ENGINEERING COUNCIL EXAM MATHEMATICS C101

Solutions to exam paper 2004

Q2a. Estimate the value of the definite integral by Simpson's rule using four strips.
What is the error in the estimate? How many strips would be needed to guarantee that the estimate
was correct to 3 decimal places?

=
5
1
4
dx x I

(The error, e
s
, in Simpson's rule using n strips applied to the integral is given by

=
b
a
dx x f I ) (
( )
M
n
a b
e
s
4
5
180

where M is the maximum value of

( )
( ) x f
4
in the interval axb)
The plot shown is not really required in the exam but is included here for tutorial purposes.

Evaluate y
1
to y
5
y
1
= 1
4
= 1 y
2
= 2
4
= 64 y
3
= 3
4
= 81 y
4
= 4
4
= 256 y
5
= 5
4
= 625
It is easy to check the correct answer by integrating and evaluating 625
5
5
1
5
1
5
4
=

= =

x
dx x I
Simpson's
Rule ( ) ( ) ( [ ] ordinates odd remaining the of sum 2 ordinates even the of sum 4 last first
3
+ + + =
h
I )
( ) ( ) ( ) [ ]
3 4 2 5 1
2 4
3
y y y y y
h
I + + + + =
( ) ( ) ( ) [ ] 333 . 689 81 2 256 64 4 625 1
3
1
= + + + + =

Error = 689.333-625 = 64.333
( )
M
n
a b
e
s
4
5
180

( )
4
4
5
625
180
1 5
333 . 64
n

hence n
4
= 13.493 x 10
9
n = 340.8 so we need 342 strips to have an
even number large enough.


Q2(b) Find the position of the centroid of the plane area bounded by the x axis , the y axis and
the curve y = 4 x
2
, 0x2. What is the position of the centroid of the plane area bounded by the
xaxis and the curve y = 4 x
2
, -2x2?
SOLUTION
The plot of y = 4 x
2
is shown.

First find the area 333 . 5 0
3
8
8
3
4 ) 4 (
2
0
3
2
0
2
2
0
=

= = =

x
x dx x ydx A
Next find the moment of area about the x axis.
( ) 533 . 8 0 667 . 10 2 . 3 16
3
4
10
8
2
3
8
5
16
2
) 8 16 (
2
) 4 (
2
2
0
3 5
2
0
3 5
2
0
2 4
2
0
2 2
2
0
2
= + =

+ =

+
=
+
=

= =

x x
x Mx
x x
x
dx
x x
dx
x
dx
y
Mx

The position of the centroid from the x axis is Mx/A = 8.533/5.333 = 1.6

Next find the moment of area about the y axis.
( )
( ) 4 0 4 8
4
2 4 ) 4 (
2
0
4
2
2
0
3
2
0
2
2
0
= =

= = = =

My
x
x dx x x xdx x yxdx My

The position of the centroid from the y axis is
My/A = 4/5.333 = 0.75


For the limits of -2 to +2 the centroid moves onto the y
axis at x = 0 and y = 1.6