Hello, can anyone tell me how I can show that this

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of the integral \(\int_{-1}^0\frac{e^x}{x+1}dx\) and whether it diverges. Participants explore various methods to demonstrate divergence, including integration techniques and comparison tests.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using integration by parts as a potential method to evaluate the integral.
  • Others propose the comparison test, indicating that bounding \(e^x\) from below could help in establishing divergence.
  • A participant questions the effectiveness of integration by parts and seeks alternative methods to show divergence.
  • There is a discussion about the integral of \(1/x\) from 0 to 1 as a related example of divergence.
  • One participant argues that if one part of an integral diverges, it does not necessarily mean the entire integral diverges, citing a counterexample.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the first term diverges due to the denominator approaching zero at -1, suggesting that the overall integral diverges to positive infinity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the methods to demonstrate divergence, with no consensus reached on the best approach. Some agree on the divergence of the integral, while others question the implications of divergent components in integrals.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for a lower bound for the integrand and the implications of divergent terms in integrals, indicating that assumptions about the behavior of the integrand near the limits of integration are crucial to the discussion.

neom
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Hello, can anyone tell me how I can show that this diverges

[tex]\int_{-1}^0\frac{e^x}{x+1}dx[/tex]

I'm out of ideas
 
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neom said:
Hello, can anyone tell me how I can show that this diverges

[tex]\int_{-1}^0\frac{e^x}{x+1}dx[/tex]

I'm out of ideas

When in doubt try integration by parts
 


Yes, of course. Thanks a lot!
 


No, it's not working, I really can't evaluate this integral. Is there another way to see that it diverges?
 


As a warm-up, why does the integral of 1/x from 0 to 1 diverge?

It's not too different from that. Maybe use the comparison test, since you can bound e^x from below by some number greater than zero.
 


Because [tex]\lim_{x\to0}\frac1{x}[/tex] diverges? I'm not sure. What's the comparison test?
 


Find a lower bound for the integrand on [-1,0], that is, a function that is less than your integrand on [1,0]. (technically the absolute value of the integrand, but in this case it is positive)

Hint: what is the minimal value of e^x on [-1,0] ?

Then you can use the comparison test to see whether the integral of the lower bound diverges.
 


neom said:
Hello, can anyone tell me how I can show that this diverges

[tex]\int_{-1}^0\frac{e^x}{x+1}dx[/tex]

I'm out of ideas

Integrating by parts gives

[tex]\frac{e^x}{x+1}|^{0}_{-1}+ \int_{-1}^0\frac{e^x}{(x+1)^2}dx[/tex]

The first term diverges. If the second term is finite then the whole thing diverges. What if the second term diverges?
 
Last edited:


If one part diverges, then the whole thing diverges
 
  • #10


^No a sum of two divergent terms can converge such as (1/x-1/x) which converges even though each part diverges. For this problem show that
[tex]\int_{-1}^0\frac{e^x+a}{x+1}dx[/tex]
can converge only when a =-e-1
and in particular not when a=0
 
  • #11


homeomorphic said:
As a warm-up, why does the integral of 1/x from 0 to 1 diverge?

It's not too different from that. Maybe use the comparison test, since you can bound e^x from below by some number greater than zero.

Because ln(0) is slightly undefined?
 
  • #12


integral -1 to 0 (e^x)/1+x>e^-2[integral -1 to 0 1/(1+x)]The second term diverges so first term diverges.
 
  • #13


vikiabst said:
integral -1 to 0 (e^x)/1+x>e^-2[integral -1 to 0 1/(1+x)]The second term diverges so first term diverges.

The argument i was making was not that. The first term, is easily seen to diverge since the numerator is finite and the denominator blows up at -1. It diverges to +infinity. If the second term is finite then the sum must diverge. But since the second term is positive, if it diverges, then it also diverges to plus infinity so the sum of the two must diverge to plus infinity.
 

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