Definition:Definite Integral/Darboux
Definition
Let $\closedint a b$ be a closed real interval.
Let $f: \closedint a b \to \R$ be a real function.
Let $f$ be bounded on $\closedint a b$.
Suppose that:
- $\displaystyle \underline {\int_a^b} \map f x \rd x = \overline {\int_a^b} \map f x \rd x$
where $\displaystyle \underline {\int_a^b}$ and $\displaystyle \overline {\int_a^b}$ denote the lower integral and upper integral, respectively.
Then the definite (Darboux) integral of $f$ over $\closedint a b$ is defined as:
- $\displaystyle \int_a^b \map f x \rd x = \underline {\int_a^b} \map f x \rd x = \overline {\int_a^b} \map f x \rd x$
$f$ is formally defined as (properly) integrable over $\closedint a b$ in the sense of Darboux, or (properly) Darboux integrable over $\closedint a b$.
More usually (and informally), we say:
- $f$ is (Darboux) integrable over $\closedint a b$.
Geometric Interpretation
The expression $\displaystyle \int_a^b \map f x \rd x$ can be (and frequently is) interpreted as the area under the graph. This follows from the definition of the definite integral as a sum of the product of the lengths of intervals and the "height" of the function being integrated in that interval and the formula for the area of a rectangle.
A depiction of the lower and upper sums illustrates this:
It can intuitively be seen that as the number of points in the subdivision increases, the more "accurate" the lower and upper sums become.
Also note that if the graph is below the $x$-axis, the signed area under the graph becomes negative.
Also known as
Because of:
- the Equivalence of Definitions of Riemann and Darboux Integrals
- the concept of the Darboux integral is generally considered to be easier to grasp than the Riemann integral
it is a popular approach on an introductory course of integral calculus to teach the Darboux integral, but then to call it the Riemann integral.
Technically it is not, but the difference is ultimately immaterial.
There may be instances on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ where the term Riemann integral is used but Darboux integral is what is meant.
As this is suboptimal and feeds the confusion between the two, they are to be amended whenever they are encountered.
Also see
Source of Name
This entry was named for Jean-Gaston Darboux.
Sources
- 1937: Eric Temple Bell: Men of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text{VI}$: On the Seashore
- 1953: Walter Rudin: Principles of Mathematical Analysis ... (previous): $6.1$
- 1968: Murray R. Spiegel: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 15$: Definition of a Definite Integral: $15.1$
- 1970: Arne Broman: Introduction to Partial Differential Equations ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Fourier Series: $1.1$ Basic Concepts: $1.1.3$ Definitions
- 1977: K.G. Binmore: Mathematical Analysis: A Straightforward Approach ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 13.2$
- 1977: K.G. Binmore: Mathematical Analysis: A Straightforward Approach ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 13.16$
- 2005: René L. Schilling: Measures, Integrals and Martingales ... (previous) ... (next): $11.6$
- 2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $8$: The System of the World: Newton