Simple Formula for Integration of Polynomials on a Simplex

Abstract

We show that integrating a polynomial of degree t on an arbitrary simplex (with respect to Lebesgue measure) reduces to evaluating t homogeneous polynomials of degree j = 1, 2, . . . , t, each at a unique point ξ j of the simplex. This new and very simple formula can be exploited in finite (and extended finite) element methods, as well as in other applications where such integrals are needed.