# Evaluation of a definite integral

1. Aug 22, 2014

### dyn

I am looking at a solution to an question and I don't understand how the value of the following definite integral comes out to be zero ? The following function is evaluated from 0 to ∞ with r being the variable

$exp(-β^2r^2)r^nr^-1/(n-1)$ That should read r raised to the power of (n-1)
I presume when the value of ∞ is input the negative exponential turns out to be zero but I don't understand how inputting zero gives a value of zero ?

Last edited: Aug 22, 2014
2. Aug 22, 2014

### Simon Bridge

which? where?
Did you mean to write: $$\int_0^\infty e^{-\beta^2r^2}r^{n-1}\;dr$$

What do you think it should come out to?
What is beta? What is "n"?

3. Aug 22, 2014

### dyn

You have got the function right but it also has a factor of 1/(n-1). This function was derived from integration by parts. It just needs evaluating with the values ∞ and 0. When I input 0 I have exp(0) which is 1 and 0 to the power (n-1) which I thought is also 1. But overall the answer should be zero

4. Aug 23, 2014

### Simon Bridge

Oh you mean you've done an integral and you have ended up at this stage: $$\frac{1}{n-1}\left[ e^{-\beta^2r^2} r^{n-1}\right]_0^\infty$$
... when you put $r=0$ into $r^{(n-1)}$ you get $0^{n-1}$ right?
What is zero multiplied by itself? i.e. if n=3, then n-1=2 and $0^2=0\times 0 = ?$

Last edited: Aug 23, 2014
5. Aug 23, 2014

### dyn

Thanks for that. Somehow I was under the impression that zero raised to any power was 1 !

6. Aug 23, 2014

### Simon Bridge

Happens to everyone ;)

7. Aug 24, 2014

### dyn

Thanks. I did get the wrong rule stuck in my head. But what would happen at r=o if n=1 then I would have zero to the power of zero which I believe is 1 ? I also have a zero on the denominator. Is it impossible to evaluate in this case ? Incidentally the question did state n≥2 so I am just asking for future reference.

8. Aug 24, 2014

### SteamKing

Staff Emeritus
You should review the rules of exponentiation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponentiation

The expression 0^0 (zero raised to the zeroth power) is considered, in general, an indeterminate form. 0^n is defined only for integers n > 0. There may be certain formulas which require that 0^0 be evaluated as equal to one, but these are exceptions.