Let
be defined in a closed region
of the
plane. Subdivided
into
subregions
of area
. Let
be some point of
. Form the sum
Consider
where the limit is taken so that the number n of subdivisions increases without limit and such that the largest linear dimension of each
approaches zero. If this limit exists it is denoted by
and is called the double integral of F(x, y) over the region
.
It can be proved that the limit dose exist if
is continuous (or piecewise continuous) in
.
