# Trapezoidal Rule

Trapezoidal Rule” is one of the important integration rules in Calculus.

In the Trapezoidal rule, the area under the curve is evaluated as trapeziums, as the total area is divided into small trapezoids instead of rectangles.

This integration is done by approximating the region under the curve of a function as a trapezoid, and the area is calculated. The Trapezoid rule formula takes the average of the left and the right sum.

Index

## Formula

Let f(x) be a continuous function. The interval we will consider is [a, b].

Now dividing the intervals [a, b] into n equal subintervals, each Interval has a width of,

$$\Delta x = \frac{(b-a)}{n},$$ Such that $$a = x_0 < x_1< x_2<…..<x_n = b$$

Then the Trapezoidal Rule formula for area approximating integral $$\int^b_a f(x)dx$$ is given by:

$$\int^b_a F(x)dx = \frac{\Delta x}{2} [ f(x_0) + 2f(x_1) + 2f(x_2) + … 2f(x_{n-1}) + f(x_n)]$$

Where, $$x_i = a + i \Delta x$$

If n $$\rightarrow \infty$$, R.H.S of the expression approaches the definite integral $$\int^b_a f(x)dx.$$

## Trapezoidal vs Simpson’s

The Trapezoidal Rule does not provide as accurate value as Simpson’s Rule when an underlying function is smooth.

This is because Simpson’s Rule does not use linear approximations. Instead, it uses quadratic approximation. Both Simpson’s Rule and Trapezoidal Rule provide the approximation value, but Simpson’s Rule results in a more accurate approximation value of the integrals.

We can also use Riemann Sums to evaluate the definite integrals, where we use small rectangles to evaluate the area under the curve.

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## Questions

Find the area under the curve which passes through the following points:

Sol. Given,

$$y_0 = 5$$ $$y_1 = 7$$ $$y_2 = 8$$ $$y_3 = 13$$

$${\Delta x} = (1 – 0) = (2 – 1) = (3 – 2) = 1$$

Therefore, area = $$\frac{\Delta x}{2} [y_0 + y_n + 2(y_1 + y_2 + … + y_{n-1})]$$

=$$\frac{1}{2}[5 + 13 + 2(7 + 8)]$$

=$$\frac{1}{2} [48]$$

= 24 sq. units

Find the area under the curve $$y = 2x^2$$ through the points x = 0 to x = 3 using interval size 0.5

Sol. Given,

$$y = 2x^2$$

$${\Delta x} = 0.5$$

Area $$= \frac{0.5}{2} [0 + 36 + 2(1 +4 + 9 + 16 + 25)]$$

=$$\frac{1}{4}[146]$$

= 36.5 sq. units

## FAQs

What is trapezium rule?

The rule is used in calculus widely. In the Trapezoidal rule, the area under the curve is evaluated as trapeziums, as the total area is divided into small trapezoids instead of rectangles.

What are the uses of the trapezoid rule?

The trapezoidal rule is used to calculate the area under a curve by dividing the area under the curve into small trapezoids. Summation of all the areas of the small trapezoids gives the area under the curve.

What is the trapezoid rule formula?

Area = $$\int^b_a F(x)dx = \frac{\Delta x}{2} [ f(x_0) + 2f(x_1) + 2f(x_2) + … 2f(x_{n-1}) + f(x_n)]$$

What is the difference between the trapezoid rule and Riemann Sums?

Reimann Sums uses small rectangles in order to calculate the area, while the trapezoid rule uses trapezoids.

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