High School How Do You Calculate the Integral of 1/Floor(x^2) from 1 to 2?

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SUMMARY

The integral $\displaystyle \int_{1}^{2} \dfrac{1}{\left\lfloor{x^2}\right\rfloor}\,dx$ evaluates to a piecewise function due to the behavior of the floor function $\left\lfloor{x^2}\right\rfloor$. For the interval from 1 to 2, $\left\lfloor{x^2}\right\rfloor$ takes on the values 1 and 2, leading to the integral being split into two segments: from 1 to $\sqrt{2}$ and from $\sqrt{2}$ to 2. The final result is calculated as $\int_{1}^{\sqrt{2}} 1\,dx + \int_{\sqrt{2}}^{2} \frac{1}{2}\,dx$, yielding a total of $\sqrt{2} - 1 + 1 = \sqrt{2}$.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of definite integrals
  • Familiarity with the floor function notation $\left\lfloor u \right\rfloor$
  • Basic knowledge of piecewise functions
  • Proficiency in evaluating integrals involving rational functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of the floor function and its applications in calculus
  • Learn about piecewise integration techniques
  • Explore advanced integral calculus, focusing on improper integrals
  • Investigate numerical methods for evaluating integrals that cannot be solved analytically
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in mathematics, particularly those focusing on calculus and integral evaluation, as well as anyone interested in the applications of the floor function in mathematical analysis.

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Evaluate $\displaystyle \int_{1}^{2} \dfrac{1}{\left\lfloor{x^2}\right\rfloor}\,dx$ where $\left\lfloor{u}\right\rfloor$ denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to $u$.

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Congratulations to the following members for their correct solutions::)

1. Olok
2. laura123
3. MarkFL
4. Euge
5. kaliprasad

Solution from Euge:
Partition the interval $[1,2)$ into the subintervals $[1,\sqrt{2})$, $[\sqrt{2}, \sqrt{3})$, and $[\sqrt{3}, 2)$, in which $\lfloor x^2 \rfloor$ has values $1$, $2$, and $3$, respectively. Then

$$\int_1^2 \frac{dx}{\lfloor x^2 \rfloor} = \int_1^{\sqrt{2}} \frac{dx}{1} + \int_{\sqrt{2}}^{\sqrt{3}} \frac{dx}{2} + \int_{\sqrt{3}}^2 \frac{dx}{3} = \sqrt{2} - 1 + \frac{1}{2}(\sqrt{3} - \sqrt{2}) + \frac{1}{3}(2 - \sqrt{3})$$

$$ = \frac{1}{6}(6\sqrt{2} - 6 + 3\sqrt{3} - 3\sqrt{2} + 4 - 2\sqrt{3}) = \frac{1}{6}(3\sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3} - 2).$$
 

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