Exercise · ZW-TRAPEZOIDAL-RULE-002 · ★☆☆ Basic

What geometric shape does the trapezoidal rule use on each subinterval?

Choose one option.

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  • B. A trapezoid

Explanation

It joins the curve's points with a straight line, forming a trapezoid. The parabola corresponds to Simpson's rule.

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Review the concept: Trapezoidal rule

The trapezoidal rule is a quadrature method that approximates the definite integral of a function \(f\) on \([a,b]\) by replacing the curve with the straight line joining \((a,f(a))\) and \((b,f(b))\).

\[\int_a^b f(x)\,dx \approx \frac{h}{2}\left[f(a)+2\sum_{i=1}^{n-1}f(x_i)+f(b)\right]\]

More practice problems: trapezoidal rule

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