Go to content
Another example of a Monte Carlo method, whereby a random process is used to find an approximation to a mathematical value, in this case the area under a curve y=x². Choose a number of random points and click on Simulate. These points will be randomly placed on the graph space which is a unit square. The proportion of point under the curve gives an estimate of the area under the curve. (In theory, using integration methods, this area is 1/3.)

an applet from
HREF="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/teaching_aids/books_articles/probability_book/bookapplets/index.html">Dartmouth
College, Hanover, NH

## Glossary

### graph

A diagram showing a relationship between two variables.
The diagram shows a vertical y axis and a horizontal x axis.

### integration

the process of finding an integral, the reverse process to differentiation.

Full Glossary List

## This question appears in the following syllabi:

SyllabusModuleSectionTopicExam Year
AQA A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)S1ProbabilityExperimental-
AQA AS Maths 2017StatisticsProbabilityExperimental Probabilities-
AQA AS/A2 Maths 2017StatisticsProbabilityExperimental Probabilities-
CBSE XII (India)ProbabilityProbabilityRepeated independent (Bernoulli) trials and binomial distribution-
CBSE XI (India)Statistics and ProbabilityProbabilityRandom experiments, outcomes, sample spaces (set representation)-
CCEA A-Level (NI)S1ProbabilityExperimental-
CIE A-Level (UK)S1ProbabilityExperimental-
Edexcel A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)S1ProbabilityExperimental-
Edexcel AS Maths 2017StatisticsProbabilityExperimental Probabilities-
Edexcel AS/A2 Maths 2017StatisticsProbabilityExperimental Probabilities-
I.B. Higher Level5ProbabilityExperimental-
I.B. Standard Level5ProbabilityExperimental-
Methods (UK)M15ProbabilityExperimental-
I.B. (MSSL)3ProbabilityExperimental-
OCR A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)S1ProbabilityExperimental-
OCR AS Maths 2017StatisticsProbabilityExperimental Probabilities-
OCR MEI AS Maths 2017StatisticsProbabilityExperimental Probabilities-
OCR-MEI A-Level (UK - Pre-2017)S1ProbabilityExperimental-
Pre-Calculus (US)E4ProbabilityExperimental-
Pre-U A-Level (UK)ProbProbabilityExperimental-
Scottish (Highers + Advanced)HSProbabilityExperimental-