Mathematics

The integral's negative value tells you that the net signed area between the curve and the $x$-axis is negative—meaning the graph spends more total area below the axis than above it over $[1,5]$. This doesn't mean $h$ is always negative; it could dip below and rise above, but the "weight" of the negative region outweighs any positive region. The $-7$ is a single number summarizing the overall balance of the function's behavior across the interval.

The integral's negative value tells you that the net signed area between the curve and the $x$-axis is negative—meaning the graph spends more total area below the axis than above it over $[1,5]$. This doesn't mean $h$ is always negative; it could dip below and rise above, but the "weight" of the negative region outweighs any positive region. The $-7$ is a single number summarizing the overall balance of the function's behavior across the interval.