Integrating to find average value

Do you see how the positive and negative parts of the function cancel each other out to give a net area of 0? In summary, the conversation was about finding the average value of the function f(x,y)= x*(y^2)*e^-((x^2+y^2)/4) with x and y ranging from -3 to 3. The speaker took the double integral and got an answer of 0, leading to the question of whether the average value could also be 0. The expert summarizer explains that the function is an odd function, causing the positive and negative areas to cancel out and resulting in an average value of 0.
  • #1
mariya259
17
0
I have the function:
f(x,y)= x*(y^2)*e^-((x^2+y^2)/4), with x and y from -3 to 3
I took the integral of this function and got 0 as my answer.
I need to find the average value, which is 1/area multiplied by the double integral. Since the double integral is 0, would the average value also be equal to 0?
How would I solve this?
 
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  • #2
What is the whole question?
 
  • #3
mariya259 said:
I have the function:
f(x,y)= x*(y^2)*e^-((x^2+y^2)/4), with x and y from -3 to 3
I took the integral of this function and got 0 as my answer.
I need to find the average value, which is 1/area multiplied by the double integral. Since the double integral is 0, would the average value also be equal to 0?
How would I solve this?
Yes, that integral is zero.

If this is a problem you have been given to work on, Please, give us the entire problem, word for word, as it was given to you.

I see that sharks beat me to the punch !
 
  • #4
The whole question is to find the average value of
f(x,y)= x*(y^2)*e^-((x^2+y^2)/4), with x and y from -3 to 3

In my textbook the formula given to find it is
(1/Area)*∫∫f(x,y)
I took the double integral and found that the answer is 0.
The area would be 36, since both x and y are from -3 to 3.
1/36 * 0 = 0
Can the average value really be 0 though?
 
  • #5
mariya259 said:
The whole question is to find the average value of
f(x,y)= x*(y^2)*e^-((x^2+y^2)/4), with x and y from -3 to 3

In my textbook the formula given to find it is
(1/Area)*∫∫f(x,y)
I took the double integral and found that the answer is 0.
The area would be 36, since both x and y are from -3 to 3.
1/36 * 0 = 0
Can the average value really be 0 though?
Yes! Why not ?
 
  • #6
Notice it is an odd function when viewed from the x-axis. Try graphing it in wolfram alpha.
 

1. What is "integrating to find average value"?

"Integrating to find average value" is a mathematical method used to calculate the average value of a function over a given interval. It involves using the integral of the function to find the total area under the curve, and then dividing that area by the length of the interval.

2. Why is it important to find the average value of a function?

Finding the average value of a function can provide valuable information about the behavior of the function over a given interval. It can also help in making predictions and analyzing trends in data.

3. What is the formula for integrating to find average value?

The formula for integrating to find average value is:
Average value = (1/b-a) ∫ba f(x)dx
where a and b are the limits of the interval and f(x) is the function.

4. Can integrating to find average value be applied to any type of function?

Yes, integrating to find average value can be applied to any continuous function over a given interval. However, it may not be applicable to discontinuous or undefined functions.

5. What are some real-life applications of integrating to find average value?

Integrating to find average value has various applications in fields such as physics, engineering, economics, and statistics. For example, it can be used to calculate the average velocity of a moving object, the average temperature over a period of time, or the average cost of a product over a certain period.

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