Chapter 70

Double and triple integrals

Why it is important to understand: Double and triple integrals
Double and triple integrals have engineering applications in nding areas, masses and forces of twodimensional regions, and in determining volumes, average values of functions, centres of mass, moments
of inertia and surface areas. A multiple integral is a type of denite integral extended to functions of more
than one real variable. This chapter explains how to evaluate double and triple integrals and completes
the many techniques of integral calculus explained in the preceding chapters.

At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

evaluate a double integral

evaluate a triple integral

70.1

Double integrals

The procedure
# y2 # x2 to determine a double integral of the
f (x, y)dx dy is:
form:
y1

x1

(i) integrate f (x, y) with respect to x between the

limits of x = x 1 and x = x 2 (where y is regarded
as being a constant), and
(ii)

integrate the result in (i) with respect to y between

the limits of y = y1 and y = y2

It is seen from this procedure that to determine a double

integral we start with the innermost integral and then
work outwards.
Double integrals may be used to determine areas under
curves, second moments of area, centroids and moments
of inertia.
# y2 # x2
f (x, y)dx dy
is
written
(Sometimes
#
as:

y2

y1
x2

dy
y1

x1

the right hand side integral is determined rst.)

Determining double integrals is demonstrated in the
following worked problems.

(2x 3y)dx dy

Following the above procedure:

(i) (2x 3y) is integrated with respect to x between
x = 2 and x = 5, with y regarded as a constant
2
5
# 5
2x
(2x 3y)dx =
(3y)x
i.e.
2
2
2
!5
= x 2 3x y
2

!
= 52 3(5)y 22 3(2)y
= (25 15y) (4 6y)
= 25 15y 4 + 6y

x1

f (x, y)dx. All this means is that

3# 5

#
Problem 1. Evaluate

= 21 9y

# 3#

(ii)
1

(2x 3y)dx dy =

Understanding Engineering Mathematics. 978-0-415-66284-0, 2014 John Bird. Published by Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.

(21 9y)dy

3

9y 2
= 21y
2 1

754 Understanding Engineering Mathematics

Section J


 

9(3)2
9(1)2
= 21(3)
21(1)
2
2

3# 2

#
(ii)
1



3
16y 2
16
y dy =
3
6 1
1




16(3)2
16(1)2
=

6
6

(2x 2 y)dx dy =

= (63 40.5) (21 4.5)

= 63 40.5 21 + 4.5 = 6
# 3#
Hence,
1

# 3#
Hence,

(2x 3y)dx dy = 6

2
4# 2

#
Problem 2. Evaluate
0

(3x 2)dx dy
2

2
3x 3
2x
3
1

!
= 23 2(2) 13 2(1)

= 841+2 = 5
# 4
2
2
(3x 2)dx dy =
(5)dy
1

= [5y]40
= [(5(4)) (5(0))]

(i) (2x 2 y) is integrated with respect to x between

x = 0 and x = 2,
3 2
# 2
2x y
i.e.
(2x 2 y)dx =
3 0
0



2(2)3 y
=
(0)
3
16
=
y
3

# 3 
# 3 # 2
16
2
(ii)
dy
(2x y)dx =
dy
y
3
1
0
1


3
# 3
16y 2
16
=
y dy =
3
6 1
1

 

2
16(3)
16(1)2
=

6
6

= 20 0 = 20
# 4#

Hence,
0

#
1

1
3# 2

Problem 3. Evaluate
1

dy

Hence,

(3x2 2)dx dy = 20
#

= 24 2.67 = 21.33
2

(2x2 y)dx = 21.33

The last two worked problems show that

# 3# 2
(2x 2 y)dx dy gives the same answer as
1
0
# 3 # 2
dy
2x 2 yd x

(2x 2 y)dx dy

(i) (2x 2 y) is integrated with respect to x between

x = 0 and x = 2,
2

i.e.

(2x 2 y)dx =

2
2x 3 y
3


=

4#

Following the above procedure:

(2x 2 y)dx

With this conguration:

= (8 4) (1 2)

(ii)

dy

# 4#

3
1

(3x 2 2)dx =

(2x y)dx dy = 21.33

(i) (3x 2 2) is integrated with respect to x between

x = 1 and x = 2,
#

= 24 2.67 = 21.33
2

Problem 4. Evaluate

Following the above procedure:

i.e.

# 3

2(2)3 y
3


(0) =

16
y
3

Problem 5. Evaluate
1

(2 + sin 2 )d dr

Following the above procedure:

(i) (2 + sin 2 ) is integrated with respect to between
= 0 and = ,


#
1
(2 + sin 2 )dx = 2 cos 2
i.e.
2
0
0

= (2 0.5) (0 0.5) = 2
# 4
4#
(2 + sin 2 )d dr =
(2) dr

#
(ii)


 

1
1
2 cos 2 0 cos 0
2
2

= [2r ]41
# 4#

= 8 2 = 6 or 18.85

Hence,
1

= [(2(4)) (2(1))]

(2 + sin 2 )d dr = 18.85

Now try the following Practice Exercise

Practice Exercise 278 Double integrals
(answers on page 1142)
Evaluate the double integrals in Problems 1 to 8.
# 3# 4
1.
2dx dy
#

2
2# 3

2.
#

2
2# 3

3.
#

4.
#

1
6# 5

(x 2 + 4y)dx dy

4# 2

1
3

(3x y 2)dx dy

(3 + sin 2 )d dr

1 0
# 3 # 4

dx

8.
1

9.

(x 5y)dx dy

6.
7.

(2x y)dy dx

2
5# 2

5.

(2x y)dx dy

(40 2x y)dy

The volume of a solid, V, bounded by the curve

4 x y between the limits x = 0 to x = 1
and y = 0 to y = 2 is given by:
# 2# 1
(4 x y)dx dy
V=
0

Evaluate V
10.

The second moment of area, I , of a 5 cm by

3 cm rectangle about an axis through one corner perpendicular to the plane of the gure is
given by:
# 5# 3
(x 2 + y 2 )dy dx
I=
0

Evaluate I

70.2

755

Triple integrals

The
# z2 procedure
# y2 # x2 to determine a triple integral of the form:
f (x,y,z)dx dy dz is:
z1

y1

x1

(i) integrate f (x, y, z) with respect to x between the

limits of x = x 1 and x = x 2 (where y and z are
regarded as being constants),
(ii) integrate the result in (i) with respect to y between
the limits of y = y1 and y = y2 and
(iii) integrate the result in (ii) with respect to z between
the limits of z = z 1 and z = z 2
It is seen from this procedure that to determine a triple
integral we start with the innermost integral and then
work outwards.
Determining triple integrals is demonstrated in the
following Problems.
Problem 6. Evaluate
# 2# 3 # 2
(x 3y + z)dx dy dz
1

1 0

Following the above procedure:

(i) (x 3y + z) is integrated with respect to x
between x = 0 and x = 2, with y and z regarded
as constants,
2
2
# 2
x
(x 3y + z)dx =
(3y)x + (z)x
i.e.
2
0
0
 2


2
=
(3y)(2) + (z)(2) (0)
2
= 2 6y + 2z
(ii) (2 6y + 2z) is integrated with respect to y
between y = 1 and y = 3, with z regarded as
a constant, i.e.

3
# 3
6y 2
(2 6y + 2z)dy = 2y
+ (2z)y
2
1
1


2
6(3)
= 2(3)
+ (2z)(3)
2


6(1)2
2(1)
+ (2z)(1)
2
= [(6 27 + 6z) (2 3 2z)]

= 6 27 + 6z + 2 + 3 + 2z = 8z 16

Section J

Double and triple integrals

Section J

756 Understanding Engineering Mathematics

(iii)

(8z 16) is integrated with respect to z between

z = 1 and z = 2
2
2
# 2
8z
(8z 16)dz =
i.e.
16z
2
1
1

=


=



4
6c2
is integrated with respect to c between
3
c = 1 and c = 3

3
3
# 3
6c
4
4
2
i.e.
dc =
c
6c
3
3
3 1
1



4
= (54 4) 2
3
= [(50) (0.67)] = 49.33

(iii)

 

8(2)2
8(1)2
16(2)
16(1)
2
2

= [(16 32) (4 16)]

= 16 32 4 + 16 = 4
# 2#
Hence,
1

3# 2
1 0

# 3# 2#
(x 3y + z)dx dy dz = 4

(2a 2 b2 + 3c2) is integrated with respect to a

between a = 0 and a = 1, with b and c regarded
as constants,
# 1
(2a 2 b2 + 3c2 )da
i.e.

1
2a 3
(b 2 )a + (3c2 )a
3
0



2
=
(b 2 ) + (3c2 ) (0)
3

2# 2

3#

4.

2
(2)
+ (3c2 )(2) (0)
3
3

(8x yz)dx dy dz

1 1

2
b2 + 3c2
3


2
b2 + 3c2 is integrated with respect to b
3
between b = 0 and b = 2, with c regarded as a
constant, i.e.
2


# 2
2
2
b3
b2 + 3c2 db =
b
+ (3c2 )b
3
3
3
0
0

0
3# 1

2.
3.

(2)3

# 2#

(2a2 b2 + 3c2 )da db dc = 49.33

Evaluate the triple integrals in Problems 1 to 7.

# 2# 3# 1
1.
(8x yz)dz dx dy

(ii)

Practice Exercise 279 Triple integrals

(answers on page 1142)

Following the above procedure:

(i)

Hence,

Now try the following Practice Exercise

Problem 7. Evaluate
# 3# 2# 1
(2a 2 b2 + 3c2)da db dc
1


4 8
4
+ 6c2 (0) = 6c2
3 3
3

1 0

6.
0

8.

(x y)dx dy dz

3# 2# 1

7.
1

(x y sin z)dx dy dz

4 # 1 # 2

#
#

(x 2 + 5y 2 2z)dx dy dz

5.


x + y 2 + z 3 dx dy dz

(x z + y)dx dy dz

A box shape X is described by the triple

# 3# 2# 1
integral: X =
(x + y + z)dz dy dx
Evaluate X

For fully worked solutions to each of the problems in Practice Exercises 278 and 279 in this chapter,
go to the website:
www.routledge.com/cw/bird

Chapter 71

Numerical integration
Why it is important to understand: Numerical integration
There are two main reasons for why there is a need to do numerical integration analytical integration
may be impossible or infeasible, or it may be necessary to integrate tabulated data rather than known
functions. As has been mentioned before, there are many applications for integration. For example,
Maxwells equations can be written in integral form. Numerical solutions of Maxwells equations can be
directly used for a huge number of engineering applications. Integration is involved in practically every
physical theory in some way vibration, distortion under weight, or one of many types of uid ow
be it heat ow, air ow (over a wing), or water ow (over a ships hull, through a pipe or perhaps even
groundwater ow regarding a contaminant), and so on; all these things can be either directly solved by
integration (for simple systems), or some type of numerical integration (for complex systems). Numerical
integration is also essential for the evaluation of integrals of functions available only at discrete points;
such functions often arise in the numerical solution of differential equations or from experimental data
taken at discrete intervals. Engineers therefore often require numerical integration and this chapter
explains the procedures available.

At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

appreciate the need for numerical integration

evaluate integrals using the trapezoidal rule
evaluate integrals using the mid-ordinate rule
evaluate integrals using Simpsons rule
apply numerical integration to practical situations

71.1

Introduction

Even with advanced methods of integration there are

many mathematical functions which cannot be integrated by analytical methods and thus approximate
methods have then to be used. Approximate methods of
denite integrals may be determined by what is termed
numerical integration.
It may be shown that determining the value of a denite integral is, in fact, nding the area between a curve,
the horizontal axis and the specied ordinates. Three

methods of nding approximate areas under curves are

the trapezoidal rule, the mid-ordinate rule and Simpsons rule, and these rules are used as a basis for
numerical integration.

71.2

The trapezoidal rule

b
Let a required denite integral be denoted by a y dx and
be represented by the area under the graph of y = f (x)
between the limits x = a and x = b as shown in
Figure 71.1.

Understanding Engineering Mathematics. 978-0-415-66284-0, 2014 John Bird. Published by Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.

758 Understanding Engineering Mathematics

y  f(x )

Section J

Problem 1. (a) Use integration to evaluate,

# 3
2
correct to 3 decimal places,
dx (b) Use the
x
1
trapezoidal rule with 4 intervals to evaluate the
integral in part (a), correct to 3 decimal places
#

(a)
1

y1 y2 y3 y4

xa

Let the range of integration be divided into n equal

intervals each of width d, such that nd = b a, i.e.
ba
d=
n
The ordinates are labelled y1 , y2 , y3 , . . . , yn+1 as shown.
An approximation to the area under the curve may be
determined by joining the tops of the ordinates by
straight lines. Each interval is thus a trapezium, and
since the area of a trapezium is given by:
1
area = (sum of parallel sides) (perpendicular
2
distance between them)
then
b
a

1
1
y dx (y1 + y2 )d + (y2 + y3)d
2
2
1
1
+ (y3 + y4 )d + (yn + yn+1 )d
2
2

1
d y1 + y2 + y3 + y4 + + yn
2

1
+ yn+1
2

i.e. the trapezoidal rule states:

#

b
a

 

1 rst + last
width of
y dx
interval
2 ordinate


sum of remaining
+
ordinates

2x 2 dx

3

1
2 +1

= 2.928, correct to 3 decimal places.

Figure 71.1


1 3
2x

2
=
= 4x
1
1
+1
2
1

!
 3
= 4 x 1 = 4 3 1

yn1

x b

2
dx =
x

(b) The range of integration is the difference between

the upper and lower limits, i.e. 3 1 =2. Using
the trapezoidal rule with 4 intervals gives an inter31
val width d =
= 0.5 and ordinates situated
4
at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0. Corresponding values
2
of are shown in the table below, each correct
x
to 4 decimal places (which is one more decimal
place than required in the problem).
x

1.0

2.0000

1.5

1.6330

2.0

1.4142

2.5

1.2649

3.0

1.1547

From equation (1):


# 3
1
2
dx (0.5) (2.0000 + 1.1547)
2
x
1

+ 1.6330 + 1.4142 + 1.2649

= 2.945, correct to 3 decimal places.

(1)

This problem demonstrates that even with just 4 intervals a close approximation to the true value of 2.928
(correct to 3 decimal places) is obtained using the
trapezoidal rule.

Problem 2. Use the trapezoidal rule with 8

# 3
2
intervals to evaluate
dx, correct to 3
x
1
decimal places
31
i.e. 0.25,
With 8 intervals, the width of each is
8
giving ordinates at 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00, 2.25,
2
2.50, 2.75 and 3.00. Corresponding values of are
x
shown in the table below.
x

1.00

2.0000

1.25

1.7889

1.50

1.6330

1.75

1.5119

2.00

1.4142

2.25

1.3333

2.50

1.2649

2.75

1.2060

3.00

1.1547

From equation (1):


# 3
1
2
dx (0.25) (2.000 + 1.1547) + 1.7889
2
x
1
+ 1.6330 + 1.5119 + 1.4142

+ 1.3333 + 1.2649 + 1.2060
= 2.932, correct to 3 decimal places.
This problem demonstrates that the greater the number
of intervals chosen (i.e. the smaller the interval width)
the more accurate will be the value of the denite integral. The exact value is found when the number of
intervals is innite, which is, of course, what the process
of integration is based upon.
Problem 3. Use the trapezoidal rule to evaluate
#
2
1
dx using 6 intervals. Give the answer
1
+
sin x
0
correct to 4 signicant gures

759

0
With 6 intervals, each will have a width of 2
6

i.e.
rad (or 15 ) and the ordinates occur at
12
5

0, , , , ,
and
12 6 4 3 12
2
1
Corresponding values of
are shown in the
1 + sin x
table below.
x

1
1 + sin x

1.0000

(or 15)
12

0.79440

(or 30 )
6

0.66667

(or 45 )
4

0.58579

(or 60 )
3

0.53590

5
(or 75 )
12

0.50867

(or 90 )
2

0.50000

From equation (1):

#

1
2
1
dx
(1.00000 + 0.50000)
12
2
0 1 + sin x
+ 0.79440 + 0.66667
+ 0.58579 + 0.53590

+ 0.50867
= 1.006, correct to 4
signicant gures.

Now try the following Practice Exercise

Practice Exercise 280 Further problems on
the trapezoidal rule (answers on page 1142)
In Problems 1 to 4, evaluate the denite integrals
using the trapezoidal rule, giving the answers
correct to 3 decimal places.

Section J

Numerical integration

Section J

760 Understanding Engineering Mathematics

#

2
dx
1 + x2

(use 8 intervals).

2 ln 3x dx

(use 8 intervals).

1.
#

Problem 4. Use the mid-ordinate rule

# 3 with (a) 4
2
intervals, (b) 8 intervals, to evaluate
dx,
x
1
correct to 3 decimal places

2.

31
,
(a) With 4 intervals, each will have a width of
4
i.e. 0.5 and the ordinates will occur at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0,
2.5 and 3.0. Hence the mid-ordinates y1 , y2 , y3
and y4 occur at 1.25, 1.75, 2.25 and 2.75. Corre2
sponding values of are shown in the following
x
table.

3.
#

(sin ) d

(use 6 intervals).

0
1.4

4.

ex dx
2

(use 7 intervals).

71.3

The mid-ordinate rule

Let a required denite integral be denoted again

b
by a y dx and represented by the area under the graph
of y = f (x) between the limits x = a and x = b, as shown
in Figure 71.2
y
y  f(x)

1.25

1.7889

1.75

1.5119

2.25

1.3333

2.75

1.2060

From equation (2):

# 3
2
dx (0.5)[1.7889 + 1.5119
x
1
+ 1.3333 + 1.2060]
= 2.920, correct to 3 decimal places.
y1

y2

y3

yn

(b) With 8 intervals, each will have a width of 0.25

and the ordinates will occur at 1.00, 1.25, 1.50,
1.75, . . . and thus mid-ordinates at 1.125, 1.375,
1.625, 1.875 . . .
2
Corresponding values of are shown in the
x
following table.

b x
d

Figure 71.2

With the mid-ordinate rule each interval of width d is

assumed to be replaced by a rectangle of height equal to
the ordinate at the middle point of each interval, shown
as y1 , y2 , y3 , . . . , yn in Figure 71.2
# b
y dx dy1 + dy2 + dy3 + + dyn
Thus a
d( y1 + y2 + y3 + + yn )
i.e. the mid-ordinate rule states:
#

b
a

y dx (width of interval) (sum

of mid-ordinates)

1.125 1.8856
1.375 1.7056
1.625 1.5689
1.875 1.4606
2.125 1.3720
2.375 1.2978

(2)

2.625 1.2344
2.875 1.1795

From equation (2):

#

3
1

Now try the following Practice Exercise

2
dx (0.25)[1.8856 + 1.7056
x

Practice Exercise 281 Further problems on

the mid-ordinate rule (answers on
page 1143)

+ 1.5689 + 1.4606 + 1.3720

+ 1.2978 + 1.2344 + 1.1795]
= 2.926, correct to 3 decimal places.
As previously, the greater the number of intervals
the nearer the result is to the true value (of 2.928, correct
to 3 decimal places).
#

2.4

Problem 5. Evaluate

x 2
3

dx, correct to 4

signicant gures, using the mid-ordinate rule with

6 intervals.
2.4 0
With 6 intervals, each will have a width of
, i.e.
6
0.40, and the ordinates will occur at 0, 0.40, 0.80, 1.20,
1.60, 2.00 and 2.40 and thus mid-ordinates at 0.20, 0.60,
1.00, 1.40, 1.80 and 2.20. Corresponding values of e
are shown in the following table.

x 2
3

x 2
3

0.20

0.98676

0.60

0.88692

1.00

0.71653

1.40

0.52031

1.80

0.33960

2.20

0.19922

From equation (2):

#

2.4

x 2
3

dx (0.40)[0.98676 + 0.88692

In Problems 1 to 4, evaluate the denite integrals

using the mid-ordinate rule, giving the answers
correct to 3 decimal places.
# 2
3
dt
(use 8 intervals).
1.
1
+
t2
0
#
2
1
2.
d (use 6 intervals).
0 1 + sin
# 3
ln x
3.
dx
(use 10 intervals).
1 x
# 
3
(cos3 x)dx (use 6 intervals).
4.
0

71.4

Simpsons rule

The approximation made with the trapezoidal rule is to

join the top of two successive ordinates by a straight
line, i.e. by using a linear approximation of the form
a + bx. With Simpsons rule, the approximation made
is to join the tops of three successive ordinates by a
parabola, i.e. by using a quadratic approximation of the
form a + bx + cx 2 .
Figure 71.3 shows a parabola y = a + bx + cx 2 with
ordinates y1 , y2 and y3 at x = d, x = 0 and x = d
respectively.
Thus the width of each of the two intervals is d. The
area enclosed by the parabola, the x-axis and ordinates
x = d and x = d is given by:

d
# d
bx 2 cx 3
(a + bx + cx 2)dx = ax +
+
2
3 d
d


bd 2 cd 3
= ad +
+
2
3


bd 2 cd 3
ad +

2
3

+ 0.71653 + 0.52031

2
= 2ad + cd 3 or
3
1
d(6a + 2cd 2 )
3

+ 0.33960 + 0.19922]
= 1.460, correct to 4 signicant gures.
Who

was Simpson? Go to www.routledge.com/cw/bird

(3)

Section J

761

Numerical integration

762 Understanding Engineering Mathematics

y

Section J

y
y  a  bx  cx 2
y f(x)

y1

y2

y3
y2

y1
d

Figure 71.3

at
at

x = d, y1 = a bd + cd 2
x = 0, y2 = a

Hence y1 + y3 = 2a + 2cd 2
y1 + 4y2 + y3 = 6a + 2cd 2

(4)

Thus the area under the parabola between x = d

and x =d in Figure 71.3 may be expressed as
1
3 d(y1 + 4y2 + y3 ), from equations (3) and (4), and the
result is seen to be independent of the position of the
origin.
b
Let a denite integral be denoted by a y dx and
represented by the area under the graph of y = f (x)
between the limits x = a and x = b, as shown in
Figure 71.4. The range of integration, b a, is divided
into an even number of intervals, say 2n, each of width d.
Since an even number of intervals is specied, an odd
number of ordinates, 2n + 1, exists. Let an approximation to the curve over the rst two intervals be a parabola
of the form y = a + bx + cx 2 which passes through the
tops of the three ordinates y1 , y2 and y3 . Similarly, let
an approximation to the curve over the next two intervals be the parabola which passes through the tops of
the ordinates y3 , y4 and y5 , and so on.
#

Figure 71.4

and at x = d, y3 = a + bd + cd 2
And

y2n1

b
d

y = a + bx + cx 2 ,

y4

Since

y3

1
d[(y1 + y2n+1 ) + 4(y2 + y4 + + y2n )
3
+ 2(y3 + y5 + + y2n1 )]

i.e. Simpsons rule states:

#

b
a

y dx


 

1 width of
rst + last
ordinate
3 interval


sum of even
+4
ordinates


sum of remaining
+2
odd ordinates

(5)

Note that Simpsons rule can only be applied when an

even number of intervals is chosen, i.e. an odd number
of ordinates.
Problem 6. Use Simpsons rule with (a) 4
# 3
2
intervals, (b) 8 intervals, to evaluate
dx,
x
1
correct to 3 decimal places

Then

y dx
a

1
1
d(y1 + 4y2 + y3 ) + d(y3 + 4y4 + y5 )
3
3
1
+ d(y2n1 + 4y2n + y2n+1 )
3

31
,
4
i.e. 0.5 and the ordinates will occur at 1.0, 1.5,
2.0, 2.5 and 3.0. The values of the ordinates are as
shown in the table of Problem 1(b), page 758.

(a) With 4 intervals, each will have a width of

Thus, from equation (5):

#

3
1

2
1
dx (0.5) [(2.0000 + 1.1547)
3
x
+ 4(1.6330 + 1.2649) + 2(1.4142)]
1
= (0.5)[3.1547 + 11.5916
3
+ 2.8284]

0
With 6 intervals, each will have a width of 3
6

i.e.
rad (or 10 ), and the ordinates will occur at
18
2 5

0, , , ,
,
and
18 9 6 9 18  3


1 2
Corresponding values of
1 sin are shown in
3
the table below.

= 2.929, correct to 3 decimal places.

(b) With 8 intervals, each will have a width of
31
, i.e. 0.25, and the ordinates occur at 1.00,
8
1.25, 1.50, 1.75, . . . , 3.0. The values of the ordinates are as shown in the table in Problem 2,
page 759.
Thus, from equation (5):
#

3
1

2
1
dx (0.25) [(2.0000 + 1.1547)
3
x
+ 4(1.7889 + 1.5119 + 1.3333

763

18

(or 10 ) (or 20 ) (or 30)



1
1 sin 2
3


1.0000 0.9950 0.9803 0.9574
2
9

5
18

(or 40 )

(or 50 )

(or 60 )

0.9286

0.8969

0.8660



1 2
1 sin
3
From Equation (5)

+ 1.2060) + 2(1.6330 + 1.4142

+ 1.2649)]
1
= (0.25)[3.1547 + 23.3604
3
+ 8.6242]
= 2.928, correct to 3 decimal places.
It is noted that the latter answer is exactly the same as
that obtained by integration. In general, Simpsons rule
is regarded as the most accurate of the three approximate
methods used in numerical integration.

Problem 7. Evaluate
#

3
0


1
1 sin2 d
3

correct to 3 decimal places, using Simpsons

rule with 6 intervals


1 2
1 sin d
3
0

[(1.0000 + 0.8660) + 4(0.9950

3 18
+ 0.9574 + 0.8969)

+ 2(0.9803 + 0.9286)]
1

=
[1.8660 + 11.3972 + 3.8178]
3 18
= 0.994, correct to 3 decimal places.
Problem 8. An alternating current i has the
following values at equal intervals of
2.0 milliseconds:
Time (ms)

Current i (A)

2.0

3.5

4.0

8.2

6.0

10.0

Section J

Numerical integration

Section J

764 Understanding Engineering Mathematics

8.0

7.3

10.0

2.0

12.0

Charge, q, in millicoulombs, is given by

# 12.0
i dt
q=
0

Use Simpsons rule to determine the approximate

charge in the 12 millisecond period

6.
1

7.
2

#
Charge, q =

(use 6 intervals).

1
dx (use 8 intervals).

(2x 1)

In Problems 8 and 9 evaluate the denite integrals

using (a) the trapezoidal rule, (b) the mid-ordinate
rule, (c) Simpsons rule. Use 6 intervals in each
case and give answers correct to 3 decimal places.
#

From equation (5):

4
dx
x3

3

(1 + x 4 ) dx

8.
0

12.0

1
i dt (2.0) [(0 + 0) + 4(3.5
3

0.1

+10.0 + 2.0) + 2(8.2 + 7.3)]

10.

= 62 mC

0.7

9.

1
(1 y 2)

dy

A vehicle starts from rest and its velocity is

measured every second for 8 s, with values as
follows:

Now try the following Practice Exercise

time t (s)

velocity v (ms1 )

Practice Exercise 282 Further problems on

Simpsons rule (answers on page 1143)

1.0

0.4

In Problems 1 to 5, evaluate the denite integrals

using Simpsons rule, giving the answers correct
to 3 decimal places.

2.0

1.0

3.0

1.7

4.0

2.9

5.0

4.1

1
d (use 8 intervals).
1 + 4

6.0

6.2

7.0

8.0

sin
d

8.0

9.4

1.

(sin x)dx (use 6 intervals).

1.6

2.
0

1.0

3.
0.2

4.

x cos x dx

(use 8 intervals).
The distance travelled in 8.0 s is given by
# 8.0
v dt

(use 6 intervals).

5.

Estimate this distance using Simpsons rule,

giving the answer correct to 3 signicant
gures.

x2

e sin 2x dx (use 10 intervals).

In Problems 6 and 7 evaluate the denite integrals using (a) integration, (b) the trapezoidal rule,
(c) the mid-ordinate rule, (d) Simpsons rule. Give
answers correct to 3 decimal places.

11.

A pin moves along a straight guide so that its

velocity v (m/s) when it is a distance x(m)
from the beginning of the guide at time t(s) is
given in the table below.

t (s)

v (m/s)

0.5

0.052

1.0

0.082

1.5

0.125

2.0

0.162

2.5

0.175

3.0

0.186

3.5

0.160

4.0

Use Simpsons rule with 8 intervals to determine the approximate total distance travelled
by the pin in the 4.0 s period

For fully worked solutions to each of the problems in Practice Exercises 280 to 282 in this chapter,
go to the website:
www.routledge.com/cw/bird

765

Section J

Numerical integration