Integral sum, splitting the interval into equal parts

• Aug 23rd 2010, 02:36 AM
Revy
Integral sum, splitting the interval into equal parts
I need to compile and calculate the function's $f(x) = sin x$ sum of the integral in interval $[0, \pi]$, while splitting the interval into $n = 6$ equal-length parts.

I do know how to do $\int_{0}^{\pi} sinx dx$, but how do I do this while splitting it in intervals?

I didn't attend lectures, so I'm stuck at easies parts (Worried)

can it look like this?
$\sum_{n=1}^{6}\int_{0}^{\pi} sinx dx$
• Aug 23rd 2010, 03:02 AM
Ackbeet
Are you supposed to approximate the integral by splitting it up into six equal chunks? Or are you supposed to find the exact value by splitting it up into six equal chunks?
• Aug 23rd 2010, 03:11 AM
Revy
• Aug 23rd 2010, 03:32 AM
HallsofIvy
My first thought was that this was asking you to use a "Riemann sum" approximation to the integra.

But if you say it must be an exact value, then just do this: the interval $[0, \pi]$ has length $\pi$ and dividing it into 6 equal parts means each part is of length $\frac{\pi}{6}$.

it would NOT be " $\sum_{n=1}^6 \int_0^\pi sin(x)dx$", that would just be 6 times $\int_0^\pi sin(x)dx$.

Instead, you want $\sum_{n=1}^6 \int_{(n-1)\pi/6}^{n\pi/6} sin(x) dx$ which is just
$\int_0^{\pi/6} sin(x) dx)+ \int_{\pi/6}^{\pi/3} sin(x) dx+ \int_{\pi/3}^{\pi/2} sin(x)dx$ $+ \int_{\pi/2}^{2\pi/3} sin(x)dx+ \int_{2\pi/3}^{5\pi/5} sin9x)dx+ \int_{5\pi/6}^{\pi} sin(x) dx$.

But I still think you should check to be sure you are not expected to do a Riemann sum instead.
• Aug 23rd 2010, 05:32 AM
Revy
In program I did found 'Riemann sum', but in task neither it, nor approximation is mentioned (Thinking)

From your derivation I get $\cos0 - \cos\pi = 2\sin^{2}\frac{\pi}{2}$

To be safe it would be good to see it done with Reimann sum, I did try to find out how to get it from theory, but without example I still won't be able to use this formula