Trapezoidal Rule Formula

In mathematics, and more specifically in numerical analysis, the trapezoidal rule, also known as the trapezoid rule or trapezium rule, is a technique for approximating the definite integral.

The trapezoidal rule works by approximating the region under the graph of the function f(x) as a trapezoid and calculating its area. 

The trapezoidal rule is to find the exact value of a definite integral using a numerical method. This rule is mainly based on the Newton-Cotes formula which states that one can find the exact value of the integral as an nth order polynomial.

Assume that f(x) be a continuous function on the given interval [a, b]. Now divide the intervals [a, b] into n equal subintervals with each of width,

Then the Trapezoidal Rule formula for area approximating the definite integral

Where, x_i = a+iΔx

Δx = (b-a)/n, Such that x₀ < x₁< x₂< x₃<…..<x_n = b,

When n →∞, R.H.S of the expression approaches the definite integral

Solved Examples of Trapezoidal Rule

Example 1:

Use the trapezoidal rule with n = 8 to estimate:

Solution:

Given, function: 

we know that, a=1, b=5 and n=8.

Now, substitute the values in the formula, we get

Δx = (b-a)/n

Δx = (5-1)/8

Δx = 1/2

Now, divide the interval into 8 subintervals with the length of Δx = 1/2, with the following endpoints,

a=1, 3/2, 2, 5/2, 3, 7/2, 4, 9/2, 5 = b

Now, compute the functions with these endpoints,

f(x₀) = f(1) = √2 = 1.4142135623731

2f(x₁) = 2f(3/2) = √13 = 3.60555127546399

2f(x₂) = 2f(2) = 2√5 = 4.47213595499958

2f(x₃) = 2f(5/2) = √29 = 5.3851648071345

2f(x₄) = 2f(3) = 2√10 = 6.32455532033676

2f(x₅) = 2f(7/2) = √53 = 7.28010988928052

2f(x₆) = 2f(4) = 2√17 = 8.24621125123532

2f(x₇) = 2f(9/2) = √85 = 9.21954445729289

2f(x₈) = 2f(5) = √26 = 5.09901951359278

Now, substitute the values in the trapezoidal rule formula,

= 1/4 (1.4142135623731 + 3.60555127546399 + 4.47213595499958 + 5.3851648071345 + 6.32455532033676 +7.28010988928052 + 8.24621125123532 +  9.21954445729289 + 5.09901951359278)

= 1/4( 51.0465060317)

= 12.7616265079

Which can be approximately written as 12.76

Hence, 

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