MATLAB Tutor Part 9: Integration MATLAB can find both an indefinite integral (i.e.

, antiderivative) and a definite integral of a symbolic expression. That assumes an elementary antiderivative exists. If not, MATLAB can compute a very accurate numerical approximation to the definite integral. 1. First we calculate indefinite integrals. Before doing anything, we must declare x to be a symbolic variable. Enter: syms x Then enter int(x*sin(x), x) Check that the result is an antiderivative of x sin(x) by entering: diff(ans, x)

2.

Introduce another symbolic variable a to investigate how MATLAB deals with more than one symbolic variable in integration. Enter: syms a Then enter int(a*sin(x), x) Now enter int(a*sin(x), a) What is the role of the variable following the comma?

3.

Now try to find an antiderivative for sin ( x5 + x3 ). MATLAB does not know an antiderivative of this function that can be defined in terms of functions known to MATLAB. On the other hand, enter: int(sin(x^2), x) The Fresnel S function is known to MATLAB, but probably not to you. However, you can check by differentiation that the expression is an antiderivative.

4.

Next we calculate definite integrals. To integrate x sin(x) over the interval [0,pi/2], enter: int(x*sin(x), x, 0, pi/2)

5.

Now try this method on the integral of sin ( x5 + x3 ) over the interval [0,pi/2]. MATLAB still doesn't know an antiderivative for this function. To obtain a numerical estimate, enter: double( int(sin(x^5 + x^3), x, 0, pi/2) )

6.

If you know that all you want is a numerical estimate, you can use MATLAB's numerical integrator called quad8. No symbolics are involved. Enter: quad8( inline('sin(x^5+x^3)'), 0, pi/2 ) Numerical integration also works with user-defined functions in m-files. Symbolic integration doesn't. If you still have the m-file called fun.m that you created in Part 6 of this Tutorial, enter: quad8('fun', 0, pi/2 ) The significance of using the quad8 function is that MATLAB does not try to find a symbolic solution before starting on the numerical estimate.

7.

Use MATLAB to find the exact value of each of the following integrals. (Type inf for the infinity symbol.) o o o The integral of 1/(1+x2) from 0 to 1, The integral of 1/(1+x2) from 0 to Infinity, The integral of 1/(1+x4) from 0 to Infinity.

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