using rectangles whose height is given by the value of the function at the midpoint of the rectangles base…

using rectangles whose height is given by the value of the function at the midpoint of the rectangles base (the midpoint rule), estimate the area under the graph of the following function, using two and then four rectangles. y = 1 - x² between x = - 1 and x = 1
Answer
Explanation:
Step1: Calculate width for 2 - rectangles
The interval is $[a=-1,b = 1]$. For $n = 2$ rectangles, the width $\Delta x=\frac{b - a}{n}=\frac{1-(-1)}{2}=1$.
Step2: Find mid - points and heights for 2 - rectangles
The mid - points are $x_1=-0.5$ and $x_2 = 0.5$. The heights are $y_1=1-(-0.5)^2=1 - 0.25 = 0.75$ and $y_2=1-(0.5)^2=1 - 0.25 = 0.75$. The area $A_2=\sum_{i = 1}^{2}y_i\Delta x=(0.75 + 0.75)\times1 = 1.5$.
Step3: Calculate width for 4 - rectangles
For $n = 4$ rectangles, $\Delta x=\frac{b - a}{n}=\frac{1-(-1)}{4}=0.5$.
Step4: Find mid - points and heights for 4 - rectangles
The mid - points are $x_1=-0.75,x_2=-0.25,x_3 = 0.25,x_4 = 0.75$. The heights are $y_1=1-(-0.75)^2=1 - 0.5625 = 0.4375$, $y_2=1-(-0.25)^2=1 - 0.0625 = 0.9375$, $y_3=1-(0.25)^2=1 - 0.0625 = 0.9375$, $y_4=1-(0.75)^2=1 - 0.5625 = 0.4375$. The area $A_4=\sum_{i = 1}^{4}y_i\Delta x=(0.4375 + 0.9375+0.9375 + 0.4375)\times0.5=1.375$.
Answer:
The area using 2 rectangles is 1.5 and using 4 rectangles is 1.375.