Do These Integrals Always Exist Under Certain Conditions?

In summary, we discussed two integrals: \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}dx Cos(uf(x)) and \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}dxe^{-ag(x)}. We established that these integrals will always exist under the given conditions of a>0 and g(x)>0 for every real x. When taking the limits a-->oo and u-->oo, the integrals will equal 0. However, when g(x)=1 for all x, the integrals will still exist but may not necessarily equal 0 in the limits. Additionally, for the case of f(x) and g(x) being different from f(x)=C and g(x)>
  • #1
lokofer
106
0
Let be the integrals:

[tex] \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}dx Cos(uf(x)) [/tex] (or the same but a sine) and

[tex] \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}dxe^{-ag(x)} [/tex]

Where "a" is a a>0 positive constant, u can be either positive or negative.. and g(x)>0 for every real x.. my question is will these integrals "always2 exist under these conditions?..what would happen if we take the limit a-->oo and u-->oo ? are in this case equal to 0?
 
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  • #2
For the second case, set g(x)=1 (for all x). What do you see?
 
  • #3
Oh..then sorry "Arildno".. then for similar case with f(x) and g(x) different from f(x)=C (C a real constant) and g(x)>0 i think the integrals should tend to 0 for big u and a, and that they exist..for example for the WKB approach in Physics if you definte the "Action" S of the system the approximate wave function can be written as [tex] \psi(x)= ACos(S(x)/\hbar) [/tex] so in the "Semi-classical " limit (h-->0 ) the Wave function is 0 , A is a normalization constant.

- for the case of real exponential if you take g(x)=h(x) so h(x) is the "inverse" of g(x) the function becomes a "Laplace transform" of h'(x) that tends to 0 for big a
 

1. What is an integral?

An integral is a mathematical concept that represents the area under a curve in a given interval. It is used to solve problems related to finding the total amount or accumulation of a quantity, such as distance or volume, over a certain period of time.

2. How are integrals used in science?

Integrals are used in a variety of scientific fields, including physics, engineering, and economics. They are used to solve real-world problems that involve finding the total amount or accumulation of a quantity, such as calculating the work done by a force or the amount of energy stored in a system.

3. What is the difference between a definite and indefinite integral?

A definite integral has specific limits of integration, meaning that it calculates the area under a curve within a specific range. An indefinite integral does not have limits of integration and is used to find a general solution to a problem.

4. Can integrals be evaluated numerically?

Yes, integrals can be evaluated numerically using methods such as the trapezoidal rule or Simpson's rule. These methods approximate the area under a curve by breaking it into smaller, simpler shapes and summing their areas.

5. What is the fundamental theorem of calculus?

The fundamental theorem of calculus states that integration and differentiation are inverse operations of each other. This means that if a function is differentiated, its integral will be the original function, and vice versa.

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