Undetermined coefficients - deriving formula

muso07
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Homework Statement


Derive a formula of the form \int\stackrel{b}{a}f(x)dx \approx c_{0}f(a)+c_{1}f(b)+c_{2}f'(a)+c_{3}f'(b) that is exact for polynomials of the highest degree possible.

Apply a change of variable: y=x-a

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I don't get the "highest degree possible" thing. Like, if it's exact for quadratics, I know it has to be exact for f(x)=1,x,x2.

But applying the change of variable, I got \int\stackrel{b-a}{0}f(y)dy \approx c_{0}f(0)+c_{1}f(b-a)+c_{2}f'(0)+c_{3}f'(b-a)

Any help much appreciated. :)
 
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Whoops, that's meant to be integral from a to b for the first one and 0 to b-a for the second one.
 
Can anyone even point me in the right direction?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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