trapezoidal rule

English

Noun

trapezoidal rule (plural trapezoidal rules)

1. (mathematics) A method of finding an approximate value for a definite integral, based on dividing the area under the graph of the function into a series of strips, each of which is approximately a trapezoid, and summing the area of all the trapezoids to approximate the area.

Synonyms

• trapezoid rule
• trapezium rule