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4.4: Midpoint method

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    219161
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    A similar method to Heun’s is the midpoint method. We will specifically look at the explicit midpoint method (there is also an implicit midpoint method). The midpoint method uses forward Euler to take a half-step forward, then computes the slope at that point and uses that slope to make the full step. The algorithm is presented in [alg:5]. A drawing showing how the midpoint method works is shown in 4.6.

    Algorithm 5: Midpoint method

    Inputs: initial condition \(y_0\), end time \(t_{end}\). 

    Initialize: \(t_0 = 0, y_0\).

    for \(n=0: t_{end}/h\) do 

    Compute slope at \(t_n\): \(s_1 \leftarrow f(t_n, y_n)\)

    Compute intermediate step to \(t_{n} + h/2\): \(\tilde{y} \leftarrow y_n + (h/2) s_1\)

    Compute slope at \(t_{n} + h/2\): \(s_2 \leftarrow f(t_{n}+h/2, \tilde{y})\)

    Compute final step: \(y_{n+1} \leftarrow y_n + h s_2\)

    end for

    return \(y\) vector.

    Graph depicting a curve labeled \( y(t) \) with time \( t \) on the x-axis, showing points at \( t_1 \), \( t_2 \), and \( t_2 + h/2 \).
    Figure 4.6: The midpoint method.

    4.4: Midpoint method is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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