TEACHER NOTES

maths in focus
Mathematics and Extension 1
Year 12

CHAPTER 3 INTEGRATION

Trapezoidal and Simpson’s Rules

AIM

For students to understand the similarities and differences between both approximation methods
and which is more accurate.

INTRODUCTION

Show how the trapezoidal rule approximates the area under a curve to a trapezium and use the
area of a trapezium formula to derive the trapezoidal rule.

METHOD

• Draw a curve and show how a trapezium is an approximation for the area under the curve.

• Use this diagram to derive the trapezoidal rule using two trapezia and using the area of a
trapezium formula (see Example 1).

• Illustrate the trapezoidal rule with an example involving more intervals (see Example 2).

• Compare this with the use of Simpson’s rule.

• Find the exact value of the integral and investigate which rule is more accurate.

• Allow students time to practise the rules.

EXAMPLES

Example 1
Find the area under the curve y = x 2 + 1, from x = 1 to x = 3, using the trapezoidal rule and
2 equal intervals.
See graph on next page for area required.
1
Area of a trapezium = h ( a + b) where a, b are the parallel sides and h is the height
2
between them
h h
In the diagram A = 7 y + y 1 A + 7 y 1 + y 2 A using this area formula where the y’s are the
2 0 2
parallel sides instead of a and b.

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2010 McGraw-Hill Australia.Permission
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TEACHER NOTES
maths in focus
Mathematics and Extension 1
Year 12

CHAPTER 3 INTEGRATION

Trapezoidal and Simpson’s Rules (Cont.)

This formula can be reduced to

h
Area . 7 y + 2y 1 + y 2 A when using 2 intervals.
2 0
In this case h = 1 which is the width of 1 interval and the values are found by substituting
the x values into y = x 2 + 1
y 0 = 1 2 + 1 = 2, y1 = 22 + 1 = 5 and y 2 = 3 2 + 1 = 10
1
Area . (2 + 2 # 5 + 10) = 11 units2.
2
y
10
y = x2 + 1
8
6
4 y2
2 y1
y0
h
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 x
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10

Example 2
Find an approximation to the area under the curve y = 2x 2 - 2 from x = 1 to x = 4 using
the trapezoidal rule with 6 intervals.
The trapezoidal rule can be extended to n intervals.
h
Area . 7 y 0 + 2y 1 + 2y 2 + f + 2y n - 1 + y n A
2
In this example it will be
h
Area . 7 y + 2y 1 + 2y 2 + f + 2y 5 + y 6 A
2 0
where h = 0.5, and the y-values are found by substituting into y = 2x 2 - 2.
x 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
y y0 = 0 y 1 = 2 .5 y2 = 6 y 3 = 10.5 y 4 = 16 y 5 = 22.5 y 6 = 30

Copyright © 2010©Cengage
Copyright Learning Australia.
2010 McGraw-Hill Australia.Permission
Permission is granted
is granted to reproduce
to reproduce for classroom
for classroom use. use. 2
TEACHER NOTES
maths in focus
Mathematics and Extension 1
Year 12

CHAPTER 3 INTEGRATION

Trapezoidal and Simpson’s Rules (Cont.)

Area .
0 .5
5 0 + 2 # 2.5 + 2 # 6 + 2 # 10.5 + 2 # 16 + 2 # 22.5 + 30 ?
2
A . 0.25 # 145
A . 36.25 units2.
y

y = 2x2 – 2

30
25
20
15
y6
y5
10 y4
y3
5 y2
y1 x
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 5
-5
-10

While the trapezoidal rule approximates the area under a curve to a trapezium, Simpson’s
rule approximates the area under any curve to a parabolic arc. This gives a closer
approximation as it is a curve rather than a line.
The formula is based on the same notation as for the trapezoidal rule
h
Area . 7 y + y n A FOTE which stands for Four times the Odd ordinates and Two times the
3 0
Even ordinates or
h
Area . 7 (y + y n) + (4y 1 + 2y 2 + 4y 3 + 2y 4 + ... A
3 0

Example 3
Find an approximation to the area under the curve y = 2x 2 - 2 from x = 1 to x = 4
using Simpson’s rule with 6 intervals.
h
Area . 7 (y 0 + y 6) + (4y 1 + 2y 2 + 4y 3 + 2y 4 + 4y 5 A
3

6 (0 + 30) + 4 (2.5) + 2 (6) + 4 (10.5) + 2 (16) + 4 (22.5) @

0 .5
Area .
3
Area . 0.16 666 # 216
Area . 36 units2.

Copyright © 2010©Cengage
Copyright Learning Australia.
2010 McGraw-Hill Australia.Permission
Permission is granted
is granted to reproduce
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TEACHER NOTES
maths in focus
Mathematics and Extension 1
Year 12

CHAPTER 3 INTEGRATION

Trapezoidal and Simpson’s Rules (Cont.)

Example 4
Find the exact value of the area under the curve y = 2x 2 - 2 from x = 1 to x = 4 using
integration. Discuss the accuracy of both the trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule in this
question.
4

Area = # (2x 2 - 2) dx
1
4
Area = < - 2x F
2x 3
3 1

2 (4) 3 2 (1) 3
Area = > - 2 (4) - e - 2 (1) o H
3 3
Area = ; - 8 - + 2E
128 2
3 3
2
Area = 36 units .

In this question Simpson’s rule gives an exact answer as the curve involved was a parabola
and Simpson’s rule approximates the curve to a parabola. In general, Simpson’s rule will
give a more accurate answer than the trapezoidal rule.

ASSESSMENT

Mixed questions involving both rules plus an occasional reference to exact areas when possible
will help the students to understand this section of the course.

Copyright © 2010©Cengage
Copyright Learning Australia.
2010 McGraw-Hill Australia.Permission
Permission is granted
is granted to reproduce
to reproduce for classroom
for classroom use. use. 4