APPLICATIONS OF INTEGRATION:

MEAN AND ROOT-MEAN-SQUARE

VALUES
Maths 2 Tutorial Manual

MUT
Maths 2
Introduction
In this handout, we move onto the application of integration with particular emphasis
on the mean value and the root-mean-square. The mean value is particularly useful
for measuring the current or voltage over a particular time interval. The root-mean-
square is used, for example, to calculate the average power dissipated by a resistor.

To work through this chapter successfully, it is assumed that you are familiar with the
evaluation of the definite integral as well as identities. These concepts were covered
in other handouts of The Tutorial Manual. Minimum guidance will be provided on these
concepts here, feel free to consult other handouts for detailed explanations.

Mean value

The mean value or (average value) of a function f  t  in the interval a  t  b is

1 b
f  t  dt
b  a a
Example

Find the mean value of y  sin 3t cos t over the interval t  0 to t  .
4

Solution
First, we note that from the identities:

sin  3t  t   sin  3t  t 
sin 3t cos t 
2
sin 4t  sin 2t

2
The mean value is given by
1 b
f  t  dt
b  a a
Mean value =

4 sin 4t  sin 2t

1

 0 2
dt
0
4
2 4
   sin 4t  sin 2t  dt
 0


2 cos 4t cos 2t 
4



 
 4 2  0

1
  
cos 
2  cos  2  2   cos 0  cos 0 
   
 4 2    4 2 
 
2 1  2  1 1
   0    
 4    4 2
2 1 1 1
  
  4 4 2 
2
 1

2



Example

Find the mean value of x  sin 2t cos 4t over the interval t  0 to t  .
3

Solution
From the identities, we have
sin  2t  4t   sin  2t  4t 
sin 2t cos 4t 
2
sin 6t  sin  2t 

2
sin 6t  sin 2t

2
The mean value is thus given by
1 
sin 6t  sin 2t
Mean value  
3
dt
 0 2
0
3

3
  sin 6t  sin 2t dt
3

2 0


3  cos 6t cos 2t 
3


2 
 
 6 2  0

 2 
3  cos 2 cos 3  3  cos 0 cos 0 
      6  2 
2  6 2  2
 

2
 3  1
1 
3  1 1
   2    
2  6 2  2  6 2 
 
3  1 1 1 1
    
2  6 4 6 2 
3  3
 
2  4 
9

8

Root-mean-square value

The root-mean-square-value (r.m.s.) of f  t  over the interval a  t  b is given by the

formula:

1 b
  f  t   dt
2
rms 
ba a
1 b
 
b  a a
2
In practice, it helps to start by first evaluating rms 2  
 f t 
 dt

Example

Find the r.m.s. value of y  3  sin 4t over the interval t  0 to t  .
2

Solution

We start by evaluating  f  t   .
2

 3  sin 4t   9  6sin 4t  sin 2 4t

2

Using identities, we have

1 1 cos8t
sin 2 4t  1  cos8t   
2 2 2
Therefore
1 cos8t 19 cos8t
 3  sin 4t   9  6sin 4t     6sin 4t 
2

2 2 2 2

We therefore proceed to evaluate rms 2

3
 1 
 19 cos8t 
rms 2     6sin 4t 
2

  dt
0
0
 2 2 
2
2 
 19 cos8t 

   6sin 4t 
2
 dt
0
 2 2 

1

 19  12sin 4t  cos8t dt
2

0


 sin 8t 
2

 
1
 19t 3cos 4t
 8 
 0

1 19 sin 4  1  sin 0 

   3cos 2    0  3cos 0  8 
 2 8  
1 19  1
   3   3
 2  
1 19  19
   3  3 
 2  2
Therefore

19
rms 
2

Example
2
Find the rms value of x  5  cos3t over the interval t  0 to t  .
3

Solution

We start by evaluating  5  cos3t   25  10cos3t  cos 2 3t

2

Using identities, we have

1 1 cos 6t
cos 2 3t  1  cos 6t   
2 2 2
Therefore,
1 cos 6t 51 cos 6t
 5  cos 3t   25  10 cos 3t     10 cos 3t 
2

2 2 2 2
Thus we have

4
 1 2
51 cos 6t
rms 2    10 cos 3t 
3
dt
2 0 2 2
0
3
3 32
4 0
 51  20 cos 3t  cos 6t dt
2

3  20sin 3t sin 6t 

3


4 
51t  
 3 6   0

3  34 20sin 2 sin 4  3  20sin 0 sin 0 

    0 
4   3 6  4  3 6 
3  34 

4   
51

2
Therefore,

51
rms 
2

Exercise
3
a) Find the r.m.s. value of y  sin t  cos 2t over the interval t  0 to t 
2
3
b) Find the r.m.s. value of y  sin 2t  cos t over the interval t  0 to t 
2
1
c) Find the r.m.s. value in a current from t  0 to t  given that i  i0  sin t  cos t
2

Solutions

4
a) 1
9

8
b) 1
9

i0  3
c)
18
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