One mole of an ideal gas at T = 25 °C is held in a cylinder by a piston at a pressure of 1 x 107 N m-2. The piston pressure is released in three stages,, first to 5 x 106 N m-2, then to 1 x 106 N m-2, and then to 1 x 105 N m-2. Calculate the work done by the gas during these irreversible, isothermal expansions. Compare this result to work done in a quasi-static (reversible), isothermal expansion from 1 x 107 N m-2 to 1 x 105 N m-2 at T = 25 °C.