MHB Asymptotic error formula for the trapezoidal rule

  • Thread starter Thread starter kalish1
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Error Formula
AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on using the asymptotic error formula for the trapezoidal rule to estimate the number of subdivisions needed to evaluate the integral of e^{-x^2} from 0 to 2 with a specified accuracy of ε=10^{-10}. The initial attempt calculates the error and suggests n ≈ 6767, but a subsequent correction indicates that n should actually be around 15628 to meet the accuracy requirement. The trapezoidal scheme is then set up with this number of sub-intervals to approximate the integral. The final expression for the integral involves a summation of function values at calculated points, demonstrating the application of the trapezoidal rule. The discussion concludes with a clear method for achieving the desired accuracy in the integral approximation.
kalish1
Messages
79
Reaction score
0
I need to use the asymptotic error formula for the trapezoidal rule to estimate the number n of subdivisions to evaluate $\int_{0}^{2}e^{-x^2}dx$ to the accuracy $\epsilon=10^{-10}$. I also need to find the approximate integral in this case. I would like to know if my attempt is correct. Thanks in advance for any help.

**My attempt:** $E_n^T(f)\approx -h^2/12[f'(b)-f'(a)]. f(x)=e^{-x^2}, f'(x)=-2xe^{-x^2}.$

So $E_n^T(f)\approx h^2/(4e^4)$ and since $h=1/n$, we have to find an n that satisfies the inequality $\frac{1}{4e^4n^2}\leq 10^{-10}$. We obtain $n \approx 6767$. The approximate integral is ??
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Hmm. I don't quite get what you get. I have
\begin{align*}
E_{N}(f)& \approx - \frac{(b-a)^{2}}{12 N^{2}}[f'(b)-f'(a)] \\
&= \frac{2^{2}}{12 N^{2}}[4e^{-4}-0] \\
&= \frac{4}{3 N^{2}e^{4}}.
\end{align*}
Hence, we need
$$ \frac{4}{3 N^{2}e^{4}} \le 10^{-10},$$
or
$$N \ge \frac{2 \cdot 10^{5}}{ \sqrt{3} \, e^{2}} \approx 15627.2,$$
so let $N=15628$. You must set up a trapezoidal scheme with this many sub-intervals, and evaluate. You're going to have:
$$A \approx \frac{2-0}{2 \cdot 15628} \sum_{j=0}^{15627}[f(x_{j})+f(x_{j+1})]
=\frac{1}{15628} \sum_{j=0}^{15627}[e^{-(2j/15628)^{2}}+e^{-(2(j+1)/15628)^{2}}]$$
$$=\frac{1}{15628} \sum_{j=0}^{15627}[e^{-(j/7814)^{2}}+e^{-((j+1)/7814)^{2}}].$$
 
Great! CCC. (Crystal clear clarification.)
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
Is it possible to arrange six pencils such that each one touches the other five? If so, how? This is an adaption of a Martin Gardner puzzle only I changed it from cigarettes to pencils and left out the clues because PF folks don’t need clues. From the book “My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles”. Dover, 1994.
Back
Top