Solving Int[e^(x^2) dx] w/ Integral Tables

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integral of e^(x^2) over the limits from negative infinity to positive infinity. Participants are exploring methods to approach this integral, including the use of integral tables and substitution techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants suggest using substitution and integration by parts, while others express confusion about the methods proposed. There are questions regarding the divergence of the integral and the conditions under which it can be evaluated.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing with various interpretations being explored. Some participants have pointed out that the integral diverges, while others are questioning the setup of the problem and the validity of the approaches suggested. Guidance has been offered regarding the nature of the integral and its relation to known functions.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of integral tables and the potential for misunderstanding the problem's requirements, particularly regarding the limits and the function being integrated. The discussion also touches on advanced concepts such as the imaginary error function and different integration techniques that may not yield elementary results.

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I'm having trouble finding an integral table w/ this integral, or understanding a method to solve it...any hints would really be appreciated (the book directs us to use integral tables)

Int[e^(x^2) dx] limits->{-inf, +inf}

Thanks in advance
 
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take x^2=t and proceed by parts...its fairly simple
 
thanks, i'll try that now
 
2x*e^(x^2) + x^2*e^(x^2)?
 
You don't even have to calculate it to see it diverges to infinity, since exp(x^2) is a strictly increasing function on (0,inf), and is also positive for negative x.
 
Pietjuh said:
You don't even have to calculate it to see it diverges to infinity, since exp(x^2) is a strictly increasing function on (0,inf), and is also positive for negative x.
Are you sure the problem wasn't with a negative x2?

[tex]\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}e^{-x^2}\,dx=\sqrt{\pi}[/tex]

Alex
 
fahd said:
take x^2=t and proceed by parts...its fairly simple

I have no idea what you mean by that! What "parts" would you use? What would be u and what dv?

As others have pointed out, the infinite integral, as stated, does not exist. If that were [tex]e^{-x^2}[/tex] then it would be possible but certainly not "fairly simple"- there is no elementary anti-derivative.
 
e^x^2=e^x*e^x
so
e^x=t
e^xdx=dt...replace in your exercesise and it should be easy from now on!
 
  • #10
Yes, if I had to integrate
[tex]\int (e^x)^2dx[/tex]
I guess I could do that- although I think I would be more likely to simply write
[tex](e^x)^2= e^{2x}[/tex]
and integrate that. HOWEVER, the integral asked about was
[tex]\int e^{x^2}dx[/tex]
and it is well known that that has no elementary anti-derivative.
 
  • #11
if you are in analysis it can be solved using riemann-stieltjes or lebesgue theory, I saw this problem before and there was a theorem we used, it has slipped my memory.

it was something like if f(x) is differentiable on [a,b] and f prime is continuous on [a,b] then you can convert the integrand to somethin easier to integrate (i forget the rest) sorry
 
Last edited:
  • #12
Yea you can put it into http://integrals.wolfram.com and it gives you an answer that has in it the "imaginary error function", i take this to mean that the described integral won't be solvable by any normal means, so if it is just about whether or not it diverges then this is pretty simple because it is obvious that the integral diverges.
 
  • #13
what said:
Yea you can put it into http://integrals.wolfram.com and it gives you an answer that has in it the "imaginary error function", i take this to mean that the described integral won't be solvable by any normal means, so if it is just about whether or not it diverges then this is pretty simple because it is obvious that the integral diverges.

I got this...sqrt(pi)Erfi(x)/2

What is that Erfi?
 
  • #14
Erfi is the imaginary error function above quoted by what (cool psuedonym).
 
  • #15
Taviii said:
e^x^2=e^x*e^x
so
e^x=t
e^xdx=dt...replace in your exercesise and it should be easy from now on!

My guess is that Tavi will think things through before typing incorrect answers, next time.
 
  • #16
benorin said:
Erfi is the imaginary error function above quoted by what (cool psuedonym).

All my errors are imaginary!
 
  • #17
Umm...
 

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