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Math 155 Lecture Notes section 8,8

This document discusses improper integrals, focusing on integrals with infinite limits and those with infinite discontinuities. It explains how to evaluate these integrals using limits and the concept of convergence and divergence. Several examples are provided to illustrate the evaluation process and the differences in areas under various integrands.

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9 views

Math 155 Lecture Notes section 8,8

This document discusses improper integrals, focusing on integrals with infinite limits and those with infinite discontinuities. It explains how to evaluate these integrals using limits and the concept of convergence and divergence. Several examples are provided to illustrate the evaluation process and the differences in areas under various integrands.

Uploaded by

lpclarke
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Math 155, Lecture Notes- Bonds Name____________

Section 8.8 Improper Integrals


b
When we have previously considered the definite integral ∫a f (x) dx , we know
that we are looking at a bounded area, and that we will need to use the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus if we are to apply a calculus technique to
evaluate the integral. In particular, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus will
require that the interval ⎡⎣ a, b⎤⎦ is finite and the integrand, f ( x) , is continuous on the
interval ⎡⎣ a, b⎤⎦ .
In this section we will study integrals that have issues with the Fundamental
Theorem of Calculus. That is, we will consider improper integrals, or the areas of
unbounded regions between the integrand, f ( x) , and the x-axis. Two main
obstacles will need to be overcome. First, we will consider improper integrals with
infinite integration limits. Second, we will consider improper integrals with infinite
discontinuities.

When one or both of the limits of integration are infinity, are we working with
infinite integration limits, and we are considering an integrand over an infinite
interval. In general, we’ll deal with these types of integrals by replacing the infinity
symbol with a variable (usually b), antidifferentiating the integrand, and then we’ll
take the limit of the result as b goes to infinity.
∞
1 dx
Ex.1 Evaluate:
∫1 x2

It is interesting to notice that the area under a curve on an infinite interval was not
infinity, as we might have assumed it to be. The area value was a small number.
This won’t always be the case, but it is important enough to point out that not all
areas on an infinite interval will yield infinite areas.
∞
1
Ex.2 Evaluate:
∫4 x ⎡⎣ ln (x )⎤⎦
3
dx
∞ −x
∫0 xe dx
2
Ex.3 Evaluate:
The second type of improper integral that we’ll be looking at is one that has an
infinite discontinuity at or between the limits of integration. Essentially, these are
integrals that have discontinuous integrands and we have difficulty applying the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to these integrals. The process we will use to
work with these integrals is here is basically the same, but with one subtle
difference.

Please note that the limits in these cases are required to make use of right or left
handed limits. This is the way are assured that we are indeed working inside the
interval defined by the limits of integration. This is the reason we are using one-
sided limits, which need to be signified by using +, or – in the right superscript. In
general, we’ll deal with these types of integrals by replacing the b numeral (where
the discontinuity exists) with a variable (usually c), antidifferentiating the
integrand, and then we’ll take the limit of the result as c approaches b from inside
the interval.
4
1 dx
Ex.4 Evaluate:
∫0 x
4
1
Ex.5 Evaluate:
∫ 3 dx
3 ( x − 3) 2
2
1
Ex.6 Evaluate:
∫ 2
dx
0 ( x −1) 3
2
1 dx
Ex.7 Evaluate:
∫ 2
0 4−x
∞ ⎛ ⎞
Ex.8 Evaluate:
∫0 sin⎜⎜⎜ x ⎟⎟⎟dx
⎝ 2⎠

In most examples in a Calculus II class that are worked over infinite intervals the
limit either exists, or is infinite. However, there are limits that don’t exist, as the
previous example showed, so don’t forget about those.
∞
e x dx
Ex.9 Evaluate:
∫0 1+ e x
∞
1 dx
An interesting phenomenon to notice is when thinking in terms of area defined by 1
∫ x we
can use antidifferentiation and limits to find that the area is infinite. On the other hand, the area
∞
1 dx
defined by 1
∫ x2 was quite small. There really isn’t all that much difference between these
two integrands and yet there is a large difference in the area under them. We can actually extend
this out to the following theorem.

Remember, we will call improper integrals convergent if the


associated limit exists and is a finite number (i.e. it’s not plus or
minus infinity), and divergent if the associated limit either doesn’t
exist or is (plus or minus) infinity.

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