Finding K for integral approximation errors help

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating errors in integral approximations using the trapezoidal and midpoint rules for the integral of cos(x²) from 0 to 1. Participants are trying to reconcile their calculated errors with those provided in a textbook.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the second derivative of the function and determine the maximum value of K for error estimation. They express confusion over their results not matching the textbook answers and question the assumptions made about the second derivative's behavior.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing corrections to the original poster's calculations and clarifying the error formula. There is acknowledgment of differing results, with at least one participant confirming similar discrepancies with the textbook answers.

Contextual Notes

There is a correction regarding the error formula, with participants noting that the original poster initially used an incorrect exponent in the denominator. Additionally, assumptions about the behavior of the second derivative are being scrutinized, particularly regarding its maximum value on the specified interval.

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!
 

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