The Student Room Group
Reply 1
1. It is obviously not accurate, i.e. there will always (except in some cases such as with the area under straight lines) be an error between it and the actual integral

2. Integrals allow you to get exact answers in terms of fundamental constants, this is not possible with Simpson's

3. It is necessary (often) to use a large number of ordinates to gain a good approximation to the real integral
Reply 2
Wow, thank you so much. Each point, however basic, definitely makes a lot of obvious sense. Just a shame i didn't think of it myself!...Thanks again!:smile:
Reply 3
No problem at all :smile:
Reply 4
coffeym
there will always (except in some cases such as with the area under straight lines) be an error between it and the actual integral

I'm fairly sure it will be identical for all polynomials of degree 1 or 2 as a quadratic can be uniquely defined by three points.
Reply 5
Emm, wots " the Simpson Rule"?, i've never heard about it.