Department of Mechanical Engineering

NED University of Engineering and Technology

Advanced Mathematical Techniques (MT-441)

Open Ended Problem

Open Ended Problem Topic: Trapezoidal Rule

Submitted by:
Syed Muhammad Talal Haider ME-20142
Approved by
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
Dr. Muhammad Jamil
(Assistant Professor NED Mathematics Department)
 Acknowledgment

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Muhammad Jamil for his outstanding
instructions and guidance in the Advanced Mathematical Techniques (MT-441) course.
His clear and insightful lectures have greatly enhanced my understanding of advanced
numerical mathematical concepts.

Dr. Jamil's assignments, including this trapezoidal rule assignment, have been
instrumental in extending my knowledge and refining my problem-solving skills. His
dedication to teaching, expertise and lecture notes in the Advanced Mathematical
Techniques (MT-441) course have been truly inspiring.

2
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3
Numerical Integration ...................................................................................................................... 3
Trapezoidal Rule............................................................................................................................... 3
Generalized Trapezoidal Rule .......................................................................................................... 4
Chapter 2: Proof of Error in Trapezoidal Rule .................................................................................. 7
Error in Trapezoidal Rule.................................................................................................................. 7
Chapter 3: Applications of Trapezoidal Rule .................................................................................. 11
Chapter 4: Applied Engineering Problems ..................................................................................... 12
Problem 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Problem 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Problem 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 19
References and Resources ............................................................................................................. 20

3
 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Numerical Integration
Numeric integration means numeric evaluation of definite integrals,
𝑏
𝐼 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
𝑎

Where a and b are the lower and the upper bounds of the function 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓(𝑥) is the
function to be integrated usually given empirically or by table of values. Geometrically I
represents the area under the curve given by 𝑓(𝑥) between the interval [𝑎, 𝑏].
We know that if 𝑓(𝑥) is such that we can determine a differentiable function 𝐹(𝑥) whose
derivative is 𝑓(𝑥), then we can evaluate 𝐼 by applying the fundamental principle of integration
𝑏
𝐼 = ∫ 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 = 𝐹(𝑏) − 𝐹(𝑎)
𝑎

Often the real world problems lead to the function whose analytical evaluation would be quite
difficult or even impossible or whose integrand is an empirical function given by table of values.
Numeric integration methods are obtained by the approximation of 𝑓 that can easily be
integrated between the given interval [𝑎, 𝑏].

Trapezoidal Rule
We know that definite integral is the area between curve of 𝑓(𝑥) and the x-axis. This is the
basic principle behind every numerical integration. We divide the distance between the interval
[𝑎, 𝑏] into strips and then sum the area of each strip to compute the numerical integration
of 𝑓(𝑥).
In trapezoidal rule, the area under the curve of 𝑓(𝑥) is approximated by the sequence of
vertical strips slant at the top to resemble a trapezoid.

4
 h

a b

It can be observed that the area bounded between 𝑓(𝑥) and [𝑥𝑖 , 𝑥𝑖+1 ] can be given by,
𝑎+𝑏 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 )
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑧𝑖𝑢𝑚 = ( )ℎ = (𝑥𝑖+1 − 𝑥𝑖 )
2 2
Also the integration of 𝑓(𝑥) between [𝑥𝑖 , 𝑥𝑖+1 ] can be approximated by,
𝑥𝑖+1
𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 )
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ (𝑥𝑖+1 − 𝑥𝑖 )
𝑥𝑖 2

Generalized or Composite Trapezoidal Rule

To compute the integral of a 𝑓(𝑥) over a large span of x values, i.e. from x=a to x=b. We have to
subdivide the interval [𝑎, 𝑏] into 𝑛 sub-intervals of each of width ℎ, apply the trapezoidal rule
for each sub-interval and then add the area of each sub-interval this is called generalized or
composite trapezoidal rule.

5
 )
)
)
)

)
)

Trapezoidal rule for 𝑛 = 5 (𝑠𝑢𝑏 − 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑠), between [𝑥0 , 𝑥5 ]

𝑥5
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + 𝐴3 + 𝐴4 + 𝐴5
𝑥0

𝑥5
𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 𝑓(𝑥1 ) 𝑓(𝑥1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥2 ) 𝑓(𝑥2 ) + 𝑓(𝑥3 ) 𝑓(𝑥3 ) + 𝑓(𝑥4 )
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ ℎ+ ℎ+ ℎ+ ℎ
𝑥0 2 2 2 2
𝑓(𝑥4 ) + 𝑓(𝑥5 )
+ ℎ
2
Here ℎ is the width of each trapezoid,
𝑥5 − 𝑥0
ℎ=
𝑛
In general for 𝑛 sub-intervals, the area between 𝑓(𝑥) and the interval [𝑎, 𝑏] can be computed
by,
𝑥𝑛
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 +∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ + 𝐴𝑛−1 + 𝐴𝑛
𝑥0

𝑏
𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 𝑓(𝑥1 ) 𝑓(𝑥1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥2 ) 𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ ℎ+ ℎ +∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ + ℎ
𝑎 2 2 2

Here ℎ is the width of each trapezoid,

𝑥𝑛 − 𝑥0 𝑏 − 𝑎
ℎ= =
𝑛 𝑛

6
In simplified form,
𝑏
ℎ
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ [𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥1 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥2 ) +∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 2𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )]
𝑎 2

The above expression is called generalized Trapezoidal rule for 𝑛 sub-intervals and for 𝑛 + 1
points.

7
 CHAPTER 2: PROOF OF ERROR IN TRAPEZOIDAL RULE
Error in Trapezoidal Rule
Consider a single interval, here 𝑎 = 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ), 𝑏 = 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ), ℎ = 𝑥𝑖+1 − 𝑥𝑖
Error bound for Trapezoidal rule,
∵ |𝑓′′(𝑥)| ≤ 𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏
𝑎+𝑏 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 )
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑧𝑖𝑢𝑚 = ( )ℎ = (𝑥𝑖+1 − 𝑥𝑖 )
2 2
Exact area underneath the 𝑓(𝑥),
𝑥𝑖+1 h
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 𝑒𝑞(1)
𝑥𝑖 a b
Let 𝑡 = 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑖 , 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝑥
𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑖 , 𝑡 = 0
𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑖+1 , 𝑡 = 𝑥𝑖+1 − 𝑥𝑖 = ℎ
Substituting the above values in equation 1, equation 1 becomes,
ℎ +
∫ 𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡 𝑒𝑞(2)
0

Using integration by parts to evaluate the above integral,

∵ ∫ 𝑢𝑑𝑣 = 𝑢𝑣 − ∫ 𝑣𝑑𝑢

Let 𝑢 = 𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 ) and 𝑑𝑣 = 𝑑𝑡

Equation 2 becomes,
ℎ ℎ
∫ 𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡 = 𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )(𝑡 + 𝑐1 )]ℎ0 − ∫ (𝑡 + 𝑐1 )𝑓 ′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡 𝑒𝑞(3)
0 0

Again applying integration by parts,

Let u= 𝑓 ′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 ) and 𝑑𝑣 = (𝑡 + 𝑐1 )𝑑𝑡
Equation 3 becomes,
ℎ
= ∫ 𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡
0

8
 ℎ
(𝑡 + 𝑐1 )2
= 𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )(𝑡 + 𝑐1 )]ℎ0 −( + 𝑐2 ) 𝑓 ′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )|
2 0
ℎ (𝑡
+ 𝑐1 )2
+∫ ( + 𝑐2 ) 𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡 𝑒𝑞(4)
0 2

Let’s choose c1 and c2 in such a way that the exact integral is equal to trapezoidal
approximation plus error.
𝑥𝑖+1
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 = 𝑇(𝑖) + 𝐸(𝑖) 𝑒𝑞(𝐴)
𝑥𝑖

Where T(i) is the area of 𝑖 𝑡ℎ trapezoid and the 𝐸(𝑖) is the error in the 𝑖 𝑡ℎ trapezoidal interval.
Here we want,
𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 )
𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )(𝑡 + 𝑐1 )]ℎ0 = (𝑥𝑖+1 − 𝑥𝑖 )
2
Substituting the limits,
𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) ℎ𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) ℎ𝑓(𝑥𝑖 )
(ℎ + 𝑐1 )𝑓(ℎ + 𝑥𝑖 ) − 𝑐1 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) = (𝑥𝑖+1 − 𝑥𝑖 ) = +
2 2 2
From the above equation upon comparing the terms from LHS and RHS,
ℎ
𝑐1 = −
2
Since we want to minimize the error so considering,
ℎ
(𝑡 + 𝑐1 )2
( + 𝑐2 ) 𝑓 ′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )| = 0
2 0

Substituting the limits and the value of c1,

ℎ 2 ℎ 2
(𝑡 − 2) (− 2)
( + 𝑐2 ) 𝑓 ′ (ℎ + 𝑥𝑖 ) − ( + 𝑐2 ) 𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑖 ) = 0
2 2

Here the coefficients of 𝑓 ′ (ℎ + 𝑥𝑖 ) and the 𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑖 ) are exactly the same thing, so to make the
above statement true those terms be equal to zero. Here we cannot consider the derivative
values equal to zero because the value of derivative keeps on changing depending upon the
interval.

ℎ 2
(𝑡 − 2)
+ 𝑐2 = 0
2
9
 ℎ2
𝑐2 = −
8
Now consider equation (4), equation 4 becomes,

ℎ ℎ (𝑡 − )
ℎ 2
ℎ𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) ℎ𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) 2 ℎ2
= ∫ 𝑓(𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡 = + + ∫ ( − ) 𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡
0 2 2 0 2 8

Recalling equation (A),

ℎ𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) ℎ𝑓(𝑥𝑖 )
𝑇(𝑖) = +
2 2
ℎ 2
(𝑡 − 2)
ℎ
ℎ2
𝐸(𝑖) = ∫ ( − ) 𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑖 )𝑑𝑡
0 2 8

For total error,

𝐸 = 𝐸(0) + 𝐸(1) + 𝐸(2) + ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ 𝐸(𝑛 − 1)

ℎ 2
ℎ (𝑡 − 2) ℎ2
𝐸=∫ ( − ) (𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥0 ) + 𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥1 ) + ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ + 𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑛−1 ))𝑑𝑡
0 2 8

Recalling error bound for Trapezoidal rule,

∵ |𝑓′′(𝑥)| ≤ 𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏

ℎ 2
ℎ (𝑡 − 2) ℎ2
|𝐸| = ∫ | − | (|𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥0 )| + |𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥1 )| + ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ + |𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑛−1 )|)𝑑𝑡 𝑒𝑞(5)
0 2 8

(|𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥0 )| + |𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥1 )| + ⋯ ⋯ ⋯ + |𝑓 ′′ (𝑡 + 𝑥𝑛−1 )|) = 𝑛𝑘

Equation (5) becomes,

ℎ 3 ℎ 3
(ℎ − 2) ℎ 3 (− )
|𝐸| ≤ | − − [ 2 ]|
6 8 6

ℎ3 ℎ3 ℎ3
|𝐸| ≤ | − + |
48 8 48

10
 2ℎ3 6ℎ3
|𝐸| ≤ | − |
48 48

𝑏−𝑎 3
ℎ3 ( 𝑛 )
|𝐸| ≤ 𝑛𝑘 = 𝑛𝑘
12 12
𝑘(𝑏 − 𝑎)3
|𝐸| ≤
12𝑛2

Error in Trapezoidal approximation can be calculated using the above formula. Where k is some
constant value representing second derivative of term in error function, b and a are the upper
and lower limits respectively and n is the number of sub- intervals.

11
 CHAPTER 3: APPLICATIONS OF TRAPEZOIDAL RULE

In Engineering
 Estimating the area under stress-strain curves to determine the modulus of toughness
of a material.
 Calculating fluid flow in pipes and channels by numerically integrating the velocity
profile over the cross-sectional area.
 Estimating the amount of heat transferred over time by integrating the heat flux rate
curve.
 Estimating the work done of a thermodynamic process by numerically integrating the
pressure - volume curve.
In Physics
 Determining the work done by a variable force.
 Calculating the displacement of an object under a variable acceleration.
In Medicine
 Analyzing the concentration of a drug in the bloodstream over time.
 Estimating the blood flow of high blood pressure patients before and after some drug.
In Nuclear Physics
 Estimating the energy produced by radioactive decay over time.
 Estimating the radiation dose absorbed by materials or biological tissues by integrating
the dose rate over time and/or space.

12
 CHAPTER 4: APPLIED ENGINEEERING PROBLEMS
1. Suppose that the upward force of air resistance on a falling object is proportional to the
square of the velocity. For this case, the velocity can be computed as
𝑔𝑚 𝑔𝑐𝑑
𝑣(𝑡) = √( ) 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ (√ 𝑡)
𝑐𝑑 𝑚

Where 𝑐𝑑 a second-order drag coefficient. If 𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2, 𝑚 = 68.1 𝑘𝑔, and 𝑐𝑑 =

0.25 𝑘𝑔/𝑚 , use numeric integration (Trapezoidal Rule) to determine how far the object
falls in 10 𝑠.

Data
For 𝑛 = 20, 𝑎 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 = 10
Step size,
10 − 0
ℎ= = 0.5
20
𝑔 = 9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2
𝑚 = 68.1 𝑘𝑔
𝑐𝑑 = 0.25 𝑘𝑔/𝑚

Solution

𝑔𝑚 𝑔𝑐𝑑
𝑣(𝑡) = √( ) 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ (√ 𝑡) 𝑒𝑞(1)
𝑐𝑑 𝑚

Substituting the value given in the data in equation 1. Equation 1 becomes,

𝑣(𝑡) = 51.67 tanh(0.19𝑡)

t 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00
𝐭𝟎 𝐭 𝐭𝟐 𝐭𝟑 𝐭𝟒 𝐭𝟓 𝐭𝟔 𝐭𝟕 𝐭𝟖 𝐭𝟗 𝐭 𝟎
v (t) 0.00 4.89 9.70 14.34 18.74 22.85 26.63 30.06 33.12 35.84 38.22
𝐯𝟎 𝐯 𝐯𝟐 𝐯𝟑 𝐯𝟒 𝐯𝟓 𝐯𝟔 𝐯𝟕 𝐯𝟖 𝐯𝟗 𝐯𝟎

t 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00 7.50 8.00 8.50 9.00 9.50 10.00
𝐭 𝐭 𝟐 𝐭 𝟑 𝐭 𝟒 𝐭 𝟓 𝐭 𝟔 𝐭 𝟕 𝐭 𝟖 𝐭 𝟗 𝐭 𝟐𝟎
v (t) 40.30 42.08 43.61 44.91 46.02 46.95 47.74 48.40 48.95 49.41
𝐯 𝐯𝟐 𝐯𝟑 𝐯𝟒 𝐯𝟓 𝐯𝟔 𝐯𝟕 𝐯𝟖 𝐯𝟗 𝐯𝟐𝟎

13
Applying Trapezoidal Rule
𝑏
ℎ
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ [𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥1 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥2 ) +∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 2𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )]
𝑎 2
10
𝑠(𝑡) = ∫ 51.67 tanh(0.19𝑡) 𝑑𝑡
0
0.5
= [0.00 + 2(4.89 + 9.70 + 14.34 + 18.74 + 22.85 + 26.63 + 30.06
2
+ 33.12 + 35.84 + 38.22 + 40.30 + 42.08 + 43.61 + 44.91 + 46.02
+ 46.95 + 47.74 + 48.40 + 48.95) + 49.41]
10
0.5
𝑣(𝑡) = ∫ 51.67 tanh(0.19𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 = [0.00 + 1286.711 + 49.41] = 334.03 meters
0 2

Percentage Error in Trapezoidal Rule

|𝑽𝑻 − 𝑽𝑨 | |𝟑𝟑𝟒. 𝟐𝟐 − 𝟑𝟑𝟒. 𝟎𝟑|
𝑬𝒑 = × 𝟎𝟎 = × 𝟎𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝟕%
𝑽𝑻 𝟑𝟑𝟒. 𝟐𝟐

14
 2. An 11-m beam is subjected to a load, and the shear force follows the equation
𝑉 = 5 + 0.25𝑥 2
where V is the shear force and x is length in distance along the beam. We know that
𝑑𝑀
𝑉=
𝑑𝑥
and M is the bending moment. Integration yields the relationship
𝑥
𝑀 = 𝑀0 + ∫ 𝑉𝑑𝑥
0
if 𝑀0 = 0 and 𝑥 = 11, calculate M using numeric integration (Trapezoidal Rule) for the
increment of 1 meter.

Data
For 𝑛 = 11, 𝑎 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 = 11
Step size,
11 − 0
ℎ= =1
11
Solution
Here 𝑀0 = 0

Applying Trapezoidal Rule

𝑏
ℎ
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ [𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥1 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥2 ) +∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 2𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )]
𝑎 2

𝐱 (𝐦) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
𝐱𝟎 𝐱 𝐱𝟐 𝐱𝟑 𝐱𝟒 𝐱𝟓 𝐱𝟔 𝐱𝟕 𝐱𝟖 𝐱𝟗 𝐱 𝟎 𝐱
𝐕 (𝐍) 5.00 5.25 6.00 7.25 9.00 11.25 14.00 17.25 21.00 25.25 30.00 35.25
𝐕𝟎 𝐕 𝐕𝟐 𝐕𝟑 𝐕𝟒 𝐕𝟓 𝐕𝟔 𝐕𝟕 𝐕𝟖 𝐕𝟗 𝐕𝟎 𝐕

11
M = M0 + ∫ (5 + 0.25x 2 )dx
0

1
= [5.00 + 2(5.25 + 6.00 + 7.25 + 9.00 + 11.25 + 14.00 + 17.25 + + 21.00 + 25.25
2
+ 30.00) + 35.25]
11
1
M = M0 + ∫ (5 + 0.25x 2 )dx = [5.00 + 292.5 + 35.25] = 166.375 𝑁𝑚
0 2

15
Percentage Error in Trapezoidal Rule

|𝑽𝑻 − 𝑽𝑨 | | 𝟔𝟓. 𝟗𝟐 − 𝟔𝟔. 𝟑𝟖|

𝑬𝒑 = × 𝟎𝟎 = × 𝟎𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟖%
𝑽𝑻 𝟔𝟓. 𝟗𝟐

16
 3. A cross section of a racing sailboat is shown. Wind forces (f) exerted per foot of mast
from the sails vary as a function of distance above the deck of the boat (z). Calculate the
tensile force T in the left mast support cable, assuming that the right support cable is
completely slack and the mast joins the deck in a manner that transmits horizontal or
vertical forces but no moments. Assume that the mast remains vertical.

Data
For 𝑛 = 10, 𝑎 = 0𝑓𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 = 30𝑓𝑡
Step size,
30 − 0
ℎ= =2
15
Solution
The total force exerted on the mast can be expressed as the integral of continuous function,
30 30
𝑧 −2𝑧
𝐹𝑅 (𝑧) = ∫ 𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧 = ∫ 200 ( ) 𝑒 30 𝑑𝑧
0 0 5+𝑧

17
 𝐳 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
(𝐟𝐭) 𝐳𝟎 𝐳 𝐳𝟐 𝐳𝟑 𝐳𝟒 𝐳𝟓 𝐳𝟔 𝐳𝟕
𝐟 (𝐥𝐛/𝐟𝐭) 0.00 50.01 68.08 73.13 72.20 68.46 63.43 57.95
𝐟𝟎 𝐟 𝐟𝟐 𝐟𝟑 𝐟𝟒 𝐟𝟓 𝐟𝟔 𝐟𝟕
𝑭 0.00 100.02 272.33 438.75 577.62 684.56 761.22 811.32
(𝒍𝒃) 𝐅𝟎 𝐅 𝐅𝟐 𝐅𝟑 𝐅𝟒 𝐅𝟓 𝐅𝟔 𝐅𝟕
𝐳 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30
(𝐟𝐭) 𝐳𝟖 𝐳𝟗 𝐳 𝟎 𝐳 𝐳 𝟐 𝐳 𝟑 𝐳 𝟒 𝐳 𝟓
𝐟 (𝐥𝐛/𝐟𝐭) 52.44 47.14 42.18 37.59 33.42 29.64 26.24 23.20
𝐟𝟖 𝐟𝟗 𝐟𝟎 𝐟 𝐟𝟐 𝐟𝟑 𝐟𝟒 𝐟𝟓
𝑭 839.0 848.58 843.51 827.08 802.02 770.62 734.77 696.01
(𝒍𝒃) 8 𝐅𝟗 𝐅𝟎 𝐅 𝐅𝟐 𝐅𝟑 𝐅𝟒 𝐅𝟓
𝐅𝟖

Applying the principle of moments at the base of the mast for the moment caused by the wind
force,

↷ + (𝑀𝑅 ) = ∑ 𝑀

30
𝑑̅ 𝐹𝑅 = ∫ 𝑧𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧
0
30
∫0 𝑧𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧
𝑑̅ = 30 𝑒𝑞 (1)
∫0 𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧
30
𝐹𝑜𝑟 ∫ 𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧,
0

Applying Trapezoidal Rule

𝑏
ℎ
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ [𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥1 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥2 ) +∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 2𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )]
𝑎 2
30
2
∫ 𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧 ≈ [0.00 + 2(50.01 + 68.08 + 73.13 + 72.20 + 68.46 + 63.43 + 57.95 + 52.44
0 2
+ 47.14 + 42.18 + 37.59 + 33.42 + 29.64 + 26.24) + 23.20]
30
2
∫ 𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧 ≈ [0 + 1443.833 + 23.20] = 1467.03
0 2

18
Percentage Error in Trapezoidal Rule
|𝑽𝑻 − 𝑽𝑨 | | 𝟒𝟖𝟎. 𝟓𝟕 − 𝟒𝟔𝟕. 𝟎𝟑|
𝑬𝒑 = × 𝟎𝟎 = × 𝟎𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟗 %
𝑽𝑻 𝟒𝟖𝟎. 𝟓𝟕

30
𝐹𝑜𝑟 ∫ 𝑧𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧,
0

Applying Trapezoidal Rule

𝑏
ℎ
∫ 𝑓(𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≈ [𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥1 ) + 2𝑓(𝑥2 ) +∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 2𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 ) + 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )]
𝑎 2
30
2
∫ 𝑧𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧 = [0.00
0 2
+ 2(100.02 + 272.33 + 438.75 + 577.62 + 684.56 + 761.22 + 811.32
+ 839.08 + 848.58 + 843.51 + 827.08 + 802.02 + 770.62 + 734.77)
+ 696.01]
30
2
∫ 𝑧𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧 ≈ [0.00 + 18622.93 + 696.01] = 19318.94
0 2

Percentage Error in Trapezoidal Rule

|𝑽𝑻 − 𝑽𝑨 | | 𝟗𝟑𝟐𝟔. 𝟖𝟗 − 𝟗𝟑 𝟖. 𝟗𝟒|
𝑬𝒑 = × 𝟎𝟎 = × 𝟎𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒%
𝑽𝑻 𝟗𝟑𝟐𝟔. 𝟖𝟗

30 30
Substituting the values of ∫0 𝑧𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧 and ∫0 𝑓(𝑧)𝑑𝑧 in equation (1)

Equation (1) becomes,

19318.94
𝑑̅ = = 13.17 𝑓𝑡
1467.03
Equilibrium Equations
From the free body force diagram of the mast,

∑ +→ 𝐹𝑥 = 𝐹 − 𝑇𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 − 𝐻 = 0 𝑒𝑞(2)

∑ +↑ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑉 − 𝑇𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0 𝑒𝑞(3)

∑ ↺ +𝑀𝑂 = 3𝑉 − 𝐹𝑑̅ = 0 𝑒𝑞(4)

19
Where H, V, T and F are support reactions, tension in the cable and
wind force respectively.
3
𝜃 = tan−1 ( ) = 0.1ᵒ
30
From eq (4),

𝐹𝑑̅ 1467.03 × 13.17

𝑉= = = 6439.6 𝑙𝑏
3 3
From eq (3),
𝑉 6439.6
𝑇= = = 6472 𝑙𝑏
cos 𝜃 cos(0.1ᵒ )
From eq (2),
𝐻 = 𝐹 − 𝑇𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 1467.03 − 6472 sin(0.1) = 820.9 𝑙𝑏

Conclusion
 From the above three applied engineering problems it can be concluded that the exact
integrals of respective problems can successfully be approximated by Trapezoidal rule of
numerical integration.
 The percentage error in the approximation is

Problem Number Type of function Percentage % error

1 Hyperbolic trigonometric function 0.057
2 Quadratic function 0.28
3 Composite (polynomial + exponential) 0.91
function 0.04

 The accuracy in the answer can be increased if the number of n-sub intervals increases
or the h-width of sub intervals decreases.

20
References and Resources

 Applied Numerical Analysis Book by Curtis Gerald and Patrick O. Wheatley 7th Edition

 Numerical Methods for Engineers Book by Raymond P. Canale and Steven C. Chapra 7th

edition

 Maplesoft 2018, MS-Excel 2016 and MS-Word 2016

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