Scribd
Upload
16 views

Trapezoidal_Rule

The trapezoidal rule is a numerical method for approximating definite integrals by assuming the integrand is linear between two endpoints. The formula for the trapezoidal rule is I approximately equals (b - a) / 2 * [f(a) + f(b)], which represents the area under the curve as a trapezoid. For improved accuracy, the method can be extended to multiple subintervals, incorporating additional function evaluations.

Uploaded by

mawaddaalwirfalli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views

Trapezoidal_Rule

The trapezoidal rule is a numerical method for approximating definite integrals by assuming the integrand is linear between two endpoints. The formula for the trapezoidal rule is I approximately equals (b - a) / 2 * [f(a) + f(b)], which represents the area under the curve as a trapezoid. For improved accuracy, the method can be extended to multiple subintervals, incorporating additional function evaluations.

Uploaded by

mawaddaalwirfalli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

The trapezoidal rule is a numerical method used to approximate the value of a definite integral.

It is based on approximating the integrand f(x) by a linear polynomial (a straight line) between two

endpoints

of the interval of integration. The formula stems from the Newton-Cotes formulas and assumes the

function is replaced by a first-order polynomial.

Explanation

To approximate the definite integral:

I = integral from a to b of f(x) dx

the trapezoidal rule assumes that f(x) is approximately linear between the endpoints a and b.

This means f(x) is approximated as:

f(x) approximately equals f1(x) = a0 + a1 * x

where f1(x) is a first-order polynomial.

Derivation

Using calculus, the integral of the first-order polynomial over [a, b] is:

integral from a to b of f1(x) dx = integral from a to b of (a0 + a1 * x) dx

= [a0 * x + (a1 * x^2) / 2] from a to b.

To determine a0 and a1, the polynomial f1(x) is fitted such that:


f(a) = a0 + a1 * a, f(b) = a0 + a1 * b.

Solving these equations gives:

a1 = (f(b) - f(a)) / (b - a), a0 = f(a) - a1 * a.

Substituting a0 and a1 back into the integral results in:

integral from a to b of f(x) dx approximately equals (b - a) / 2 * [f(a) + f(b)].

Final Formula

The trapezoidal rule is thus given by:

I approximately equals (b - a) / 2 * [f(a) + f(b)].

Geometric Interpretation

The formula approximates the area under f(x) as the area of a trapezoid with bases f(a) and f(b),

and height b - a.

Extension

For better accuracy, the trapezoidal rule can be extended to multiple subintervals:

I approximately equals (b - a) / (2n) * [f(a) + 2 * sum of f(x_i) + f(b)],

where n is the number of subintervals, and x_i are the points dividing the interval [a, b].

You might also like