How to Handle Integral with dx Inside the Function?

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    Dx Function Integral
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the handling of an integral involving a differential element \(dx\) within a function, specifically the expression \(I = \int |f(x+dx)dx|\). Participants explore various approaches to this integral, including integration by parts and numerical integration methods, while also questioning the validity and definitions of the integral itself.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the definition of the integral and question its validity, suggesting it may not be well-defined.
  • One participant attempts to apply integration by parts but is uncertain about the treatment of \(ddx/dx\) and whether \(dx\) is considered constant.
  • Another participant introduces a related expression for area \(dA\) and suggests it may relate to numerical integration using the trapezoid rule, raising questions about the use of absolute values in the terms.
  • There are discussions about the use of the shoelace formula for calculating areas and how it applies to different functions, with participants questioning the appropriateness of this method for the problem at hand.
  • Some participants point out potential inconsistencies in the notation and definitions used, particularly regarding the functions and points referenced in the area calculations.
  • One participant proposes examining how areas behave under different functions, such as linear and quadratic functions, and expresses a desire to analyze these behaviors further.
  • Another participant suggests calculating the area between a curve and a line segment connecting two points on the curve, providing a formula for this calculation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the validity of the integral or the methods proposed for calculating areas. Multiple competing views and approaches remain, with ongoing questions about definitions and the appropriateness of various mathematical techniques.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight limitations in the problem statement and the need for clearer definitions and numeric values to facilitate the discussion. There is also mention of unresolved mathematical steps and the potential for confusion due to the use of similar notations for different functions.

gabel
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Im working on a problem whit the follewing integral:

I = \int|f(x+dx)dx|

Im trying to use int by parts : t = x + dx \Rightarrow dt/dx = 1 + ddx/dx = ?, but i have no idee on what ddx/dx is? I think dx -> konstant? so ddx/dx = 1 ?
 
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gabel said:
Im working on a problem whit the follewing integral:

I = \int|f(x+dx)dx|

Im trying to use int by parts : t = x + dx \Rightarrow dt/dx = 1 + ddx/dx = ?, but i have no idee on what ddx/dx is? I think dx -> konstant? so ddx/dx = 1 ?
Is this exactly how the problem is presented? It doesn't look right to me.
 
I don't think that integral is well-defined. Where does it come from?
 
I have to following expression:

dA = 2 f(x) dx + 0.5 | f(x-dx) | dx + 0.5 |f(x+da)|dx
 
gabel said:
I have to following expression:

dA = 2 f(x) dx + 0.5 | f(x-dx) | dx + 0.5 |f(x+da)|dx
I'm guessing you're doing numerical integration using the trapezoid rule where each subinterval is of length 2##\Delta x##.

Why do you have absolute values on two of the terms, but not on the third?
Why do you have f(x - dx) in one place and f(x + da) in another?

If you're using the trapezoid rule to approximate an interval, the idea is to pick a value for n and actually add up some numbers, not do an integration.

When you post a question here you're supposed to use the problem template, the first part of which is a complete problem statement. If you had followed the forum guidelines, we wouldn't have wasted so much time trying to figure out what you're trying to do.
 
Mark44 said:
I'm guessing you're doing numerical integration using the trapezoid rule where each subinterval is of length 2##\Delta x##.

Why do you have absolute values on two of the terms, but not on the third?
Why do you have f(x - dx) in one place and f(x + da) in another?

If you're using the trapezoid rule to approximate an interval, the idea is to pick a value for n and actually add up some numbers, not do an integration.

I'm using the shoelace formula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoelace_formula) for a triangle, and then letting

x_1 = x - dx , x_2 = x, x_3 = x + dx
y_1 = f(x-dx), y_2 = f(x), y_3 = f(x+dx).

Aften cleanup I am left whit this
dA = 2 f(x) dx + 0.5 | f(x-dx) | dx + 0.5 |f(x+da)|dxNB, latex is not working for me atm.
 
gabel said:
I'm using the shoelace formula (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoelace_formula) for a triangle, and then letting

x_1 = x - dx , x_2 = x, x_3 = x + dx
y_1 = f(x-dx), y_2 = f(x), y_3 = f(x+dx).

Aften cleanup I am left whit this
dA = 2 f(x) dx + 0.5 | f(x-dx) | dx + 0.5 |f(x+da)|dxNB, latex is not working for me atm.
It's still not clear to me what you're trying to do? Are you trying to find the area of a specific region? If so, you should have numeric values for x1, x2, and so on, as well as for y1, y2, and so on.

Please be more specific about what you're trying to do. From what I can tell, your formulas should NOT involve dx or da and you should not be trying to integrate things as you seem to be trying to do.

LaTeX works just fine, but when you click Post Reply, you should hit the browser's refresh button to see how it will appear. Or you could type your expression in the Preview LaTeX pane to test it first.
 
If i have a f(x) = ax+b, given 3 points on f(x), the area from those points shood be zero. Since they will always be on a line. But what heppens if f(x) = sin(x), cos(x), x^2, etc?

Some more details.

Red :f(x) = x
Blue:f(x) = x^2

A_2 = 0, A_1 = something small

Now i want to move A_1 along the red function to se how A_1 behaves.

Im now thing of dx as the distance from A to B along x as dx, A to C as -dx etc for red funciton.

Capture.PNG
 
You shouldn't use one letter, f, to mean two different things. The blue graph is, say, f(x) = x. The red graph is, say, g(x) = x2. You have the descriptions reversed.

On a straight line, if you connect any two points with a line segment, any point on the segment will also lie on the line. If you have a curve that isn't linear, and you draw a segment between two points on the curve, some points on the segment will not lie on the curve.

gabel said:
Now i want to move A_1 along the red function to se how A_1 behaves.
What does this mean?
gabel said:
Im now thing of dx as the distance from A to B along x as dx, A to C as -dx etc for red funciton.
A and C aren't on the red graph.The points you show are E, G, and F.

Why are you using the Shoelace formula? That formula gives the area of a polygon. Are you trying to find the area between a given curve and a line segment between two points on the curve?
 
  • #10
Mod note: edited to show what I said and the responses.
Mark44 said:
You shouldn't use one letter, f, to mean two different things. The blue graph is, say, f(x) = x. The red graph is, say, g(x) = x2. You have the descriptions reversed.

On a straight line, if you connect any two points with a line segment, any point on the segment will also lie on the line. If you have a curve that isn't linear, and you draw a segment between two points on the curve, some points on the segment will not lie on the curve.What does this mean?
gabel said:
- I am thinking sort of like convolution.
gabel said:
A and C aren't on the red graph.The points you show are E, G, and F.
gabel said:
- A,B and C are on the blue graph, and the area from that the points A,B,C give is zero. I then want to check how a area constructed on diffrect functions behave. As an example i f=x^2. How will that the area behave?
gabel said:
Why are you using the Shoelace formula? That formula gives the area of a polygon. Are you trying to find the area between a given curve and a line segment between two points on the curve?

- Yes, expect i want to use 3 points.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #11
I don't see how convolution has anything to do with what you're trying to do.

Instead of seeing how an area "behaves" (meaningless because an area doesn't do anything), why not calculate the area between the curve and a straight line that connects two points on the curve. If you have a curve y = f(x) for a <= x <= b, the points (a, f(a)) and (b, f(b)) are on the curve and also determine a line segment.

The equation of the line is y = f(a) + [f(b) - f(a)]/(b - a) * (x - a).

The area between the line and the curve is
$$ \int_a^b |f(x) - f(a) - \frac{f(b) - f(a)}{b - a}(x - a)|dx$$

If the line segment crosses the curve, it's possible for this forumula to result in zero. To avoid that happening, make sure that each line segment lies above the curve or below the curve.
 

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