Riemann Sum Definite Integral Question

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on evaluating the definite integral of the function (x-2) from -2 to 2 using the definition of a definite integral with right endpoints. Participants emphasize the importance of selecting n equally spaced subintervals, where the width of each rectangle is calculated as w=4/n. By choosing the right endpoints for the rectangles, users can compute the height of each rectangle and subsequently find the sum of their areas. The final step involves taking the limit as n approaches infinity to arrive at the integral's value.

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ISITIEIW
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So the question is Evaluate (x-2)dx as the integral goes from -2 to 2 using the definition of a definite integral, choosing your sample points to be the right endpoints of the subintervals…

Ok, so i understand how to do this problem if it gave me an actual number of interval like n=6 but it doesn't and I'm not sure how to go about actually solving it without an actual number for n.

Thanks :)
 
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ISITIEIW said:
So the question is Evaluate (x-2)dx as the integral goes from -2 to 2 using the definition of a definite integral, choosing your sample points to be the right endpoints of the subintervals…

Ok, so i understand how to do this problem if it gave me an actual number of interval like n=6 but it doesn't and I'm not sure how to go about actually solving it without an actual number for n.

Thanks

Welcome to MHB, ISITIEIW! :)

I suggest you pick n equally spaced narrow rectangles numbered i = 1, ..., n.
To visualize it, you can start with n=6.
Then each rectangle will have width w=4/n.
For each rectangle we can pick an arbitrary coordinate $x_i$ between its left side and its right side. Say we pick the center, what would $x_i$ be then?
Substitute that $x_i$ in (x-2) and you get the height of each rectangle.

Can you calculate the sum of the areas of the rectangles?
And then let n go to infinity?
 

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