Find the average value of the function on the interval .
Table of contents
- 0. Functions7h 52m
- Introduction to Functions16m
- Piecewise Functions10m
- Properties of Functions9m
- Common Functions1h 8m
- Transformations5m
- Combining Functions27m
- Exponent rules32m
- Exponential Functions28m
- Logarithmic Functions24m
- Properties of Logarithms34m
- Exponential & Logarithmic Equations35m
- Introduction to Trigonometric Functions38m
- Graphs of Trigonometric Functions44m
- Trigonometric Identities47m
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions48m
- 1. Limits and Continuity2h 2m
- 2. Intro to Derivatives1h 33m
- 3. Techniques of Differentiation3h 18m
- 4. Applications of Derivatives2h 38m
- 5. Graphical Applications of Derivatives6h 2m
- 6. Derivatives of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 37m
- 7. Antiderivatives & Indefinite Integrals1h 26m
- 8. Definite Integrals4h 44m
- 9. Graphical Applications of Integrals2h 27m
- 10. Physics Applications of Integrals 3h 16m
- 11. Integrals of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 34m
- 12. Techniques of Integration7h 39m
- 13. Intro to Differential Equations2h 55m
- 14. Sequences & Series5h 36m
- 15. Power Series2h 19m
- 16. Parametric Equations & Polar Coordinates7h 58m
8. Definite Integrals
Average Value of a Function
Problem 5.4.27
Textbook Question
Average values Find the average value of the following functions on the given interval. Draw a graph of the function and indicate the average value.
Ζ(π) = 1/(πΒ² + 1) on [β1, 1]

1
Step 1: Recall the formula for the average value of a function Ζ(π) on an interval [a, b]. The average value is given by: . Here, a = -1 and b = 1.
Step 2: Set up the integral for the average value. Substitute Ζ(π) = 1/(πΒ² + 1) into the formula: . Note that the factor comes from , where b - a = 2.
Step 3: Evaluate the integral. The integral of is a standard result in calculus. It is . Apply this result to the integral: .
Step 4: Compute the definite integral by substituting the limits of integration. Substitute x = 1 and x = -1 into : . Recall that and are standard values.
Step 5: Draw the graph of Ζ(π) = 1/(πΒ² + 1) on the interval [β1, 1]. The function is symmetric about the y-axis and decreases as |π| increases. Indicate the average value as a horizontal line on the graph, representing the computed average value.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Average Value of a Function
The average value of a continuous function over a closed interval [a, b] is calculated using the formula (1/(b-a)) * β«[a to b] f(x) dx. This represents the mean value of the function's outputs over the specified interval, providing insight into the function's overall behavior.
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Definite Integral
A definite integral computes the accumulation of a function's values over a specific interval [a, b]. It is represented as β«[a to b] f(x) dx and can be interpreted as the area under the curve of the function between the limits a and b, which is essential for finding the average value.
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Definition of the Definite Integral
Graphing Functions
Graphing a function involves plotting its output values against input values on a coordinate plane. This visual representation helps in understanding the function's behavior, identifying key features such as intercepts, maxima, minima, and the average value, which can be marked on the graph for clarity.
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Graph of Sine and Cosine Function
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