A step function f(x) is defined on the interval [0, 1)
From [0, 1/2), the step is 1/2 high.
From [1/2, 3/4), the step is 3/4 high
From [3/4, 7/8), the step is 7/8 high
From [ 1 - 1/(2^k), 1 - 1/(2^(k+1)) ) the step is 1 - 1/(2^(k+1)) high
What is the exact area under the step function?
The width of each vertical strip making up the area is 1/2^(k+1), while the height is 1-1/2^(k+1). The area of each strip is therefore 1/2^(k+1) - 1/4^(k+1), with k going from zero to infinity.
Let a be the sum of all the positive terms and b be the sum of the absolute values of the negative terms. The answer will be a - b.
a = 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + ...
2a = 1 + a
a = 1
and
b = 1/4 + 1/16 + 1/64 + 1/256 + ...
4b = 1 + b
3b = 1
b = 1/3
Total area = a - b = 1 - 1/3 = 2/3.
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Posted by Charlie
on 2004-07-07 13:40:06 |