Finding area by using a summation

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    Area Summation
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the area under the curve of the line y=2x between x = 1 and x = 5 using a summation approach. The original poster expresses confusion regarding the area calculation, noting discrepancies between their result and the expected answer provided in their textbook and by Maple.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of the area summation formula and the limits involved in the calculation. The original poster attempts to evaluate the summation and questions their results, particularly why their calculations yield 8 instead of the expected 24. Others suggest clarifying the definitions of variables and the limits of summation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the summation limits and the setup of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the correct upper limit of the summation, and there is recognition of the need to simplify the sum as a function of n before taking the limit.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on understanding the definitions of xi and f(xi) in the context of the problem. The original poster is working within the constraints of a homework assignment, which may impose specific methods or formats for the solution.

MMM
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Hello everyone, I've been working on an area summation problem in my book for quite a bit and I can't solve it.
Find the area under the straight line y=2x between x = 1 and x = 5
The book shows the answer as 24 and Maple does as well, but I'm not getting 24, I'm getting 8.
Area summation formula given by \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^\infty\2(1 + 4i/n)4/n
I got the problem to \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}(4/n) * \sum_{i=1}^\infty\2 I evaluated that and got 8 then
I tried evaluating the 2nd part \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}(4/n) * \sum_{i=1}^\infty\frac{8i}{n} and I got that limit to be 0. That is where I'm messing up at I think, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
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MMM said:
Hello everyone, I've been working on an area summation problem in my book for quite a bit and I can't solve it.
Find the area under the straight line y=2x between x = 1 and x = 5
The book shows the answer as 24 and Maple does as well, but I'm not getting 24, I'm getting 8.



Area summation formula given by \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^\infty\f(xi)Δx



I got the problem to \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}(4/n) * \sum_{i=1}^\infty\2 I evaluated that and got 8 then
I tried evaluating the 2nd part \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}(4/n) * \sum_{i=1}^\infty\frac{8i}{n} and I got that limit to be 0. That is where I'm messing up at I think, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Please use standard font, not bolded. You need to figure out what is ##x_i## and ##f(x_i)## when you have ##n## equal subintervals on ##[1,5]##.
 
f(xi) = 2(1 + 4i/n)
I edited the first post with that information.
I just don't understand why the answer to the problem is 24 and not 8, I have no idea what I did wrong when evaluating the limits.
Isn't this \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}(4/n) * \sum_{i=1}^\infty\frac{8i}{n} 0? I just don't understand how the book is getting 24 as the final answer.
 
Last edited:
MMM said:
f(xi) = 2(1 + 4i/n)
I edited the first post with that information.
I just don't understand why the answer to the problem is 24 and not 8, I have no idea what I did wrong when evaluating the limits.
Isn't this \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}(4/n) * \sum_{i=1}^\infty\frac{8i}{n} 0? I just don't understand how the book is getting 24 as the final answer.

Your corrected first post now reads$$
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^\infty 2(1 + 4i/n)4/n$$The upper limit of the sum is incorrect. It should be$$
\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^n 2(1 + 4i/n)4/n$$Now, simplify that sum as a function of ##n## and then take the limit as ##n\to \infty##.
 
I split the sum into two different parts.

\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^n 8/n and I got that limit to be 8.

Now the second sum is \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^n 32i/n^2
and I can't figure out what that limit is. How do I rewrite it as a function of n? Since the final answer is 24 the limit must evaluate to 16, but I'm not sure how to get to that conclusion. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.4

I figured it out I factored out the \frac{32}{n^2} and used the sum of a finite arithmetic sequence formula that had n terms. Thanks for the help.
 
Last edited:
MMM said:
I split the sum into two different parts.

\lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^n 8/n and I got that limit to be 8.

Now the second sum is \lim_{n\rightarrow +\infty}\sum_{i=1}^n 32i/n^2
and I can't figure out what that limit is. How do I rewrite it as a function of n? Since the final answer is 24 the limit must evaluate to 16, but I'm not sure how to get to that conclusion. Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.4

I figured it out I factored out the \frac{32}{n^2} and used the sum of a finite arithmetic sequence formula that had n terms. Thanks for the help.

Good work. Adding up that arithmetic sequence is the key to the problem. You're welcome.
 
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