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physixchic
Nov1-09, 02:55 AM
I am given a non-normalized wavefunction and asked to normalize it. The function and the attempt will be in:
http://i35.tinypic.com/2vahvuc.jpg

CompuChip
Nov1-09, 05:05 AM
You are correct that you have to calculate
\int_{-\infty}^\infty |x| e^{-|x|} \, dx
however you are making the step to partial integration too fast. You have two pairs of absolute value signs in your integrand, which you should get rid of first (hint: how can you write |x| e^{-|x|} without absolute value signs when x > 0? And when x < 0?).

When you then do the partial integration you need to evaluate an expression such as the one you had, but between different boundaries which give no problems anymore.