Approximate Integration

In many practical and theoretical contexts, the exact value of a definite integral may be inaccessible. This limitation typically arises when the antiderivative of a function is either unknown or cannot be expressed in a closed mathematical form. Alternatively, it can occur when a function is defined not by a formula but by a finite set of empirical data points, such as those collected during experiments. In these cases, approximate integration techniques provide a valuable solution.

One of the most widely used approaches involves Riemann sums, which estimate the area under a curve by subdividing the interval of integration into several equal parts. Each subinterval is associated with a rectangle whose height is determined by the function’s value at a selected point within that subinterval. This simple geometric interpretation allows for numerical approximations when analytical methods are not feasible.

The choice of point within each subinterval leads to different methods. In the left endpoint approximation, the height of each rectangle is based on the function’s value at the left end of the subinterval. When the function is increasing, this method tends to underestimate the total area; when the function is decreasing, it typically overestimates. Conversely, the right endpoint approximation uses the function’s value at the right end of each subinterval, leading to an overestimation for increasing functions and underestimation for decreasing ones.

These techniques, though elementary in formulation, serve as foundational tools in numerical analysis. They are especially valuable in scientific and engineering applications where integrals must be evaluated from discrete measurements or for functions too complex for symbolic integration.