Finding K for integral approximation errors help

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The discussion centers on the difficulty of calculating error bounds for integral approximations using the trapezoidal and midpoint rules for the function cos(x^2). The user correctly computes the approximations T8 and M8 but struggles to reconcile their error estimates with those provided in the textbook. They initially miscalculate the second derivative and its maximum value, leading to confusion about finding the constant K for error estimation. Clarifications reveal that the correct formula for error involves the second derivative evaluated at specific points, which impacts the error bounds significantly. Ultimately, the user finds that their calculations align with a classmate's, indicating a shared challenge with the textbook's answers.
LBK
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Hello, I am having a hard time getting my errors to come out to what the book says the answers should be. My approximations are correct, so I think I'm just misunderstanding how to find K.
Q.a) Find the approximations T8 and M8 for ∫(0 to 1) cos(x2)dx
I found these to be T8=0.902333 and M8=0.905620

b) Estimate the errors in the approximations. And here's where my numbers don't match. What I did:

2nd deriv f''(x)=-2x*sin(x2)-4x2cos(x2)

since the graph is bounded by |1| I thought the max. would be at f''(0) but that would make f''(0)=0
So I'm really confused on where to go from here.
FYI--the book answer gives a value of ET=<or=0.0078 and EM=<or=0.0039

I have the formula for error for trapezoidal as <or= [K(b-a)3] / 12n2
In this case then, I should have (b-a)3=1 and 12n3=768
Working backward from the book's correct answer that would make 0.0078=K/768 and K=5.99
So I'm not seeing where that would come from. Any help, please? I'm really struggling in this class and very confused.
 
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LBK said:
Hello, I am having a hard time getting my errors to come out to what the book says the answers should be. My approximations are correct, so I think I'm just misunderstanding how to find K.
Q.a) Find the approximations T8 and M8 for ∫(0 to 1) cos(x2)dx
I found these to be T8=0.902333 and M8=0.905620

b) Estimate the errors in the approximations. And here's where my numbers don't match. What I did:

2nd deriv f''(x)=-2x*sin(x2)-4x2cos(x2)

since the graph is bounded by |1| I thought the max. would be at f''(0) but that would make f''(0)=0
So I'm really confused on where to go from here.
FYI--the book answer gives a value of ET=<or=0.0078 and EM=<or=0.0039

I have the formula for error for trapezoidal as <or= [K(b-a)3] / 12n3
In this case then, I should have (b-a)3=1 and 12n3=768
Working backward from the book's correct answer that would make 0.0078=K/768 and K=5.99
So I'm not seeing where that would come from. Any help, please? I'm really struggling in this class and very confused.

What do you mean by ##T_8## and ##M_8##?
 
Oh, I'm sorry that would be integral approximation by trapezoidal rule and by midpoint rule, respectively with n=8

*also original post corrected for error formula, denominator should be 12n^2 not cubed
 
LBK said:
Hello, I am having a hard time getting my errors to come out to what the book says the answers should be. My approximations are correct, so I think I'm just misunderstanding how to find K.
Q.a) Find the approximations T8 and M8 for ∫(0 to 1) cos(x2)dx
I found these to be T8=0.902333 and M8=0.905620

b) Estimate the errors in the approximations. And here's where my numbers don't match. What I did:

2nd deriv f''(x)=-2x*sin(x2)-4x2cos(x2)

since the graph is bounded by |1| I thought the max. would be at f''(0) but that would make f''(0)=0
So I'm really confused on where to go from here.
FYI--the book answer gives a value of ET=<or=0.0078 and EM=<or=0.0039

I have the formula for error for trapezoidal as <or= [K(b-a)3] / 12n2
In this case then, I should have (b-a)3=1 and 12n3=768
Working backward from the book's correct answer that would make 0.0078=K/768 and K=5.99
So I'm not seeing where that would come from. Any help, please? I'm really struggling in this class and very confused.

For your function ##f(x) = \cos(x^2)## the second derivative should be
f&#039;&#039;(x) = -2 \sin(x^2)-4x^2 \cos(x^2),
which is a bit different from what you wrote. If you plot ##f''(x)## you will see that it is negative and strictly decreasing on the interval ##0 \leq x \leq 1##. Thus ##|f''(x)|## is strictly increasing.

Anyway, for Trapezoidal, the error bound is
|E| \leq \frac{K(b-a)^3}{12 n^2} = \frac{K}{12\times 8^2}= \frac{K}{768}, \: K \equiv \max_{0 \leq x \leq 1} |f&#039;&#039;(x)|
In your case, ##K = |f''(1)| \doteq 3.84415##, so ##|E| \leq 0.0050054 \doteq 0.005.## I cannot get the book's answer.

I think I can see where you went wrong: the actual error formula is
E = -\frac{f&#039;&#039;(\xi) (b-a)^3}{12 n^2} = - \frac{f&#039;&#039;(\xi)}{768}
In this case, ##f''(\xi) < 0## so the error is ##>0##. To bound the error we want the least value of ##f''##, that is the most negative value. That is at ##\xi = 1##.
 
I worked on it just now and I got .005 too. A classmate said he couldn't get the book answer either, so I feel much better now. And for the record, your explanation is clearer than my teacher and the book, so thank you again!
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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