Numerical integration

Introduction
Even with advanced methods of integration there are many mathematical functions which cannot be integrated by analytical methods and thus approximate methods have then to be used. Approximate methods of definite integrals may be determined by what is termed numerical integration. It may be shown that determining the value of a definite integral is, in fact, finding the area between a curve, the horizontal axis and the specified ordinates. Three methods of finding approximate areas under curves are the trapezoidal rule, the mid-ordinate rule and Simpsons rule, and these rules are used as a basis for numerical integration.

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(2) (1)

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The trapezoidal rule

Let the range of integration be divided into n equal intervals each of width d, such that;

ba nd b a d n
The ordinates are labelled y1, y2, y3, . . . yn+1 as shown An approximation area under the curve may be determined by joining the tops of the ordinates by straight lines. Each interval is thus a trapezium, and since the area of a trapezium is given by:

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Problem 1. (a) Use integration to evaluate, correct to 3 decimal places

(b) Use the trapezoidal rule with 4 intervals to evaluate the integral in part (a), correct to 3 decimal places

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Exact result
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Use the trapezoidal rule with 8 intervals to evaluate

correct to 3 decimal places

Exact result The smaller the interval width the more accurate will be the value of the definite integral.
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The mid-ordinate rule

With the mid-ordinate rule each interval of width d is assumed to be replaced by a rectangle of height equal to the ordinate at the middle point of each interval, shown as y1, y2, y3, . . . yn in Fig.

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Problem 2. Use the mid-ordinate rule with (a) 4 intervals, (b) 8 intervals, to evaluate

correct to 3 decimal places

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Exact result

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Exact result

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correct to 4 significant figures, using the mid-ordinate rule with 6 intervals

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Simpsons rule

Thus the width of each of the two intervals is d. The area enclosed by the parabola, the x-axis and ordinates x=-d and x=d is given by:
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Thus the area under the parabola between x=-d and x=d in Fig. above may be expressed as 1/3 d (y1+4y2+ y3), from equations (3) and (4), and the result is seen to be independent of the position of the origin.

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Use Simpsons rule with (a) 4 intervals, (b) 8 intervals, to evaluate

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Exact result
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Evaluate

An alternating current i has the following values at equal intervals of 2.0 milliseconds:

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Evaluate the definite integrals using (a) the trapezoidal rule, (b) the midordinate rule, (c) Simpsons rule. Use 6 intervals in each case and give answers correct to 3 decimal places.

A vehicle starts from rest and its velocity is measured every second for 8 seconds, with values as follows:

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The distance travelled in 8.0 seconds is given by

Estimate this distance using Simpsons rule, giving the answer correct to 3 significant figures.

A pin moves along a straight guide so that its velocity v (m/s) when it is a distance x (m) from the beginning of the guide at time t (s) is given in the table below:
Use Simpsons rule with 8 intervals to determine the approximate total distance travelled by the pin in the 4.0 second period.

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Evaluate

An alternating current i has the following values at equal intervals of 2.0 milliseconds:

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