Understanding the Limit of a Sum in the Integral of f(x)=x

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the limit of a sum in the context of the integral of the function f(x) = x. Participants explore the mathematical steps involved in deriving the integral from a summation approach, addressing potential errors and clarifying the correct formulation of the integral.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a limit of a sum approach to compute the integral of f(x) = x, leading to a series of algebraic manipulations.
  • Another participant points out that the integral ∫ab x dx is not equal to b² - a², suggesting a correction to the formulation.
  • A participant identifies an error in the algebraic manipulation, specifically in pulling "a" out of the limit, and suggests that equalizing denominators and collecting terms is necessary.
  • Further discussion highlights that the summation on i was not properly handled, leading to confusion about the results.
  • Another participant asserts that the expression involving the sum of functions is incorrect, indicating a need to account for the 0th term in the summation.
  • One participant successfully derives the correct integral expression, confirming that ∫ab x dx = (b² - a²)/2, but acknowledges differing approaches to reach this conclusion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correctness of specific algebraic steps and the formulation of the integral. There is no clear consensus on the initial approach, and multiple competing views remain regarding the handling of limits and summations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the derivation involves assumptions about the behavior of limits and summations, which may not be universally applicable without further clarification. The discussion also reflects varying interpretations of mathematical expressions and their manipulations.

ManishR
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[tex]\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}f\left(a+i\frac{(b-a)}{h}\right)\frac{(b-a)}{h}[/tex]

if f(x) = x

[tex]\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=(b-a)\left[\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}(a+i\frac{(b-a)}{h})\frac{1}{h}\right][/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=(b-a)\left[\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}(\frac{a}{h}+i\frac{(b-a)}{h^{2}})\right][/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=(b-a)\left[\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}(\frac{a}{h}+i\frac{(b-a)}{h^{2}})\right][/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=(b-a)\left[a+\left(\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}(i\frac{(b-a)}{h^{2}})\right)\right][/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=(b-a)\left[a+(b-a)\left(\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}(\frac{i}{h^{2}})\right)\right][/tex]

let

[tex]\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}(\frac{i}{h^{2}})=k[/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=(b-a)\left[a+(b-a)k\right][/tex]

if

[tex]\intop_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=b^{2}-a^{2}[/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow b^{2}-a^{2}=(b-a)\left[a+(b-a)k\right][/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow k=\frac{b}{b-a}[/tex]

but k cannot be function of anything.

so what's wrong here ?
 
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Hi ManishR! :smile:

i] ∑ i/h2 = (1/h2) ∑ i

ii] ∫ab x dx is not b2 - a2 :wink:
 
You goofed going from the 4th to 5th line when you pulled the "a" out of the limit. You have to equalize the denominators, collect on i and solve the summations. Then you'll get the required 1/2 (b2-a2).
 
tiny-tim said:
ii] ∫ab x dx is not b2 - a2 :wink:

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}f(x)dx=\frac{1}{2}(b^{2}-a^{2})[/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow\frac{1}{2}(b^{2}-a^{2})=(b-a)[a+(b-a)k][/tex]

[tex]\Rightarrow k=\frac{1}{2}[/tex]

ok everything is alright
thanks tiny-tim
 
Last edited:
dimitri151 said:
You goofed going from the 4th to 5th line when you pulled the "a" out of the limit. You have to equalize the denominators, collect on i and solve the summations. Then you'll get the required 1/2 (b2-a2).

i don't see any problem in 5th step. would you care to elaborate.
 
It's technically not incorrect. It just looked like that's why you got confused. You should have finished your algebra and then did your summations. How could you know the sum on 1 and not on i?
 
dimitri151 said:
It's technically not incorrect. It just looked like that's why you got confused.

again how ?

are you saying

[tex]\sum_{i=0}^{h}(f(h)+g(i))=h.f(h)+\sum_{i=0}^{h}g(i)[/tex]

is wrong ?
 
ManishR said:
again how ?

are you saying

[tex]\sum_{i=0}^{h}(f(h)+g(i))=h.f(h)+\sum_{i=0}^{h}g(i)[/tex]

is wrong ?

It IS wrong.

Should be (h+1) on the right.
 
l'Hôpital said:
It IS wrong.

Should be (h+1) on the right.

sorry i forgot to account for 0th term,

RHS = (h+1)f(h) + ,,
 
  • #10
[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}\frac{f(a-i\frac{(b-a)}{h})}{h}[/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\left[a+(b-a)\left(\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\sum_{0}^{h}\frac{i}{h^{2}}\right)\right][/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\left[a+(b-a)\left(\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\frac{1}{h^{2}}\sum_{0}^{h}i\right)\right][/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\left[a+(b-a)\left(\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\frac{1}{h^{2}}\frac{h(h+1)}{2}\right)\right][/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\left[a+\frac{(b-a)}{2}\left(\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\frac{h+1}{h}\right)\right][/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\left[a+\frac{(b-a)}{2}\left(\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\frac{1+\frac{1}{h}}{1}\right)\right][/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\left[a+\frac{(b-a)}{2}\left(1+\underset{h\rightarrow\infty}{lim}\frac{1}{h}\right)\right][/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=(b-a)\left[a+\frac{(b-a)}{2}\right][/tex]

[tex]\int_{a}^{b}xdx=\frac{\left(b^{2}-a^{2}\right)}{2}[/tex]
 
  • #11
Perfect! :smile:

(nice LaTeX too, btw)

(except personally, i'd have gone straight from lim h(h+1)/2h2 to 1/2, and I'd have put in an extra line just before the end, with (b+a)/2 :wink:)
 

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