/2)n(n+1)h2
(And at this point I am basically completely lost, I know the arithmetic series formula applies, but do not understand how to get to this point.)
 
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Never mind, I foiled it out and managed to figure it all out.

It didn't help that I was mistakenly looking at the term of a series formula for arithmetic series rather than the sum formula :-)
 

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