Riemann Sum

Let

  • f : [a,b]→Rf\,:\,[a,b]\rightarrow\mathbb{R} is a bounded function on the compact interval I=[a,b]I=[a,b] with M=sup⁡IfM=\sup_I f and m=inf⁡Ifm=\inf_I f.
  • P={ I1,I2,…,In }P=\set{I_1, I_2, \dots, I_n}
  • Mk=sup⁡Ikf=sup⁡{ f(x):x∈[xk−1,xk] }M_k=\sup_{I_k} f = \sup\set{f(x):x\in[x_{k-1},x_k]}
  • mk=inf⁡Ikf=inf⁡{ f(x):x∈[xk−1,xk] }m_k=\inf_{I_k} f = \inf\set{f(x):x\in[x_{k-1},x_k]}

Upper Riemann Sum

U(f;P)=∑k=1nMk∣Ik∣U(f;P)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}{M_k\lvert{I_k}\rvert}

Lower Riemann Sum

L(f;P)=∑k=1nmk∣Ik∣L(f;P)=\sum_{k=1}^{n}{m_k\lvert{I_k}\rvert}

mk<Mk  ⟹  L(f;P) ≤ U(f;P)m_k<M_k \implies L(f;P)\,\le\,U(f;P)

When P1,P2P_1, P_2 are any 2 partitions of II: L(f;P1)≤U(f;P2)L(f;P_1) \le U(f;P_2)

Written by September 29, 2026 1 min read
Was this helpful?