# The average of a function

1. Mar 19, 2005

### ribod

I have this function:
y=x/(x-1/x)
and I want to find out the average value of y, between two values of x.

Is there some mathematical way to do this?

2. Mar 19, 2005

### cronxeh

$$\frac{1}{x_{2}-x_{1}} \int_{x_{1}}^{x_{2}} {\frac{x}{x-\frac{1}{x}} dx }$$

$$a = x_{1}, b = x_{2}$$

$$\frac{1}{b-a} * ( b + \frac{1}{2}*log(b - 1) - \frac{1}{2}*log(b+1) - a - \frac{1}{2} * log(a-1) + \frac{1}{2} * log(a+1) )$$

Last edited: Mar 19, 2005
3. Mar 19, 2005

### Zurtex

Correct me if I am wrong but I think that nicely cancels down to:

$$\frac{1}{b - a}\left(b - a + \text{tanh}^{-1}(a) - \text{tanh}^{-1}(b) \right)$$

Last edited: Mar 19, 2005
4. Mar 19, 2005

### cronxeh

And you assume that if OP doesnt know the avg of a function, then he'll know what hyperbolic tangent is :rofl:

5. Mar 19, 2005

I know what tanh is but not the average of a function.

6. Mar 19, 2005

### Data

Ah, but do you know what $$\tanh^{-1}$$ is?!?!

7. Mar 21, 2005

### HallsofIvy

The average of a function, f(x), between x= x1 and x= x2 is:
$$\frac{1}{x_2-x_1}\int_{x_1}^{x_2}f(x)dx$$