Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Riemann Sums
Riemann sums approximate the area under a curve by dividing the interval into subintervals and summing the areas of rectangles formed using function values at specific points. The left Riemann sum uses the left endpoint of each subinterval to determine the rectangle height, providing an estimate of the integral.
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Introduction to Riemann Sums
Partitioning the Interval
Partitioning involves dividing the interval [0, 2] into equal subintervals, here n = 4, to create smaller segments for approximation. Each subinterval has length Δx = (b - a)/n, which is essential for calculating the width of rectangles in the Riemann sum.
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Function Evaluation at Endpoints
To compute the left Riemann sum, evaluate the function f(x) = x² + 2 at the left endpoints of each subinterval. These values determine the heights of the rectangles, which when multiplied by the subinterval width and summed, approximate the total area under the curve.
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