Troubleshooting the Average Value of a Function

[tandoorichicken]

I forgot the formula for the average value of a function.
Is that f(b) - f(a) = f'(c)(b-a) or am I thinking of something else?

 

[cookiemonster]

Try:

\frac{\int_a^b f(x)\,dx}{b-a}}

Just remember that you're turning the area under the curve into a rectangle of base (b - a). The height is the average value.

cookiemonster

 

[tandoorichicken]

okay, the actual problem now becomes
\frac{\int_{-1}^{1} e^{-x^2} \,dx}{-2}
any takers?

 

[cookiemonster]

You've got an extra negative in the denominator.

The expression can be simplified at most to:

\int_0^1 e^{-x^2}\,dx

Which must be integrated numerically. Mathematica gives:

\int_0^1 e^{-x^2}\,dx = .746824

cookiemonster