3.

3 The Definite Integral

(MAT051 - Calculus 1)

NESTOR G. ACALA, PhD

Mathematics Department
Mindanao State University Main Campus
Marawi City
[email protected]
Partitions and the Definite Integral
(Riemann Integral)

The concept of partitions or divisions and the formation of sums are the initial
steps in the development of a theory of integration.
The partition D of [a, b] is a collection of points x0 , x1 , x2 , · · · , xn such that

a = x0 < x1 < x2 < · · · < xn = b ;

that is,
D = {x0 , x1 , x2 , · · · , xn }.
The norm of D, denoted by kD k, is the largest of the differences

∆i x = xi − xi −1 , where i = 1, 2, 3, · · · , n;

that is, kD k is the length of the longest interval in D. The sum

n
X
f (ξi )(xi − xi −1 ), where ξi ∈ [xi −1 , xi ],
i =1

is called a Riemann sum.

Example.
(a) A partition D1 on [−1, 1] with n = 4 and

x0 = a = −1, x1 = −0.5, x2 = 0, x3 = 0.5, x4 = b = 1

is the set
D1 = {x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 } = {−1, −0.5, 0, 0.5, 1}.
The length of the partition is
b−a 1 − (−1) 1
∆i x = = = .
n 4 2
That is,
1
x1 − x0 = = x2 − x1 = x3 − x2 = x4 − x3 .
2
(b) Another partition D2 on [−1, 1] with n = 8 and
x0 = a = −1 x2 = −0.5 x4 = 0 x6 = 0.5 x8 = 1
x1 = −0.25 x3 = −0.75 x5 = 0.25 x7 = 0.75
is the set

D2 = {x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , x5 , x6 , x7 , x8 }
= {−1, −0.25, −0.5, −0.75, 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1}.
(c) A Riemann sum s (f : D3 ) of f (x ) = (x + 1)2 with respect to the partition
D3 = {−1, 0, 52 , 1} on [−1, 1] is
s (f : D3 ) = f (ξ1 )(0 − (−1)) + f (ξ2 )( 25 − 0) + f (ξ3 )(1 − 52 ).
If we choose ξ1 = −0.5, ξ2 = 0.1 and ξ3 = 0.5, then

s (f : D3 ) = f (−0.5)(0 − (−1) + f (0.1)(0.4 − 0) + f (0.5)(1 − 0.4)

= 0.25(1)) + 1.21(0.4) + 2.25(0.6)
= 0.25 + 0.484 + 1.35
= 2.084.
 y
y = (x + 1)2

x
−1 0 1
If
n
X
lim f (ξi )(xi − xi −1 )
kD k→0
i =1

exists, then we say that f is Riemann integrable on [a, b]. In this case, we write
Z a n
X
f (x )dx = lim f (ξi )(xi − xi −1 ).
b kD k→0
i =1
Definition
Let f : [a, b] → R be a bounded function. Then f is integrable (Riemann
integrable) on [a, b] if there is a number I such that for every  > 0 there exists a
δ > 0 such that whenever D = {a = x0 , x1 , . . . , xn = b} is a division of [a, b]
with kD k < δ , we have
n
X
f (ξi )(xi − xi −1 ) − I < ,
i =1

where ξi ∈ [xi −1 , xi ], for every interval [xi −1 , xi ] in the partition. In this case, we
say that I is the Riemann integral or the definite integral of f over [a, b].
In symbols, we write
Z b Z b
f = f (x )dx = I .
a a
The numbers a and b are, respectively, the lower and upper limits of integration.

Remark
Every continuous function f : [a, b] → R is Riemann integrable on [a,b].
Definition Z a
Let f be integrable on [a, b]. The integral f (x )dx is given by
b
Z a Z b
f (x )dx = − f (x )dx .
b a
Properties of Definite Integrals

Theorem
If f is integrable on [a, b], then
Z c
f (x )dx = 0
c

for all c ∈ [a, b].

Theorem
If f is integrable on [a, c ] and [c , b], where a < c < b, then f is integrable
on [a, b] and
Z b Z c Z b
f (x )dx = f (x )dx + f (x )dx .
a a c
Theorem
If f is integrable on [a, b] and k is any real number, then kf is integrable on
[a, b] and
Z b Z b
kf (x )dx = k f (x )dx .
a a

Theorem
If f and g are integrable on [a, b], then f + g is integrable on [a, b] and
Z b Z b Z b
[f (x ) + g (x )] dx = f (x )dx + g (x )dx .
a a a
Theorem (First Fundamental Theorem of Calculus)
Let f be a continuous function on [a, b]. If F is the function defined by
Z x
F (x ) = f (t )dt
a

for every x in [a, b], then F 0 (x ) = f (x ) for all x ∈ [a, b], that is, F is an
antiderivative of f .
Theorem (Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus)
Let f be a continuous function on [a, b] and let F be an antiderivative of f ,
that is, F 0 (x ) = f (x ) for all x ∈ [a, b]. Then
Z b
f (x )dx = F (x )|ba = F (b) − F (a).
a
Examples

Evaluate the following definite integrals.

Z 2
2 − 3x 2 + 3x 5 dx


1.
−1
Z2 p
2. 2x 1 + 3x 2 dx
0
Z π
4
3. sin(cos(2x )) sin(2x )dx
0
Z 4
4. |x + 2| dx
−4
 Z 2
2 − 3x 2 + 3x 5 dx


1.
−1

Solution: Using the Fundamental Theorems of Calculus, we have

Z 2 2
x3 x6

2 5


2 − 3x + 3x dx = 2x − 3 + 3
−1 3 6 −1
2
x6
 
= 2x − x 3 +
2 −1
   
64 1
= 4−8+ − −2 + 1 +
2 2
56 1 57
= + = .
2 2 2
 Z 2 p
2. 2x 1 + 3x 2 dx
0
du
Solution: Let u = 1 + 3x 2 . Then du = 6xdx; that is, = 2xdx. Note that
3
when x = 0, u = 1 and when x = 2, u = 13. Thus,
Z 2 p Z 2p
2
2x 1 + 3x dx = 1 + 3x 2 (2xdx )
0 0
Z 13
√ du 1 13 1
Z
= u· = u 2 du
1 3 3 1
3 13 13
1 u2 2 √
= · 3 = u u
3 2 1 9 1
2  √ 
= 13 13 − 1 .
9
 Z π
4
3. sin(cos(2x )) sin(2x )dx
0
du
Solution: Let u = cos 2x. Then du = −2 sin 2xdx; that is, = sin 2xdx. Note
−2
π
that when x = 0, u = 1 and when x = , u = 0. Thus,
4
Z π Z 0
4 du
sin(cos(2x )) sin(2x )dx = sin u ·
0 1 −2
Z 0 0
−1 −1
= sin udu = (− cos u )
2 1 2 1
0
1 1
= cos u = (1 − cos 1) .
2 1 2
 Z 4
4. |x + 2| dx
−4
(
−(x + 2), if − 4 ≤ x ≤ −2
Solution: Note that f (x ) = |x + 2| = Thus,
(x + 2), if − 2 < x ≤ 4.
Z 4 Z −2 Z 4
|x + 2|dx = |x + 2|dx + |x + 2|dx
−4 −4 −2
Z −2 Z 4
= −(x + 2)dx + (x + 2)dx
−4 −2
−2 4
x2 x2
   
=− + 2x + + 2x
2 −4 2 −2
= (2 − 0) + (16 + 2)
= 20.