- #1
flyingpig
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Homework Statement
I will try to word it the best I can...
True or False? If True explain why. If False, provide a counterexample to explain why it is wrong, DO NOT CORRECT THE STATEMENT
Suppose f(x) is an odd function and then [tex]\int_{-a}^{a} f(x) dx = 0[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
This is true, I wrote down, but my proof was wrong...I think. I checked the textbook and they did it differently. My textbook splited the integral from -a to 0 and 0 to a and did a substitution.
Here is how I did it
Let f(x) be odd
[tex]f(-x) = -f(x)[/tex]
[tex]\int_{-a}^{a} f(-x) dx = \int_{-a}^{a} -f(x) dx[/tex]
By the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
[tex]F(-a) - F(+a) = -\left [ F(a)- F(-a)) \right ] [/tex]
[tex]F(-a) - F(+a) = -F(a) + F(-a)) [/tex]
[tex]F(-a) - F(+a) = F(-a) - F(a) [/tex]
[tex]0 = 0[/tex]
Did I "prove" anything...?