Numerical Methods-Simpson's Rule MEI NM

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  1. chroli1's Avatar
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    Numerical Methods-Simpson's Rule MEI NM
    Hi,

    http://www.ocr.org.uk/download/pp_07..._jun_l_gce.pdf

    I'm having trouble with question 2 in the paper above. I can calculate the trapezium and midpoint rule estimates with h=0.5 fine, but I don't understand how to calculate the Simpson's rule estimate with h=0.25 without calculating more trapezium and midpoint rule values.

    The markscheme (http://www.ocr.org.uk/download/ms_07..._l_gce_jun.pdf) says to use the formula Sn=2Mn+Tn/3, and this works, but I don't see why it does without more values.

    Can anyone help?
  2. chroli1's Avatar
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    Re: Numerical Methods-Simpson's Rule MEI NM
    Anyone?
  3. chroli1's Avatar
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    Re: Numerical Methods-Simpson's Rule MEI NM
    Please?
  4. steve10's Avatar
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    Re: Numerical Methods-Simpson's Rule MEI NM
    You don't (really) use a step value (of h) when using Simpson's rule. You use a mid-point value.

    Simpson's rule is \int_a^bf(x) dx=\frac{b-a}{6}\left[f(a)+4f(\frac{a+b}{2})+f(b) \right]

    When the question says, use h=0.25, that's because the interval (b-a) is 0.5, giving a mid-point value of 0.25.

    When it says use a step value of h=0.125 that means split the interval up into two intervals, each of length b-a=0.25 and mid-point values of \frac{a+b}{2}=0.125

    Now use Simpson's rule to work out the areas of the two sub-intervals and then add them together.
  5. chroli1's Avatar
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    Re: Numerical Methods-Simpson's Rule MEI NM
    (Original post by steve10)
    You don't (really) use a step value (of h) when using Simpson's rule. You use a mid-point value.

    Simpson's rule is \int_a^bf(x) dx=\frac{b-a}{6}\left[f(a)+4f(\frac{a+b}{2})+f(b) \right]

    When the question says, use h=0.25, that's because the interval (b-a) is 0.5, giving a mid-point value of 0.25.

    When it says use a step value of h=0.125 that means split the interval up into two intervals, each of length b-a=0.25 and mid-point values of \frac{a+b}{2}=0.125

    Now use Simpson's rule to work out the areas of the two sub-intervals and then add them together.
    Thanks
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