# Trapezoidal Rule

We will obtain Trapezoidal rule (approximation) from averaging Right and Left Endpoint approximations: $int_a^bf(x)dx~~1/2(L_n+R_n)=1/2(sum_(i=1)^nf(x_(i-1))Delta x+sum_(i=1)^nf(x_i)Delta x)$ .

Rewriting it we obtain Trapezoidal Rule: $int_a^bf(x)dx~~T_n=(Delta x)/2(f(x_0)+2f(x_1)+2f(x_2)+...+2f(x_(n-1))+f(x_n))$.

It is called Trapezoidal because as appeared this formula gives approximation by approximating area not with rectangles but trapezoids, with height of trapezoid $Delta x$ and lengths of bases $f(x_(i-1))$ and $f(x_i)$ . Thus area of i-th trapezoid is $Delta x((f(x_(i-1))+f(x_i))/2)$. Adding all trapezoids will give trapezoidal rule.

It is worth noting that if function is concave up then trapezoidal rule overestimates integral, if function is concave down then trapezoidal rule underestimates integral.

Example 1. Use Trapezoidal Rule to approximate value of $int_1^2 1/x^2dx$ with $n=5$.

Here $a=1$, $b=2$, $f(x)=1/x^2$ and $n=5$. So, $Delta x=(b-a)/n=(2-1)/5=0.2$.

So, $int_1^2 1/x^2(dx)~~T_n=0.2/2 (f(1)+2f(1.2)+2f(1.4)+2f(1.6)+2f(1.8)+f(2))=$

$=0.1(1/1^2+2/(1.2)^2+2/(1.4)^2+2/(1.6)^2+2/(1.8)^2+1/2^2)~~0.505783$.

In Left Endpoint, Right Endpoint note we found for this example $L_n=0.580783$ and $R_n=0.430783$.

So, $1/2(L_n+R_n)=1/2(0.580783+0.430783)=0.505783=T_n$ as expected.

True value of integral is $I=int_1^2 1/x^2dx=0.5$.

So, Trapezoidal Rule overestimates integral as expected (function $f(x)=1/x^2$ is concave up on $[1,2]$).

When we approximate integral we will always have some error: $E=int_a^bf(x)dx-App$ where $App$ is approximation and $E$ is error.

Error Bound for Trapezoidal Rule. Suppose $|f''(x)|<=M$ for $a<=x<=b$ then $|E|<=(M(b-a)^3)/(12n^2)$.

Example 2. How large should we take n in order to guarantee that the Trapezoidal Rule approximation for $int_1^2 1/x^2 dx$ are accurate to within 0.0002?

Here $a=1$, $b=2$, $f(x)=1/x^2$.

Then $f'(x)=-2/x^3$ and $f''(x)=6/x^4$.

Therefore $|f''(x)|<=6$ for $1<=x<=2$.

Thus, $(6(2-1)^3)/(12n^2)>0.0002$ or $n^2>1/(0.0004)$.

So, $n>1/sqrt(0.0004)=50$.

So, we need to take $n=51$.

Related Calculators: Trapezoidal Rule Calculator , Riemann Sum Calculator