Improper Fractions: Integral ln(x)/sqrt(x) convergency question

In summary, the integral in question is of the type II improper fraction, which is discontinuous at the lower limit of 0. Using integration by parts, it can be rewritten as a limit of the product of two functions, one of which tends to 0 and the other to infinity. By applying the limit multiplication property and taking the derivative of the functions, it can be shown that the limit approaches 0. Additionally, using a transformation to infinity/infinity or 0/0, it is possible to prove that the limit is indeed 0.
  • #1
NastyAccident
61
0

Homework Statement


[tex]\int^{1}_{0} \frac{ln(x)}{sqrt(x)}[/tex]


Homework Equations


Integration by Parts
Improper Fractions: Type II Integral (discontinuous at a)

The Attempt at a Solution


Now, this might seem odd, but I'm having a devil of a time understanding how this is converging when the limit goes to 0+.

Also, I'm trying to get the hang of LaTeX so, please excuse any improper usage.

[tex]
\int^{1}_{0} \frac{ln(x)}{sqrt(x)}

[/tex]
u = ln(x) dv = 1/sqrt(x)
du = 1/x v = 2sqrt(x)

[tex]2sqrt(x)ln(x)\right|^{1}_{0} - \int^{1}_{0} \frac {(2sqrt(x))}{x}[/tex]
[tex]2sqrt(x)ln(x)\right|^{1}_{0} - 2*\int^{1}_{0} \frac {1}{sqrt(x)}[/tex]
[tex]2sqrt(x)ln(x)\right|^{1}_{0} - 4sqrt(x)\right|^{1}_{0}[/tex]

lim [tex][2sqrt(x)*ln(x) - 4sqrt(x)]^{1}_{t}[/tex]
t->0+

Now, here is where my question lies with why this is converging...

lim 2sqrt(1)*ln(1) - 4sqrt(1) - (2sqrt(t)*ln(t) - 4sqrt(t))
t->0+

When you plug t in, you receive ln(t) which is -infinity... Thus, the integral would be diverging and not converging.

Does plugging the t into a square root prior to a natural log cause the term to then be zero instead of -infinity and thus converging?

Thanks!



NastyAccident
 
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  • #2
When you plug in t, you get sqrt(t) which is 0. So how do you find the limit of something of the form 0*infinity?
 
  • #3
Limit multiplication property indicates that the product of 0*infinity = 0. Hehe, thanks for the course correction... Sometimes, I just 'get lost' with all the math around me.
 
  • #4
NastyAccident said:
Limit multiplication property indicates that the product of 0*infinity = 0.
No. Take a look at the "fine print" in the limit multiplication theorem and you'll see that it says that both limits have to exist, which excludes limits that are infinite.

The 0 * infinity form is one of several indeterminate forms. These are called indeterminate because you can't determine beforehand what their values will be. For example, the following limits are all of this form, but have completely different values:
[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} x\frac{1}{x}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} x^2\frac{1}{x}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} x\frac{1}{x^2}[/tex]

The values are, respectively, 1, infinity, and zero.
 
  • #5
Important to note that:

[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0} x^kln(x) = 0 [/tex]


Consider

[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty} x^ke^{-x}=\frac{x^k}{e^x}[/tex]

For k>0, let n be any integer larger than k.


[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^k}{e^x}=\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^k}{1+x+\frac{x^2}{2}+\cdots+\frac{x^n}{n!}+\frac{x^{n+1}}{(n+1)!}+\cdots}[/tex]


From this we can show that:

[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^k}{e^x}.\frac{x^{-n}}{x^{-n}}=\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^{k-n}}{x^{-n}+x^{1-n}+\frac{x^{2-n}}{2}+\cdots+\frac{1}{n!}+\frac{x}{(n+1)!}+\cdots}[/tex]


From this it's clear that in the limit the numerator tends to 0 since k-n is negative. All terms to the left of 1/n! tend to 0 but all terms to the right of it tend to infinity, hence:


[tex]\displaystyle\lim_{x\to\infty}x^ke^{-x} = 0 [/tex] (1)


Next, let:

[tex]x=e^{-\frac{y}{k}}[/tex]

From this it is clear that

[tex]x\to 0 \iff y\to \infty[/tex]

[tex]\displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0}x^kln(x) = -\frac{1}{k} \lim_{y\to \infty} ye^{-y}[/tex]

[tex]\displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0}x^kln(x) = 0 [/tex] From (1)
 
  • #6
First of all, thank you all very much for responding to this! I truly appreciate it.

Mark44 said:
No. Take a look at the "fine print" in the limit multiplication theorem and you'll see that it says that both limits have to exist, which excludes limits that are infinite.

The 0 * infinity form is one of several indeterminate forms. These are called indeterminate because you can't determine beforehand what their values will be. For example, the following limits are all of this form, but have completely different values:
[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} x\frac{1}{x}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} x^2\frac{1}{x}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty} x\frac{1}{x^2}[/tex]

The values are, respectively, 1, infinity, and zero.
Okay, I looked up the indeterminate forms of limits and I noticed the use of the L'Hospital rule so I'm sort of seeing how this is true.

lim sqrt(x)ln(x)
t->0+

f(x) = sqrt(x)
g(x) = ln(x)

I want to use the transformation to infinity/infinity so:

g(x)/1/f(x)

Take the derivative of the numerator and denominator:

g'(x) / 1/f'(x)

(1/x) / (1/-2x^(3/2))

which cleans up to be -2sqrt(x).

If you plug 0+ into -2sqrt(x) you end up with 0.

Just for practice and my understanding plus the fact that I have math sources right here (You folks rock!)...

I'm going to try the transformation to 0/0:

f(x)/1/g(x)

Take the derivative of the numerator and denominator:

[1/(2*sqrt(x))]/(-1/(x*log^2(x))
-1/2 sqrt(x)*log^2(x)

Which still gives me negative infinity (and brings me a step backwards).

So, by going through this process, I'm guessing that you probably want to take whatever term isn't giving you infinity and place it in the denominator with one over it. Then, take the derivatives of both the top and bottom of the function.

Gregg said:
Important to note that:

[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to 0} x^kln(x) = 0 [/tex]


Consider

[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty} x^ke^{-x}=\frac{x^k}{e^x}[/tex]

For k>0, let n be any integer larger than k.


[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^k}{e^x}=\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^k}{1+x+\frac{x^2}{2}+\cdots+\frac{x^n}{n!}+\frac{x^{n+1}}{(n+1)!}+\cdots}[/tex]


From this we can show that:

[tex]\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^k}{e^x}.\frac{x^{-n}}{x^{-n}}=\displaystyle \lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{x^{k-n}}{x^{-n}+x^{1-n}+\frac{x^{2-n}}{2}+\cdots+\frac{1}{n!}+\frac{x}{(n+1)!}+\cdots}[/tex]


From this it's clear that in the limit the numerator tends to 0 since k-n is negative. All terms to the left of 1/n! tend to 0 but all terms to the right of it tend to infinity, hence:


[tex]\displaystyle\lim_{x\to\infty}x^ke^{-x} = 0 [/tex] (1)


Next, let:

[tex]x=e^{-\frac{y}{k}}[/tex]

From this it is clear that

[tex]x\to 0 \iff y\to \infty[/tex]

[tex]\displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0}x^kln(x) = -\frac{1}{k} \lim_{y\to \infty} ye^{-y}[/tex]

[tex]\displaystyle\lim_{x\to 0}x^kln(x) = 0 [/tex] From (1)

I follow the proof up till the point where you set x = e^(-y/k). So, if you wouldn't mind, could you explain that part in a little bit more detail.

Thank you!



NastyAccident
 
  • #7
I follow the proof up till the point where you set x = e^(-y/k). So, if you wouldn't mind, could you explain that part in a little bit more detail.

Thank you!



NastyAccident

We have established that

[tex] \lim_{x\to \infty} x^ke^{-x} = 0 [/tex]


Now we could for example set out the following (the choice of variable is arbitrary)

[tex] u=e^{-\frac{v}{k}}[/tex]

[tex] \Rightarrow u\to 0 \iff v\to \infty [/tex]

As u gets small (tends to 0) it is implied that v is very large (tends to infinity).

[tex] \Rightarrow ln(u)=-\frac{v}{k}[/tex]

Now we have this relationship we can show that our limit tends to 0. Notice this equality:

[tex] u^k = e^{-v} \Rightarrow u^k (ln(u)) = e^{-v}.(-\frac{v}{k})=-\frac{1}{k}(ve^{-v})[/tex]



Notice that the [tex] ve^{-v} [/tex] is similar to [tex] x^ke^{-x} [/tex] in the case k=1 (and of course the variable is v not x). We know three things at this point.

[tex]\displaystyle\lim_{v\to \infty}ve^{-v}=0[/tex]

[tex]v\to \infty \iff u\to 0[/tex]

and,

[tex]u^k ln(u) =\frac{1}{k}(ve^{-v})[/tex]


From this it can be seen that,

[tex]-\frac{1}{k}\displaystyle\lim_{v\to \infty}ve^{-v}=\displaystyle\lim_{u\to 0}u^kln(u)=0[/tex]
 
  • #8
NastyAccident said:
First of all, thank you all very much for responding to this! I truly appreciate it.


Okay, I looked up the indeterminate forms of limits and I noticed the use of the L'Hospital rule so I'm sort of seeing how this is true.

lim sqrt(x)ln(x)
t->0+

f(x) = sqrt(x)
g(x) = ln(x)

I want to use the transformation to infinity/infinity so:

g(x)/1/f(x)

Take the derivative of the numerator and denominator:

g'(x) / 1/f'(x)

(1/x) / (1/-2x^(3/2))

which cleans up to be -2sqrt(x).


If you plug 0+ into -2sqrt(x) you end up with 0.
That's what I get, also.
NastyAccident said:
Just for practice and my understanding plus the fact that I have math sources right here (You folks rock!)...

I'm going to try the transformation to 0/0:

f(x)/1/g(x)

Take the derivative of the numerator and denominator:

[1/(2*sqrt(x))]/(-1/(x*log^2(x))
-1/2 sqrt(x)*log^2(x)
I think you have made a mistake here, which is why you're getting a different value for the limit. In this case you are dealing with
[tex]\frac{x^{1/2}}{\frac{1}{ln x}}[/tex]

You didn't use the chain rule correctly when you differentiated the denominator fraction.
NastyAccident said:
Which still gives me negative infinity (and brings me a step backwards).

So, by going through this process, I'm guessing that you probably want to take whatever term isn't giving you infinity and place it in the denominator with one over it. Then, take the derivatives of both the top and bottom of the function.



I follow the proof up till the point where you set x = e^(-y/k). So, if you wouldn't mind, could you explain that part in a little bit more detail.

Thank you!



NastyAccident
 

1. What is an improper fraction?

An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator. It can also be expressed as a mixed number (a whole number plus a proper fraction).

2. What is an integral?

An integral is a mathematical concept that represents the area under a curve on a graph. It is used to calculate the total value of a function over a given interval.

3. What is ln(x)?

ln(x) is the natural logarithm function, which is the inverse of the exponential function. It represents the power to which e (the base of the natural logarithm) must be raised to equal a given number x.

4. What is sqrt(x)?

sqrt(x) is the square root function, which represents the number that, when multiplied by itself, gives the value x. It is the inverse of the square function.

5. How do you determine the convergency of ln(x)/sqrt(x) as x approaches infinity?

To determine the convergency of ln(x)/sqrt(x) as x approaches infinity, we can use the limit comparison test. We compare the given function to a known convergent function (e.g. 1/x) and if the limit of the ratio of the two functions is a finite number, then the given function also converges. In this case, the limit of ln(x)/sqrt(x) as x approaches infinity is 0, so the given function also converges.

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