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c#algorithmmathintegral

Having problems implementing mathematical equations in programming


I am implementing an algorithm for school and am having problems understanding how a definite integral is represented in programming. For example I know that the Summation equation can be implemented as the following example:
enter image description here

assuming y=f(x)

if(x==0){
    y=x+1;
}else{
    for(int i = 0; i < n; i++){
        y = y + (x - 1);
    }
}

How would I then represent a numerical integral, example:
enter image description here
The equations planted here may not make mathematical sense but my objective is to implement similar equations in c# for a school programming project that I have to do in which I have to implement an algorithm which contains integrals. I have been reading that there are numerical methods to solve definite integrals such as simpson rule; would I have to use such methods to implement the equation or can an integral be represented in programming such as a loop or something of that sort?


Solution

  • It depends on what you are trying to do. If this was a specific implementation you could simply integrate the formula x-1 becomes (x^2)/2 - x and then return the max value minus the minimum value.

    Alternatively it can be implemented as an estimation choosing an appropriate step size for dx.

    decimal dx=0.1;
    
    if(x==0){  
        y=x+1;  // could just return y=1
    }else{  
        decimal tempY=0;
        for(decimal i = 3; i <= 20; i+=dx){  
            tempY += (i - 1);  
        }  
        // Either return tempY as decimal or
        y= Convert.ToInt32(tempY);
    }