Deriving the trapezium rule from the formula used to find the area of a trapezium?

I have to derive the trapezium rule. In other words going from h/2(a+b) (the formula to get the area of a trapezium) to h/2[f(0)+2(f(1)+f(2)+...+f(n-1))+f(n)] (the trapezium rule)

I really hope that makes sense…

Yes it makes sense. You are talking about finding areas under a curve numerically rather than by integration.

The first strip will have sides f(0) and f(1) so its area is
(h/2)[f(0) + f(1)]
The second strip has sides f(1) and f(2) so its area is
(h/2)[f(1) + f(2)]
Continue in this way up to the penultimate strip area of
(h/2)[f(n-2) + f(n-1)]
and the final strip with area of
(h/2)[f(n-1) + f(n)]

Adding these up you see that (h/2) is a common factor. All the function terms appear twice except f(0) and f(n) which only appear once. That is why the long bracket starts
f(0) + 2f(1) + 2f(2) . . .
and ends
. . . 2f(n – 2) + 2f(n – 1) + f(n)

P.S. You have missed out some of the 2’s in your long bracket.

One Response to “Deriving the trapezium rule from the formula used to find the area of a trapezium?”

  1. mathsmanretired on February 2nd, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    Yes it makes sense. You are talking about finding areas under a curve numerically rather than by integration.

    The first strip will have sides f(0) and f(1) so its area is
    (h/2)[f(0) + f(1)]
    The second strip has sides f(1) and f(2) so its area is
    (h/2)[f(1) + f(2)]
    Continue in this way up to the penultimate strip area of
    (h/2)[f(n-2) + f(n-1)]
    and the final strip with area of
    (h/2)[f(n-1) + f(n)]

    Adding these up you see that (h/2) is a common factor. All the function terms appear twice except f(0) and f(n) which only appear once. That is why the long bracket starts
    f(0) + 2f(1) + 2f(2) . . .
    and ends
    . . . 2f(n – 2) + 2f(n – 1) + f(n)

    P.S. You have missed out some of the 2’s in your long bracket.
    References :

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