Difficult Calculus II integral

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SUMMARY

The integral \(\int_{-1}^{0} \frac{e^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{3}}dx\) converges to \(\frac{-2}{e}\). The solution involves using the substitution \(u = \frac{1}{x}\) and applying integration by parts. The limit as \(t\) approaches 0 reveals that the integral diverges at the lower limit, but the overall evaluation confirms convergence to the specified value. The TI-89 calculator indicated the limit is undefined, but the analytical approach provides clarity on the convergence.

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  • Understanding of improper integrals
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Homework Statement


[tex]\int_{-1}^{0} \frac{e^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{3}}dx[/tex]
Solve the integral and determine if it converges/diverges ect.

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution


[tex]\int_{-1}^{0} \frac{e^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{3}}dx[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{t \to 0}\int_{-1}^{t} \frac{e^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{3}}dx[/tex]

[itex]u = \frac{1}{x}[/itex]
[itex]du = \frac{1}{x^{2}}dx[/itex]

[tex]\lim_{t \to 0}\int_{-1}^{\frac{1}{t}} \frac{e^{u}(-x^{2})}{x^{3}}du[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{t \to 0}\int_{-1}^{\frac{1}{t}} \frac{-e^{u}}{x} du[/tex]
[tex]x = \frac{1}{u}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{t \to 0}\int_{-1}^{\frac{1}{t}} \frac{-e^{u}}{\frac{1}{u}} du[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{t \to 0} \int_{-1}^{\frac{1}{t}} -e^{u}u du[/tex]

[itex]v = u[/itex]
[itex]dv = du[/itex]
[itex]w = -e^{u}[/itex]
[itex]dw = -e^{u}du[/itex]

[tex]\lim_{t \to 0} (-e^{u}u)_{-1}^{\frac{1}{t}} - \int_{-1}^{\frac{1}{t}} -e^{u}du[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{t \to 0} (\frac{-e^{\frac{1}{t}}}{t} + e^{-1}(-1)) - (-e^{\frac{1}{t}}+e^{-1})[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{t \to 0} (\frac{-e^{\frac{1}{t}}}{t}-e^{-1}) + e^{\frac{1}{t}}-e^{-1}[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{t \to 0} (e^{\frac{1}{t}}-\frac{e^{\frac{1}{t}}}{t}-2e^{-1})[/tex]

And now I can't solve this limit. What am I doing wrong here? I put the limit into my TI-89 and as I thought it is undefined. I know the solution is that it converges to [itex]\frac{-2}{e}[/itex] but I can't seem to get there.
 
Last edited:
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The indefinite integral, [itex]\displaystyle \int\, \frac{e^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{3}}dx[/itex]

becomes [itex]\displaystyle -e^{u}u - \int\, -e^{u}du\,,[/itex] where u = 1/x

[itex]\displaystyle = -e^{u}u + e^u<br /> +C\,.[/itex]

Back substituting (u=1/x) gives:

[itex]\displaystyle \int\, \frac{e^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{3}}dx=-\frac{e^{1/x}}{x}+e^{1/x}+C[/itex]

Now, evaluate [itex]\displaystyle \lim_{t \to 0}\int_{-1}^{t} \frac{e^{\frac{1}{x}}}{x^{3}}dx \,.[/itex]
 

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