Simpson's rule and trapezoidal rule ?'s

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In summary, Simpson's rule is typically used when the curve being approximated is smooth and "parabolicish," while the trapezoidal rule is better for estimating integrals on less parabolic curves. Simpson's rule may also provide better approximations for curvy functions and is surprisingly exact for cubics. Both methods have error estimates and the one with the lowest estimate would be preferred.
  • #1
ryingling5711
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when do you use simpson's rule over trapezoidal rule?

why does simpsons rule alternate 4 and 2?
 
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  • #2
ryingling5711 said:
when do you use simpson's rule over trapezoidal rule?

why does simpsons rule alternate 4 and 2?

I think, though I could be wrong, Simpson's rule is used when the curve you are approximating is smooth and "parabolicish." The trap rule, on the other hand, should be used then your curve is not so smooth or not so "parbolicish". Both have some sort of error estimate, right? I might go for the one with the lowest estimate.
 
  • #3
I'm not really sure about that because i know you can use both for parabolic curves so but maybe your right that the trap rule is better for estimating integrals on less parabolic curves.
 
  • #4
ryingling5711 said:
I'm not really sure about that because i know you can use both for parabolic curves so but maybe your right that the trap rule is better for estimating integrals on less parabolic curves.

Generally speaking you would expect better approximations for curvy functions with Simpson's rule. One surprising fact about Simpson's rule is that it is exact for cubics even though by design you might expect it would be exact only for second and lower degree polynomials.
 

FAQ: Simpson's rule and trapezoidal rule ?'s

What is Simpson's rule and how does it work?

Simpson's rule is a numerical integration method used to approximate the area under a curve. It works by dividing the area into smaller segments and using a polynomial function to estimate the value of each segment. The estimated values are then summed to get an overall approximation of the area.

How accurate are Simpson's rule and trapezoidal rule?

Both Simpson's rule and trapezoidal rule provide fairly accurate approximations of the area under a curve. However, Simpson's rule tends to be more accurate since it uses a higher order polynomial function to estimate the curve, while trapezoidal rule uses a linear function.

When should I use Simpson's rule over trapezoidal rule?

Simpson's rule should be used when the curve being integrated is smooth and does not have any sharp turns. This is because Simpson's rule uses a parabolic function to estimate the curve, which is a better fit for smooth curves. Trapezoidal rule, on the other hand, can be used for any type of curve but may not provide as accurate results for smooth curves.

What are the limitations of Simpson's rule and trapezoidal rule?

One limitation of Simpson's rule and trapezoidal rule is that they can only be used for functions that are continuous and have a known equation. They also require a certain number of points to be calculated, which can be time-consuming for complex functions. Additionally, these methods may not be accurate for curves with very large or very small values.

Are there any other numerical integration methods besides Simpson's rule and trapezoidal rule?

Yes, there are many other numerical integration methods, such as the midpoint rule, Gaussian quadrature, and Romberg integration. Each method has its own advantages and limitations, so it's important to choose the right method for the specific function being integrated.

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