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Average Value of a Function Explained

The document explains how to calculate the average value of a function over an interval using calculus. It starts by discussing the concept of averaging finite sets and transitions to averaging over infinite values by partitioning the interval and taking limits. The final formula for the average value of a function f(x) over [a,b] is derived, allowing for precise calculations using integrals.

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yasmine
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11 views15 pages

Average Value of a Function Explained

The document explains how to calculate the average value of a function over an interval using calculus. It starts by discussing the concept of averaging finite sets and transitions to averaging over infinite values by partitioning the interval and taking limits. The final formula for the average value of a function f(x) over [a,b] is derived, allowing for precise calculations using integrals.

Uploaded by

yasmine
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Average Value of a Function

Let’s get started:


• You already know about functions and how
to take the average of some finite set.
• Today we’re going to take the average over
infinitely many values (those that the
function takes on over some interval)…
which means CALCULUS!
• Before I show how to do this…let’s talk
about WHY we might want to do this?
Consider the following picture:

• How high would the water level be if the waves all settled?
Okay! So, now that you have
seen that this an interesting
question...

Let’s forget about real life, and...

Do Some Math
Suppose we have a “nice”function and we need to
find its average value over the interval [a,b].
Let’s apply our knowledge of how to find the
average over a finite set of values to this problem:
First, we partition the interval [a,b] into n subintervals of
equal length to get back to the finite situation:

In the above graph, we have n=8


Let us set up our notation:
x (b  a ) / n
xi comes from the i-th interval

Now we can get an estimate for the


average value:
f ( x1)  f ( x 2)  ...  f ( xn)
faverage 
n
Let’s try to clean this up a little:

f ( x1)  f ( x 2)  ...  f ( xn)


faverage 
n
x
 [ f ( x1)  f ( x 2)  ... f ( xn)]
b a

Since x (b  a ) / n
In a more condensed form, we now get:
n
1
faverage  
b  a i 1
f ( xi ) x

But we want to get out of the finite,


and into the infinite!
How do we do this?
Take Limits!!!
In this way, we get the average value
of f(x) over the interval [a,b]:

n 1 b
faveragelim n  1  f ( xi )  f ( x ) dx
b  a i 1 
b aa

So, if f is a “nice” function (i.e. we


can compute its integral) then we have
a precise solution to our problem.
Let’s look back at our graph:
So we’ve solved our problem!

If I give you the equation f ( x) 3x  1


2

and ask you to find it’s average value


over the interval [0,2], you’ll all say

NO PROBLEM!!!!
the answer is…
b
1
faverage 
b a f ( x)dx
a

2
1
  1dx
2
 3 x
2 0 0

1 3 2
 [x  x ]
2 0

1
 (10  0) 5
2
Now we can answer our fish tank question!
(That is, if the waves were described by an integrable function)
Thanks!

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