Thread: Use Riemann sums and a limit to compute the exact area under the curve.

Once I have the form:



I know it is of the form:



and since the degree is the same in the numerator and denominator, I know the limit as is simply the ratio of the leading coefficients, so we must have:



There is nothing wrong with your approach either, I just find it simpler to think of the technique we are taught in precalculus to find horizontal asymptotes.

Okay, I took your advice and reworked the problem and voila, now I get the same answer either way! I posted my work in the attached pic file, just for your perusing pleasure

Thanks for all your help, you ROCK!

Originally Posted by MarkFL2

Once I have the form:



I know it is of the form:



and since the degree is the same in the numerator and denominator, I know the limit as is simply the ratio of the leading coefficients, so we must have:



There is nothing wrong with your approach either, I just find it simpler to think of the technique we are taught in precalculus to find horizontal asymptotes.

Very good advice. It has been eons and eons since I took Algebra, let alone pre-calculus, which explains why I am not very efficient at these yet. I suppose "Hind sight is 20/20" and I should not have dove straight into calculus without some basic refreshers.

Once again, you have saved me much anguish! I truly thank you!!

Your revised work looks good! Glad to be of assistance.