Numerical approximation of the area under curve

In summary: So in summary, the numerical integration is occurring on the x-axis from the graph that the researcher plotted. The data was plotted on the y-axis, but the photo peak is off the axis, so the researcher is using Matlab to integrate under the area instead. The researcher is having trouble understanding how to integrate the specific area and is using a Gaussian to fit the data.
  • #1
Taylor_1989
402
14
I am very new too Matlab and how it all works but I am having trouble understanding at what axis the numerical integration is occurring from on the graph that I plotted.

So I am currently doing an experiment in gamma ray spectroscopy and due to issue with the software we found it hard to integrate under a specific photo peak so it was suggest to use Matlab to integrate under the area, but the photo peak is off the x-axis so which I have highlighted in my picture below.

c60_unattenuated area 1.png

But my issue is I don't know how to integrate that specific area in Matlab, so what I have done so far is cherry pick the data and fit a Gaussian to it which produced the given function and graph.

Firstly here is my data set I picked for the curve
1117.4 7
1120.4 9
1123.4 7
1126.4 13
1129.4 6
1132.4 14
1135.4 15
1138.4 11
1141.4 20
1144.4 16
1147.5 16
1150.5 18
1153.5 33
1156.5 20
1159.5 19
1162.5 24
1165.5 35
1168.5 35
1171.5 43
1174.5 42
1177.5 40
1180.5 38
1183.5 38
1186.5 37
1189.5 34
1192.5 39
1195.5 34
1198.5 25
1201.6 23
1204.6 23
1207.6 19
1210.6 19
1213.6 13
1216.6 10
1219.6 16
1222.6 10
1225.6 6
1228.6 2
1231.6 11
1234.6 11
1237.6 5
1240.6 7

Next here is my code to plot the data

Code:
dataset = xlsread('Lab 3 Results 11.10.18 (1).xlsx','Sheet3','C390:D431');
x=dataset(:,1);
%y=dataset(:,2);
%plot(x,y,'-')
a1=37.43 ;
b1=1178  ;
c1=39.28  ;
d1=0
y=a1*exp(-((x-b1)/c1).^2)-d1;
%int1=trapz(x,y)
%int2=trapz(y)
plot(x,y)
%xlabel('Energy : KeV', 'FontSize', 15)
%ylabel('Number Of Interactions','FontSize', 15)

Ignore comment out parts I am currently experimenting

this produced the following graph

c60_unattenuated area 2.png
c60_unattenuated area 2.png


so now this is the part hat get confusing for me I need to calculate the area in the red but when i used the trapz(x,y) I think it is finding the area of both red and green, my only option at the moment I think is to shift the graph down so it aligns with the x=0 axis and it should integrate just the red area is this correct?
 

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  • c60_unattenuated area 1.png
    c60_unattenuated area 1.png
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  • c60_unattenuated area 2.png
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  • #2
The green part looks to be a rectangle, it should be straightforward to compute its area and subtract that from the integral.
 
  • #3
Orodruin said:
The green part looks to be a rectangle, it should be straightforward to compute its area and subtract that from the integral.

The issue is I don't know how to do that in matlab, I am not sure where to start
 
  • #4
Taylor_1989 said:
The issue is I don't know how to do that in matlab, I am not sure where to start
You don't know how to compute the area of a rectangle in Matlab?
 
  • #5
Orodruin said:
You don't know how to compute the area of a rectangle in Matlab?
yes, iv done by hand easy, but i literally have been using youtube as tutorials, and have only been doing MATLAB for a week, so at the moment I am learning as I go. I did have ago at creating a function of a rectangle but it would not complie, I see if I can find the code
 
  • #6
Ah i think I found my issue in my code, I misspelt the function name.
 

1. What is numerical approximation of the area under curve?

Numerical approximation of the area under curve is a method used to estimate the area enclosed by a curve and the x-axis in a given interval. It involves dividing the area into smaller, simpler shapes and calculating their areas to get an approximate value.

2. What are the common techniques used for numerical approximation of the area under curve?

The most commonly used techniques for numerical approximation of the area under curve are the rectangle method, trapezoid method, and Simpson's rule. These methods use different mathematical formulas to calculate the area of smaller shapes and then sum them up to get an estimate of the total area.

3. How accurate is numerical approximation of the area under curve?

The accuracy of numerical approximation of the area under curve depends on the number of smaller shapes used and the method chosen. Generally, the more shapes used, the more accurate the estimate will be. However, it may not always give an exact value and is considered an approximation.

4. What are the advantages of using numerical approximation of the area under curve?

Numerical approximation of the area under curve is a quick and easy way to estimate the area of a curve without having to solve complex mathematical equations. It is also useful for finding the area of irregular shapes or curves that do not have a known equation.

5. Are there any limitations to numerical approximation of the area under curve?

Yes, there are some limitations to this method. It can only give an approximate value and may not always be accurate. The choice of smaller shapes and the method used can also affect the accuracy. Additionally, it may not work for curves with sharp turns or discontinuities.

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