Approximating Definite Integrals - Integration Techniques

In this section we have spent quite a bit of time on computing the values of integrals. Though, not all integrals can be calculated. A perfect instance is the subsequent definite integral.

Here we now need to talk a little bit about estimating values of definite integrals. We will seem at three different methods, even though one should already be well- known to you from your Calculus I days. We will build up all three methods for estimating

∫^b_a f (x) dx

by thinking of the integral like an area problem and by using known shapes to calculate the area within the curve. Let us get first develop the methods and then we will try to calculate the integral illustrated above.