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How does the small rectangle method prove Green's Theorem?

The proof proceeds in four steps: partitioning the region D into small rectangles, approximating the line integral on a single rectangle using Taylor expansions, summing these integrals so that internal boundaries cancel out, and taking the limit as the grid size approaches zero to derive the double integral of the curl.

Conditions

  • The region D is a closed planar region.
  • The functions P and Q have continuous first partial derivatives near D.
  • The boundary L is piecewise smooth.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Partition the region D into a fine grid of infinitesimal rectangles.
  2. Approximate the line integral around a single small rectangle using first-order Taylor expansions of partial derivatives.
  3. Sum the line integrals over all sub-rectangles; internal shared boundaries cancel due to opposite traversal directions.
  4. Take the limit as the grid size approaches zero, converting the discrete sum into a double integral and the stepped boundary into the smooth curve L.

Example

The script states: 'Our core proof strategy involves four steps: partitioning, approximation, summation, and taking limits.'

Common misconceptions

  • Believing that the cancellation of internal boundaries happens without considering the orientation of traversal.
  • Thinking that the approximation step is exact rather than relying on a limit process.

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