As a high school or undergraduateMathematics teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to help you in teaching topics such as integration, definite integral, area under a curve, and Riemann sum in Introductory Calculus.
This lesson plan allows students to understand Riemann sum, calculate the area under a curve using Riemann sum, and explore how this value converges to a definite integral. The activity helps students to apply the Riemann sums method for analysis and comparison of data on CO2 emission, which is considered to be a significant contributor to climate change.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Mathematics.
Questions
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
1. For a given function f(x) and n, calculate the left Riemann sum and right Riemann sum.
2. For the same f(x) (as above) and double the value of n (from above), calculate and compare the left and right Riemann sums.
3. Using Riemann sums, calculate and compare the total CO2 emissions (data records provided in the activity) for the U.S. and China from 1980 to 2015. What are the possible effects of these CO2 emissions on the Earth’s climate?
Left-handed and Right-handed Riemann sums of an increasing function
• Calculus, Integration
• Definite Integral
• Area under a Curve
• Riemann Sum
Climate Topic
• Energy, Economics, and Climate Change
• Climate and the Anthroposphere
• Policies, Politics, and Environmental Governance
Location
USA and China
Languages
English
Access
Online, Offline
Approximate Time Required
90 – 120 min
Contents
Reading and Associated Activity
(30 – 60 min)
A reading that introduces Riemann sum and the types of Riemann sums. It describes the calculation of the area under a curve by using Riemann sum, and explains how this value can converge to the definite integral. Go to the Reading
Classroom/ Laboratory activity
(~60 min)
A classroom/laboratory activity to analyze CO2 emissions data for the U.S. and China by using Riemann sums for the calculation of area under the curve. Go to the Activity
Step-by-Step User Guide
Questions/Assignments
Learning Outcomes
Additional Resources
Credits
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
1. Introduce the topic by using a reading and an associated activity
• Conduct the activities using the applets to further explain how to calculate the area under a curve by using the Riemann sum and how this value can converge to the definite integral.
• Then, help your students apply the learned concepts through a hands-on classroom/laboratory activity, “U.S. and China CO2 Emissions”, by Thomas J. Pfaff at Sustainability Math. This activity uses CO2 emission data and population data for the U.S. and China for the period 1980 to 2015.
• This activity will help students to
• analyze CO2 emissions for each country
• compare the CO2 emissions for the countries by using Riemann sums for the data from 1980 to 2015
• create a proposal for emission reduction by considering past and current CO2 emissions for the two countries
• Download the material in the project, “U.S. and China CO2 Emissions”, under Calculus I – Integration Related Projects.
• Students can perform the exercises described in the Word file by using the data in the Excel file.
Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
1. For a given function f(x) and n, calculate the left Riemann sum and right Riemann sum.
2. For the same f(x) (as above) and double the value of n (from above), calculate and compare the left and right Riemann sums.
3. Using Riemann sums, calculate and compare the total CO2 emissions (data records provided in the activity) for the U.S. and China from 1980 to 2015. What are the possible effects of these CO2 emissions on the Earth’s climate?
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
• calculate the approximate area under a curve by using the Riemann sums method
• compare the results obtained for left and right Riemann sums for the same curve
• explain how the estimate of the area under a curve (using Riemann sum) converges to the definite integral
• apply the Riemann sum method to analyze and compare CO2 emissions data for the U.S. and China
If you or your students would like to explore the topic further, these additional resources will be useful.
All the teaching tools and images in our collated list are owned by the corresponding creators/authors/organizations as listed on their websites. Please view the individual copyright and ownership details for each tool by following the individual links provided. We have selected and analyzed the tools that align with the overall objective of our project and have provided the corresponding links. We do not claim ownership of or responsibility/liability for any of the listed tools.
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