# Riemann Sum Definite Integral Question

#### ISITIEIW

##### New member
So the question is Evaluate (x-2)dx as the integral goes from -2 to 2 using the definition of a definite integral, choosing your sample points to be the right endpoints of the subintervals…

Ok, so i understand how to do this problem if it gave me an actual number of interval like n=6 but it doesn't and i'm not sure how to go about actually solving it without an actual number for n.

Thanks

#### Klaas van Aarsen

##### MHB Seeker
Staff member
So the question is Evaluate (x-2)dx as the integral goes from -2 to 2 using the definition of a definite integral, choosing your sample points to be the right endpoints of the subintervals…

Ok, so i understand how to do this problem if it gave me an actual number of interval like n=6 but it doesn't and i'm not sure how to go about actually solving it without an actual number for n.

Thanks
Welcome to MHB, ISITIEIW!

I suggest you pick n equally spaced narrow rectangles numbered i = 1, ..., n.
For each rectangle we can pick an arbitrary coordinate $x_i$ between its left side and its right side. Say we pick the center, what would $x_i$ be then?
Substitute that $x_i$ in (x-2) and you get the height of each rectangle.