# Comparison Test Problem & Estimitaing it's error

## Homework Statement

The question in the book is: "Use the sum of the first 10 terms to approximate the sum of the series. Estimate the error.

My problem is estimating the error I'm looking for. I just need help with finding the integral.

## Homework Equations

((sin n)^2)/(n^3)

## The Attempt at a Solution

∞∫n ((sin n)^2)/(n^3)

u = ((sin n)^2) du = 2 ((sin n)^2)cos n dv = n^3 dx v = 1/4 x^4

This is as far as I got.

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Ray Vickson
Homework Helper
Dearly Missed

## Homework Statement

The question in the book is: "Use the sum of the first 10 terms to approximate the sum of the series. Estimate the error.

My problem is estimating the error I'm looking for. I just need help with finding the integral.

## Homework Equations

((sin n)^2)/(n^3)

## The Attempt at a Solution

∞∫n ((sin n)^2)/(n^3)

u = ((sin n)^2) du = 2 ((sin n)^2)cos n dv = n^3 dx v = 1/4 x^4

This is as far as I got.
What integral? Aren't you just given an infinite series, and are asked to estimate the error when you stop at 10 terms? Anyway, if you did have to integrate the function you would need to use the non-elementary function Ci(x). Maple 11 gets:
f:=sin(x)^2/x^3;
> Jt:=Int(f,x=1..t);
$$\int_1^\infty \frac{\sin^2(x)}{x^3} \, dx$$
> value(Jt) assuming t>1;
$$\frac{1}{4} \frac{t-t^2 \cos(2)+2t^2 \sin(2)-2\mbox{Ci}(2) t^2 - 2 + 2\cos^2(t) - 4t \cos(t) \sin(t) + 4\mbox{Ci}(2t) t^2}{t^2}$$

RGV

Last edited:
Oh. It seems that I have been doing this the wrong way since I haven't been introduced to Ci before. I'll make sure to double check my steps this time.

Dick
Homework Helper
Oh. It seems that I have been doing this the wrong way since I haven't been introduced to Ci before. I'll make sure to double check my steps this time.
Your error is the sum of (sin(k))^2/k^3 over all of the terms you didn't include. Don't sweat the Ci function. All you need is an estimate to bound the error. (sin(k))^2/k^3<=1/k^3. Estimate that instead.

Ray Vickson