Improper Integral explicit function

Ghost3k

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Hi, so I'm having a bit of trouble starting out part b of the following question.



(a) Calculate \(\displaystyle \, \int_0^{\infty}\, 2x^2\, \cdot\, e^{-2x}\, dx,\,\) if it exists.

Define a function of \(\displaystyle \, t,\, M,\, \) using the improper integral \(\displaystyle \, \int_0^{\infty}\, 2e^{tx}\, \cdot\, e^{-2x}\, dx,\, \) i.e., \(\displaystyle \, M(t)\, \) is the improper integral.

Determine

(b) the explicit function that is represented by the improper integral.




I was able to get part a (answer was 1/2). Can anybody help me in finding out how to get the explicit function that's represented by the improper integral?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi, so I'm having a bit of trouble starting out part b of the following question.



(a) Calculate \(\displaystyle \, \int_0^{\infty}\, 2x^2\, \cdot\, e^{-2x}\, dx,\,\) if it exists.

Define a function of \(\displaystyle \, t,\, M,\, \) using the improper integral \(\displaystyle \, \int_0^{\infty}\, 2e^{tx}\, \cdot\, e^{-2x}\, dx,\, \) i.e., \(\displaystyle \, M(t)\, \) is the improper integral.

Determine

(b) the explicit function that is represented by the improper integral.




I was able to get part a (answer was 1/2). Can anybody help me in finding out how to get the explicit function that's represented by the improper integral?
What have you done so far? Please show us your work so we may try to help you.You might also read
http://www.freemathhelp.com/forum/threads/78006-Read-Before-Posting

You might want to start with the definition of an improper integral, i.e.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improper_integral
and go from there.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What have you done so far? Please show us your work so we may try to help you.You might also read
http://www.freemathhelp.com/forum/threads/78006-Read-Before-Posting

You might want to start with the definition of an improper integral, i.e.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improper_integral
and go from there.

Well for the first part I did the integration by parts table method to get my answer of 1/2. For the second question the only thing I did was rewrite the equation as integral from 0 to infinity 2e^(tx-2x) dx. Then I got 2* integral from 0 to infinity e^(t-2)x dx.
What I'm having trouble with is the explicit function part. Does this mean I just need to continue solving the integral?

Because if I would proceed I would make u = (t-2)x, du/(t-2) = dx and setting it up to be 2/(t-2)*integral e^u du which gives me, 2*e^((t-2)x)/(t-2) + C. But it is the improper integral so I would have to take that answer with the bounds of 0 to infinity. Not really sure if I'm in the right direction. Would appreciate any other guidance.

Edit: For clarity.
 
Last edited:
Well for the first part I did the integration by parts table method to get my answer of 1/2. For the second question the only thing I did was rewrite the equation as integral from 0 to infinity 2e^(tx-2x) dx. Then I got 2* integral from 0 to infinity e^(t-2)x dx.
What I'm having trouble with is the explicit function part. Does this mean I just need to continue solving the integral?

Because if I would proceed I would make u = (t-2)x, du/(t-2) = dx and setting it up to be 2/(t-2) integral e^u du which gives me, 2*e^((t-2)x)/(t-2) + C. But it is the improper integral so I would have to take that answer with the bounds of 0 to infinity. Not really sure if I'm in the right direction. Would appreciate any other guidance.

Edit: For clarity.
Did you read what the definition of an improper integral was? In this particular case it is given explicitly in the link where the function f(x) is given by 2 e(t-2)x and a is zero. If so then you should know the form of the explicit function takes [you have shown you know what the indefinite integral is] and the conditions it places on t.

As a hint,
\(\displaystyle \underset{x\, \to\, \infty}{lim}\, \underset{1}{\overset{x}{\int}}\, \frac{1}{u^2}\, du\, =\, \underset{x\, \to\, \infty}{lim} [-\frac{1}{u}]_{_1}^{^x}\, =\, \underset{x\, \to\, \infty}{lim} [1 -\frac{1}{x}]\)
 
Did you read what the definition of an improper integral was? In this particular case it is given explicitly in the link where the function f(x) is given by 2 e(t-2)x and a is zero. If so then you should know the form of the explicit function takes [you have shown you know what the indefinite integral is] and the conditions it places on t.

As a hint,
\(\displaystyle \underset{x\, \to\, \infty}{lim}\, \underset{1}{\overset{x}{\int}}\, \frac{1}{u^2}\, du\, =\, \underset{x\, \to\, \infty}{lim} [-\frac{1}{u}]_{_1}^{^x}\, =\, \underset{x\, \to\, \infty}{lim} [1 -\frac{1}{x}]\)

Thank you for all your help. Unfortunately I can't seem to grasp the direction you're taking me. I've looked at the link and the hint you provided but I'm not sure how to proceed. Thank your for taking your time either way.
 
Thank you for all your help. Unfortunately I can't seem to grasp the direction you're taking me. I've looked at the link and the hint you provided but I'm not sure how to proceed. Thank your for taking your time either way.
What is
I(s, t) = \(\displaystyle 2 \underset{0}{\overset{s}{\int}}\, e^{(t-2)x}\, dx\)?

As s becomes very large what is the restriction on t to keep I(s, t) from becoming very large? What is the relationship between M(t) and I(s, t)?
 
What is
I(s, t) = \(\displaystyle 2 \underset{0}{\overset{s}{\int}}\, e^{(t-2)x}\, dx\)?

As s becomes very large what is the restriction on t to keep I(s, t) from becoming very large? What is the relationship between M(t) and I(s, t)?

Okay so I gave it another shot and here's what I got.
Lim c -> infinity from 0 to c integral e^((t-2)x) dx

lim c -> infinity (2e^((t-2)x)/(t-2) from 0 to C

lim c -> infinity (2e^((t-2)c)/(t-2) - (2/(t-2))

So if the c> 2 it will approach infinity?
 
No! If t is greater than or equal to 2, it will approach infinity. What is I(s,t)?
Sorry I meant to write t, although I still messed up and didn't include 2. So basically, while t<2 the limit is -2/(t-2)?
 
Sorry I meant to write t, although I still messed up and didn't include 2. So basically, while t<2 the limit is -2/(t-2)?
Yes. So now you have an explicit function for M(t) which is the limit as s goes to infinity of I(s,t) for t<2.
 
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