When you have an analytical expression for an integrand y(x) but you cannot perform the integration from x = a to x = b analytically, the procedure is to evaluate y at a series of values of x from a to b, i.e. to generate a data table—and then to use a quadrature formula such as  Simpson’s rule to estimate the integral. Now, however, you have the choice of the number of  evaluations of y(x) to make. As a rule, the accuracy of a quadrature formula increases with the number of points in the interval of integration, but so does the required computation time. Choosing the number of points  to provide a suitable combination of accuracy and low computation time can be done using  sophisticated numerical analysis techniques, but simple trial and error often suffices very well. A  common procedure is to evaluate the integral using (say) 9 points, then 17, then 33, and so on  (nnew = 2nold - 1), until successively calculated values agree within a specified tolerance. 2 The last value should be a good approximation to the exact value of the integral. Suppose ( )  .  

a. Set up an MS Excel spreadsheet to evaluate ∫ ( )   : 1. Analytically. 2. Using the trapezoidal rule, with points at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4. 3. Using Simpson’s rule, with points at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.  In all three cases, plot I i.e. the integral of f(x) vs. x. [18] 

b. Explain the relationship between the answers to 1 and 3.

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Solution In this question we explore several of numerical integration techniques In addition ... View the full answer