Riemann sum

English

Etymology

Named after Bernhard Riemann, a German mathematician.

Noun

Riemann sum (plural Riemann sums)

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Riemann sum

Wikipedia

1. (mathematics) A certain kind of approximation of an integral by a finite sum that is calculated by dividing the interval of integration into smaller sub-intervals and summing sample values of the integrand inside those sub-intervals multiplied by their lengths.

Usage notes

In mathematical terms, let ${\displaystyle f}$ be a function defined on a closed interval ${\displaystyle }$. Let ${\displaystyle }$ be partitioned by points ${\displaystyle a=x_{0}<x_{1}<x_{2}<\cdots <x_{n-1}<x_{n}=b}$, and ${\displaystyle \Delta x_{k}}$ denote the length of the ${\displaystyle k}$th subinterval ${\displaystyle }$, i.e. ${\displaystyle \Delta x_{k}=x_{k}-x_{k-1}}$. A Riemann sum ${\displaystyle S}$ of ${\displaystyle f}$ is defined as ${\displaystyle S=\sum _{k=1}^{n}f(x_{k}^{*})\,\Delta x_{k}}$, where ${\displaystyle x_{k}^{*}}$ is an arbitrary point in the ${\displaystyle k}$th subinterval, i.e. ${\displaystyle x_{k}^{*}\in }$.

See also

• Riemann integral