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AP Calculus BC : Numerical Approximations to Definite Integrals

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Approximate

$\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} x^{2} \cos x \; \mathrm {d}x$

using the midpoint rule with n = 5 . Round your answer to three decimal places.

Possible Answers:

0.478

None of the other choices are correct.

0.467

0.447

0.470

Correct answer:

0.478

Explanation:

The interval $\left [ 0, \frac{\pi}{2}\right ]$ is $\frac{\pi}{2}$ units in width; the interval is divided evenly into five subintervals $\Delta x = \frac{\pi}{2} \div 5 = \frac{\pi}{10}$ units in width, with their midpoints shown:

$\left [ 0, \frac{\pi}{10}\right ]; x_{1} = \frac{\pi}{20}$

$\left [ \frac{\pi}{10},\frac{\pi}{5} \right ]; x_{2} = \frac{3 \pi}{20}$

$\left [ \frac{\pi}{5},\frac{3\pi}{10} \right ]; x_{3} =\frac{5 \pi}{20} = \frac{ \pi}{4}$

$\left [ \frac{3\pi}{10}, \frac{2 \pi}{5} \right ]; x_{4} =\frac{7 \pi}{20}$

$\left [ \frac{2 \pi}{5} , \frac{\pi}{2} \right ];x_{5} = \frac{9 \pi}{20}$

The midpoint rule requires us to calculate:

$M = \Delta x \left ( f (x_{1} )+ f (x_{2}) + f (x_{3}) + f (x_{4}) + f (x_{5}) \right )$

where $\Delta x = \frac{\pi}{10}$ and $f(x) = x^{2} \cos x$

Evaluate $f(x) = x^{2} \cos x$ for each of $x = x_ { 1 }, x_ { 2 }, x_ { 3 }, x_ { 4 }, x_ { 5 }$ :

$f\left $ \frac{\pi}{20} \right$ = \left $ \frac{\pi}{20} \right$^{2} \cos \left $ \frac{\pi}{20} \right$$

$\approx 0.1571^{2} \cdot \cos 0.1571 \approx 0.1571^{2} \cdot 0.9877 \approx 0.0244$

$f\left $ \frac{3\pi}{20} \right$ = \left $ \frac{3\pi}{20} \right$^{2} \cos \left $ \frac{3\pi}{20} \right$$

$\approx 0.4712 ^{2} \cdot \cos 0.4712 \approx 0.1571^{2} \cdot 0.8910 \approx 0.1979$

$f\left $ \frac{\pi}{4} \right$ = \left $ \frac{\pi}{4} \right$^{2} \cos \left $ \frac{\pi}{4} \right$$

$\approx 0.7854^{2} \cdot \cos 0.7854 \approx 0.7854^{2} \cdot 0.7071 \approx 0.4362$

$f\left $ \frac{7\pi}{20} \right$ = \left $ \frac{7\pi}{20} \right$^{2} \cos \left $ \frac{7\pi}{20} \right$$

$\approx 1.0996^{2} \cdot \cos 1.0996 \approx 1.0996^{2} \cdot 0.4540 \approx 0.5489$

$f\left $ \frac{9\pi}{20} \right$ = \left $ \frac{9\pi}{20} \right$^{2} \cos \left $ \frac{9\pi}{20} \right$$

$\approx 1.4137 ^{2} \cdot \cos1.4137 \approx 1.4137^{2} \cdot 0.1564 \approx 0.3126$

Since $\Delta x = \frac{\pi}{10} \approx 0.3142$ ,

we can approximate as

$M \approx 0.3142 \cdot \left ( 0.0244 + 0.1979 + 0.4362 + 0.5489 + 0.3126) \right ) \approx 0.478$ .

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Example Question #4 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

$\begin{align*}&\text{Calculate the Riemann sums integral approximation of :}\\&\int_{-4}^{14.4}(-20sin(13tan(2x)))dx\\&\text{Using midpoints over }4\text{ intervals.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

-1119.16

-1534.84

-159.88

-69.51

Correct answer:

-159.88

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{-4}^{14.4}(-20sin(13tan(2x)))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[-4,14.4]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{14.4-(-4)}{4}=\frac{23}{5}\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[-\frac{17}{10},\frac{29}{10},\frac{15}{2},\frac{121}{10}]\\&\int_{-4}^{14.4}(-20sin(13tan(2x)))dx=\frac{23}{5}[(20sin(13tan(\frac{17}{5})))+(-20sin(13tan(\frac{29}{5})))+(-20sin(13tan(15)))+(-20sin(13tan(\frac{121}{5})))]\\&\int_{-4}^{14.4}(-20sin(13tan(2x)))dx=-159.88\end{align*}$

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Example Question #5 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{5}^{21}(-16cos(sin(6x)))dx\\&\text{Using }4\text{ intervals.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

-67.24

-35.53

-188.28

-1506.27

Correct answer:

-188.28

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{5}^{21}(-16cos(sin(6x)))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[5,21]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{21-(5)}{4}=4\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[7,11,15,19]\\&\int_{5}^{21}(-16cos(sin(6x)))dx=4[(-16cos(sin(42)))+(-16cos(sin(66)))+(-16cos(sin(90)))+(-16cos(sin(114)))]\\&\int_{5}^{21}(-16cos(sin(6x)))dx=-188.28\end{align*}$

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Example Question #5 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using }3\text{ intervals, and the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{2}^{14.6}(16cos(20e^{(3x)}))dx\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

78.12

26.04

4.13

247.37

Correct answer:

26.04

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{2}^{14.6}(16cos(20e^{(3x)}))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[2,14.6]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{14.6-(2)}{3}=\frac{21}{5}\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[\frac{41}{10},\frac{83}{10},\frac{25}{2}]\\&\int_{2}^{14.6}(16cos(20e^{(3x)}))dx=\frac{21}{5}[(16cos(20e^{(\frac{123}{10})}))+(16cos(20e^{(\frac{249}{10})}))+(16cos(20e^{(\frac{75}{2})}))]\\&\int_{2}^{14.6}(16cos(20e^{(3x)}))dx=26.04\end{align*}$

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Example Question #7 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using }3\text{ intervals, and the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{-3}^{9.9}(\frac{13}{3^{(5cos(3x))}})dx\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

2653.87

1155.72

70937.83

7165.44

Correct answer:

7165.44

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{-3}^{9.9}(\frac{13}{3^{(5cos(3x))}})dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[-3,9.9]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{9.9-(-3)}{3}=\frac{43}{10}\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[-\frac{17}{20},\frac{69}{20},\frac{31}{4}]\\&\int_{-3}^{9.9}(\frac{13}{3^{(5cos(3x))}})dx=\frac{43}{10}[(\frac{13}{3^{(5cos(\frac{51}{20}))}})+(\frac{13}{3^{(5cos(\frac{207}{20}))}})+(\frac{13}{3^{(5cos(\frac{93}{4}))}})]\\&\int_{-3}^{9.9}(\frac{13}{3^{(5cos(3x))}})dx=7165.44\end{align*}$

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Example Question #6 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{1}^{9}(19cos(2x^{2}))dx\\&\text{Using }4\text{ intervals.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

-184.57

-36.91

-114.43

-4.45

Correct answer:

-36.91

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{1}^{9}(19cos(2x^{2}))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[1,9]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{9-(1)}{4}=2\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[2,4,6,8]\\&\int_{1}^{9}(19cos(2x^{2}))dx=2[(19cos(8))+(19cos(32))+(19cos(72))+(19cos(128))]\\&\int_{1}^{9}(19cos(2x^{2}))dx=-36.91\end{align*}$

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Example Question #1 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using }4\text{ intervals, and the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{1}^{12.6}(-9sin(18e^{(3x)}))dx\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

-649.70

-184.57

-391.30

-73.83

Correct answer:

-73.83

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{1}^{12.6}(-9sin(18e^{(3x)}))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[1,12.6]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{12.6-(1)}{4}=\frac{29}{10}\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[\frac{49}{20},\frac{107}{20},\frac{33}{4},\frac{223}{20}]\\&\int_{1}^{12.6}(-9sin(18e^{(3x)}))dx=\frac{29}{10}[(-9sin(18e^{(\frac{147}{20})}))+(-9sin(18e^{(\frac{321}{20})}))+(-9sin(18e^{(\frac{99}{4})}))+(-9sin(18e^{(\frac{669}{20})}))]\\&\int_{1}^{12.6}(-9sin(18e^{(3x)}))dx=-73.83\end{align*}$

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Example Question #10 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{0}^{10}(8cos(19e^{(x)}))dx\\&\text{Using }4\text{ intervals.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

-4.50

-8.65

-44.98

-125.94

Correct answer:

-44.98

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{0}^{10}(8cos(19e^{(x)}))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[0,10]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{10-(0)}{4}=\frac{5}{2}\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[\frac{5}{4},\frac{15}{4},\frac{25}{4},\frac{35}{4}]\\&\int_{0}^{10}(8cos(19e^{(x)}))dx=\frac{5}{2}[(8cos(19e^{(\frac{5}{4})}))+(8cos(19e^{(\frac{15}{4})}))+(8cos(19e^{(\frac{25}{4})}))+(8cos(19e^{(\frac{35}{4})}))]\\&\int_{0}^{10}(8cos(19e^{(x)}))dx=-44.98\end{align*}$

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Example Question #31 : Integrals

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{4}^{9.4}(-15sin(x^{2}))dx\\&\text{Using }3\text{ intervals.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

2.88

0.99

0.51

0.35

Correct answer:

2.88

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{4}^{9.4}(-15sin(x^{2}))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[4,9.4]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{9.4-(4)}{3}=\frac{9}{5}\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[\frac{49}{10},\frac{67}{10},\frac{17}{2}]\\&\int_{4}^{9.4}(-15sin(x^{2}))dx=\frac{9}{5}[(-15sin(\frac{2401}{100}))+(-15sin(\frac{4489}{100}))+(-15sin(\frac{289}{4}))]\\&\int_{4}^{9.4}(-15sin(x^{2}))dx=2.88\end{align*}$

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Example Question #32 : Integrals

$\begin{align*}&\text{Using the method of midpoint Riemann sums approximate the integral:}\\&\int_{0}^{12.3}(-12sin(19e^{(4x)}))dx\\&\text{Using }3\text{ intervals.}\end{align*}$

Possible Answers:

-593.17

-70.62

-183.60

-13.08

Correct answer:

-70.62

Explanation:

$\begin{align*}&\text{A Riemann sum integral approximation over an interval [a, b]}\\&\text{with n subintervals follows the form:}\\&\int_a^b f(x)dx \approx \frac{b-a}{n}(f(x_1)+f(x_2)+...+f(x_n))\\&\text{It is essentially a sum of n rectangles, each with a base of}\\&\text{length :}\frac{b-a}{n}\text{ and variable heights :}f(x_i)\text{, which depend on the function value at }x_i\\&\text{We're asked to approximate}\int_{0}^{12.3}(-12sin(19e^{(4x)}))dx\\&\text{So the interval is }[0,12.3]\text{ the subintervals have length }\frac{12.3-(0)}{3}=\frac{41}{10}\\&\text{and since we are using the *mid*point of each interval, the x-values are:}\\&[\frac{41}{20},\frac{123}{20},\frac{41}{4}]\\&\int_{0}^{12.3}(-12sin(19e^{(4x)}))dx=\frac{41}{10}[(-12sin(19e^{(\frac{41}{5})}))+(-12sin(19e^{(\frac{123}{5})}))+(-12sin(19e^{(41)}))]\\&\int_{0}^{12.3}(-12sin(19e^{(4x)}))dx=-70.62\end{align*}$

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AP Calculus BC : Numerical Approximations to Definite Integrals

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus BC

All AP Calculus BC Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #4 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #5 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #5 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #7 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #6 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #1 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #10 : Riemann Sum: Midpoint Evaluation

Example Question #31 : Integrals

Example Question #32 : Integrals

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