MHB Angelina Lopez's questions at Yahoo Answers regarding definite integrals

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Angelina Lopez's questions on Yahoo Answers focus on solving calculus integral problems. The first question involves using the Midpoint Rule to approximate the integral of f(x) = 1/x from 1 to 3 with four sub-intervals, leading to a calculated approximation of 3776/3465. The second question pertains to finding the integral of a continuous even function f(x) from -2 to -6, given specific integral values; the solution reveals that this integral equals -106. The discussion includes detailed calculations and explanations for both problems, demonstrating the application of integral calculus concepts. Overall, the thread provides valuable insights into solving definite integrals using different methods.
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Here are the questions:

Calculus integral problems. Please help I would appreciate.?


1. Consider f(x)= 1/x on [1,3]. Use four sub-intervals to approximate the integral from 1 to 3 f(x)dx by using the Midpoint Rule.

2. Suppose f(x) is a continuous even function and that the integral from 0 to 6 f(x)dx=96 and the integral from 0 to -2 f(x)dx =10. Find the integral from -2 to -6 f(x)dx.

I have posted a link there to this thread so the OP can see my work.
 
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Hello Angelina Lopez,

1.) The Midpoint Rule is the approximation $$\int_a^b f(x)\,dx\approx M_n$$ where:

$$M_n=\frac{b-a}{n}\left(f\left(\frac{x_0+x_1}{2} \right)+f\left(\frac{x_1+x_2}{2} \right)+\cdots+f\left(\frac{x_{n-1}+x_n}{2} \right) \right)$$

In our case, we have:

$$a=1,\,b=3,\,n=4,\,f(x)=\frac{1}{x},\,x_k=a+\frac{b-a}{n}k=\frac{k+2}{2}$$

Hence:

$$\frac{x_{k-1}+x_k}{2}=\frac{\dfrac{(k-1)+2}{2}+\dfrac{k+2}{2}}{2}=\frac{2k+3}{4}$$

and so:

$$f\left(\frac{x_{k-1}+x_k}{2} \right)=\frac{4}{2k+3}$$

Thus:

$$M_4=\frac{3-1}{4}\sum_{k=1}^4\left(\frac{4}{2k+3} \right)=2\sum_{k=1}^4\left(\frac{1}{2k+3} \right)$$

$$M_4=2\left(\frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{7}+\frac{1}{9}+ \frac{1}{11} \right)=\frac{3776}{3465}$$

2.) We are given:

(1) $$f(-x)=f(x)$$

(2) $$\int_0^6 f(x)\,dx=96$$

(3) $$\int_0^{-2} f(x)\,dx=10$$

and we are asked to find:

$$\int_{-2}^{-6} f(x)\,dx$$

From (1) and (2) we know:

$$\int_{-6}^{0} f(x)\,dx=96$$

which we may write as:

$$\int_{-6}^{-2} f(x)\,dx+\int_{-2}^{0} f(x)\,dx=96$$

Using $$\int_a^b g(x)\,dx=-\int_b^a g(x)\,dx$$ this becomes:

$$-\int_{-2}^{-6} f(x)\,dx-\int_{0}^{-2} f(x)\,dx=96$$

Using (3), we obtain:

$$-\int_{-6}^{-2} f(x)\,dx-10=96$$

Hence:

$$\int_{-6}^{-2} f(x)\,dx=-106$$
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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