If Runge-Kutta method of order 4 is used to solve the D.E. dy/dx = f(x), y(0)…

If Runge-Kutta method of order 4 is used to solve the D.E. dy/dx = f(x), y(0) = 0 in the interval [0, h] with step size h, then the value of the expression k₁ + k₂ + k₃ + k₄ is ____.

Answer: B. h[f(0) + 2f(h/2) + f(h)]Solution: Given dy/dx = f(x), y(0) = 0 on [0,h]. Since f depends only on x, the y-values do not change the argument of f; take x0 = 0, y0 = 0. k1 = h f(x0,…

  1. A.

    h[f(0) + f(h/2) + f(h)]

  2. B.

    h[f(0) + 2f(h/2) + f(h)]

  3. C.

    h[f(0) + 3f(h/2) + f(h)]

  4. D.

    h[f(0) + 4f(h/2) + f(h)]

Attempted by 5 students.

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Correct answer: B

Solution:

Given dy/dx = f(x), y(0) = 0 on [0,h]. Since f depends only on x, the y-values do not change the argument of f; take x0 = 0, y0 = 0.

  • k1 = h f(x0, y0) = h f(0).

  • k2 = h f(x0 + h/2, y0 + k1/2) = h f(h/2) (y does not affect f).

  • k3 = h f(x0 + h/2, y0 + k2/2) = h f(h/2) (again evaluates at h/2).

  • k4 = h f(x0 + h, y0 + k3) = h f(h).

Now sum the stages:

k1 + k2 + k3 + k4 = h f(0) + h f(h/2) + h f(h/2) + h f(h) = h[ f(0) + 2 f(h/2) + f(h) ].

Therefore the value of k1 + k2 + k3 + k4 is h[f(0) + 2f(h/2) + f(h)].

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