Identifier: Riemann Sums

–           The language discusses estimating or approximating an area or total amount, “Using rectangles, estimate the area using…” or “Use a left sum to approximate…”

–           You will see language asking you to use:

• left endpoints
• left hand rule
• left hand sums
• right endpoints
• right hand rule
• right hand sums
• midpoints
• midpoint rule
• midpoint sums
• upper sums
• lower sums

–           Sometimes you will just be given shorthand notation.

• $L_n$: The L tells you they want a left hand sum, and the n tells you how many subintervals to use.
• $R_n$: The R tells you they want a right hand sum, and the n tells you how many subintervals to use.
• $M_n$: The M tells you they want a midpoint sum, and the n tells you how many subintervals to use.