Graphic Interpretation for Æ©f(x)Îx

[Jhenrique]

Graphic Interpretation for Ʃf(x)Δx

Hello!

I was trying to understand what means:
$$\sum_{x_0}^{x_1}f(x)\Delta x$$
(when Δx = 1 and x ∈ Z, ie, a "discrete integration", topic very comun in discrete calculus).

I computed the result so:
$$\sum_{1}^{4}x^2\Delta x=\left [\frac{1}{3}x^3-\frac{1}{2}x^2+\frac{1}{6}x \right ]_{1}^{4}=F(4)-F(1)=14$$
and I sketched the graphic:

However, the Maple computes the result as:
$$\sum_{1}^{4}x^2\Delta x=>\sum_{1}^{4}x^2\cdot 1=>\sum_{1}^{4}x^2=30$$
Given a different result of calculated for me. Why?

 

[AlephZero]

Maple is calculating the sum following the conventional rules of notation for $\sum_1^4$, i.e. the sum is 1 + 4 + 9 + 16 = 30.

In discrete calculus you are only summing 3 items, not 4. That is why you got 1 + 4 + 9 = 14.

Maybe there is an option in Maple to use discrete calculus notation, but I don't know about that.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Hello!

I was trying to understand what means:
$$\sum_{x_0}^{x_1}f(x)\Delta x$$
(when Δx = 1 and x ∈ Z, ie, a "discrete integration", topic very comun in discrete calculus).

This is not a very good notation! It says you are summing from $x_0$ to $x_1$ but does NOT say what step you are using- what [itex]\Delt x[/itex is.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> I computed the result so:<br /> $$\sum_{1}^{4}x^2\Delta x=\left [\frac{1}{3}x^3-\frac{1}{2}x^2+\frac{1}{6}x \right ]_{1}^{4}=F(4)-F(1)=14$$ </div> </div> </blockquote> You appear to be assuming that $x_0= 1$ and [itex]x_1= 4[/itex[ are the only values used- that is, that [itex]\Delta x= 4- 1= 3. But this is a <b>sum</b>, not a difference. It is $(1)^2(3)+ (2)^2+ 3= 3+ 12= 15$.<br /> <br /> <blockquote data-attributes="" data-quote="" data-source="" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-content"> <div class="bbCodeBlock-expandContent js-expandContent "> and I sketched the graphic:<br /> <div class="bbImageWrapper js-lbImage" title="imagem.jpg" data-src="https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/imagem-jpg.166287/" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-single-image="1"> <img src="https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/imagem-jpg.166287/" data-url="" class="bbImage" data-zoom-target="1" style="" alt="imagem.jpg" title="imagem.jpg" width="112" height="180" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /> </div> </div> </div> </blockquote> That graphic shows you using $\Delta x= 1$, so that x takes on values of 1, 2, and 3:<br /> $1^2(1)+ 2^2(1)+ 3^2(1)= 1+ 4+ 9= 14$<br /> <br /> However, the Maple computes the result as:<br /> $$\sum_{1}^{4}x^2\Delta x=>\sum_{1}^{4}x^2\cdot 1=>\sum_{1}^{4}x^2=30$$<br /> Given a different result of calculated for me. Why?[/QUOTE]<br /> That sum would NOT approximate the integral from 1 to 4 because it includes a "rectangle" between x= 4 and x= 5: 1+ 4+ 9+ 16= 30.[/itex][/itex][/itex]