Education Technology


Rectangle and Trapezoid Approximations to Definite Integrals

Activity Overview

Use visual representation of area estimation methods in order to determine which is most accurate.

About the Lesson

This lesson involves providing students with a visual representation of area estimation methods in order to determine which is most accurate.

As a result, students will be able to:

  • relate the left endpoint rectangle, right endpoint rectangle, and trapezoidal estimates of the area under the curve
  • use a dynamic comparison of the midpoint rectangle and trapezoidal estimates of area under a curve, relating these to the concavity of the curve.