(Homework Help)
(Homework Help)
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Explain why the error, <math> E = | R_N - I | </math>, satisfies
 
Explain why the error, <math> E = | R_N - I | </math>, satisfies
  <math> E =< \frac{M(b-a)^2}{N}. </math>
+
  <math> E <= \frac{M(b-a)^2}{N}. </math>
 
</blockquote>
 
</blockquote>
  
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*I don't understand why this must be true.  Maybe I'm wrong, but if f(x) were a horizontal line, wouldn't E=0 and M(b-a)^2/N also be =0.  That would mean it is a false statement that E < M(b-a)^2/N.  Are we to assume that E <= M(b-a)^2/N?
 
*I don't understand why this must be true.  Maybe I'm wrong, but if f(x) were a horizontal line, wouldn't E=0 and M(b-a)^2/N also be =0.  That would mean it is a false statement that E < M(b-a)^2/N.  Are we to assume that E <= M(b-a)^2/N?
  
*Chumbert: Yeah, he said in class today (Wed.) to assume that, right?
+
*Chumbert - Yeah, he said in class today (Wed.) to assume that, right?
 
*Ctuchek - I do remember him saying that we will need to use the Mean Value Theorem.
 
*Ctuchek - I do remember him saying that we will need to use the Mean Value Theorem.
 +
*Chumbert - Logically, I think I got it, but I'm not entirely sure how to prove it mathematically:
 +
The <math>M(b-a)</math> gives the height of one section, where <math>\frac{(b-a)}{N}<math> gives the width, and when multiplied together, they give you a rectangle which, if you remember from class, is the error--take the R-sum, then stack the extra blocks on to of each other. Does anyone else remember that? Or should I explain it better?
  
 
==Interesting Articles about Calculus==
 
==Interesting Articles about Calculus==

Revision as of 06:38, 19 September 2008

Math 181 Honors Calculus

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Lecture Notes

Homework Help

Hello, this is gary from ma181. let's solve the extra credit problem. Here is the problem in italics:

Extra Credit Problem


Suppose that f(x) is continuously differentiable on the interval [a,b]. Let N be a positive integer and let $ M = Max { |f'(x)| : a \leq x \leq b } $. Let $ h = \frac{(b-a)}{N} $ and let $ R_N $ denote the "right endpoint" Riemann Sum for the integral $ I = \int_a^b f(x) dx . $ In other words, $ R_N = \sum_{n=1}^N f(a + n h) h . $

Explain why the error, $ E = | R_N - I | $, satisfies $ E <= \frac{M(b-a)^2}{N}. $

  • So what does this equation "E < M(b-a)^2/N" mean. This reads that the error is less than the Maximum value of the derivative of the function of x multiplied by the interval squared from x=a to x=b all divided by the total number of subintervals N.
  • I don't understand why this must be true. Maybe I'm wrong, but if f(x) were a horizontal line, wouldn't E=0 and M(b-a)^2/N also be =0. That would mean it is a false statement that E < M(b-a)^2/N. Are we to assume that E <= M(b-a)^2/N?
  • Chumbert - Yeah, he said in class today (Wed.) to assume that, right?
  • Ctuchek - I do remember him saying that we will need to use the Mean Value Theorem.
  • Chumbert - Logically, I think I got it, but I'm not entirely sure how to prove it mathematically:

The $ M(b-a) $ gives the height of one section, where $ \frac{(b-a)}{N}<math> gives the width, and when multiplied together, they give you a rectangle which, if you remember from class, is the error--take the R-sum, then stack the extra blocks on to of each other. Does anyone else remember that? Or should I explain it better? ==Interesting Articles about Calculus== [[The minimum volume happens at the average_MA181Fall2008bell]] ==[[Learn LaTeX_MA181Fall2008bell]]== $

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