Improper integral convergence/divergence

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the convergence or divergence of the improper integral \(\int_1^{\infty} \frac{x \cos^2(x)}{1+x^3} \, dx\). Participants explore various methods to analyze the integral, including direct computation, comparison tests, and the use of limits.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express difficulty in finding the antiderivative of the function \(\frac{x \cos^2(x)}{1+x^3}\) and seek assistance.
  • One participant suggests using a comparison test, noting that if \(\frac{x \cos^2(x)}{1+x^3}\) is smaller than a convergent function, the integral will also converge, and vice versa for divergence.
  • Another participant provides a specific comparison, stating that \(\frac{x \cos^2(x)}{1+x^3} \leq \frac{1}{x^2}\) for \(x \geq 1\), and concludes that demonstrating the convergence of \(\int_1^{\infty} \frac{dx}{x^2}\) is sufficient.
  • Further contributions involve detailed calculations and manipulations of integrals, including partial fraction decomposition and the evaluation of related integrals.
  • Some participants propose alternative approaches, including considering the integral from 0 to \(\infty\) and breaking it into parts, while others express uncertainty about the complexity of the calculations involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the use of comparison tests for analyzing the integral, but there are multiple competing views on the best approach to take and the complexity of the calculations involved. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the final determination of convergence or divergence.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the challenges in computing certain integrals and the reliance on specific inequalities and assumptions, such as the behavior of \(\cos^2(x)\) and the bounds of the function involved.

brunette15
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I am attempting to solve the improper integral (x*cos^2(x))/(1+x^3) dx between infinity and 1 to see if it converges or diverges. My approach was to place a point 'x' that approaches infinity to be able to solve the integral and then evaluate the limits however i am stuck on actually computing the antiderivative. Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks in advance!
 
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brunette15 said:
I am attempting to solve the improper integral (x*cos^2(x))/(1+x^3) dx between infinity and 1 to see if it converges or diverges. My approach was to place a point 'x' that approaches infinity to be able to solve the integral and then evaluate the limits however i am stuck on actually computing the antiderivative. Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks in advance!
You will not be able to find this antiderivative explicitly. What you need to do is to use a comparison test. If the function $(x\cos^2(x))/(1+x^3)$ is smaller than some function whose integral converges, then this integral will also converge. On the other hand, if the function $(x\cos^2(x))/(1+x^3)$ is larger than some function whose integral diverges, then this integral will also diverge.
 
brunette15 said:
I am attempting to solve the improper integral (x*cos^2(x))/(1+x^3) dx between infinity and 1 to see if it converges or diverges. My approach was to place a point 'x' that approaches infinity to be able to solve the integral and then evaluate the limits however i am stuck on actually computing the antiderivative. Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks in advance!

Notice that $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{x\cos^2{(x)}}{1 + x^3} \geq 0 \end{align*}$ for all $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x \geq 1 \end{align*}$, and since $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 0 \leq \cos^{(x)} \leq 1 \end{align*}$ for all $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x \end{align*}$, that means $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{x \cos^2{(x)}}{1 + x^3} \leq \frac{x}{1 + x^3} \end{align*}$ for all $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x \geq 1 \end{align*}$. Thus we can say for sure $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 0 \leq \int_1^{\infty}{\frac{x\cos^2{(x}}{1 + x^3}\,\mathrm{d}x} \leq \int_1^{\infty}{\frac{x}{1 + x^3}\,\mathrm{d}x} \end{align*}$. Thus, if $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_1^{\infty}{\frac{x}{1 + x^3}\,\mathrm{d}x} \end{align*}$ is convergent, so is $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_1^{\infty}{\frac{x\cos^2{(x)}}{1 +x^3}\,\mathrm{d}x} \end{align*}$. So looking at the new integral, we have

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_1^{\infty}{\frac{x}{1 + x^3}\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \int_1^{\infty}{ \frac{x}{\left( 1 + x \right) \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) } \,\mathrm{d}x } \end{align*}$

Now applying partial fractions, we have

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{A}{1 + x} + \frac{B\,x + C}{1 - x + x^2} &\equiv \frac{x}{ \left( 1 + x \right) \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) } \\ \frac{A \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) + \left( B\,x + C \right) \left( 1 + x \right) }{\left( 1 + x \right) \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) } &\equiv \frac{x}{ \left( 1 + x \right) \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) } \\ A \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) + \left( B\,x + C \right) \left( 1 + x \right) &\equiv x \end{align*}$

Now let $\displaystyle \begin{align*} x = -1 \end{align*}$ and we find $\displaystyle \begin{align*} 3A = -1 \implies A = -\frac{1}{3} \end{align*}$. Substituting in gives

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} -\frac{1}{3} \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) + \left( B\,x + C \right) \left( 1 + x \right) &\equiv x \\ -\frac{1}{3} + \frac{1}{3}x - \frac{1}{3}x^2 + B\,x + B\,x^2 + C + C\,x &\equiv x \\ \left( B - \frac{1}{3} \right) \, x^2 + \left( B + C + \frac{1}{3} \right) \, x + C - \frac{1}{3} &\equiv 0x^2 + 1x + 0 \end{align*}$

Equating coefficients we find $\displaystyle \begin{align*} C - \frac{1}{3} = 0 \implies C = \frac{1}{3} \end{align*}$ and $\displaystyle \begin{align*} B - \frac{1}{3} = 0 \implies B = \frac{1}{3} \end{align*}$. Thus

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_1^{\infty}{\frac{x}{\left( 1 + x \right) \left( 1 - x + x^2 \right) }\,\mathrm{d}x} &= \int_1^{\infty}{ \frac{-\frac{1}{3}}{1 + x} + \frac{\frac{1}{3} x + \frac{1}{3}}{1 -x + x^2} \,\mathrm{d}x } \\ &= \frac{1}{3} \int_1^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{x^2 - x + 1} - \frac{1}{x +1} \, \mathrm{d}x } \\ &= \frac{1}{3} \int_1^{\infty}{ \frac{1}{ \left( x - \frac{1}{2} \right) ^2 + \frac{3}{4} } - \frac{1}{x + 1} \,\mathrm{d}x } \end{align*}$

Can you continue?
 
brunette15 said:
I am attempting to solve the improper integral (x*cos^2(x))/(1+x^3) dx between infinity and 1 to see if it converges or diverges. My approach was to place a point 'x' that approaches infinity to be able to solve the integral and then evaluate the limits however i am stuck on actually computing the antiderivative. Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks in advance!

Hi brunette15,

Note that

$$0 \le \frac{x\cos^2 x}{1 + x^3} \le \frac{1}{x^2}\quad \text{for all} \quad x \ge 1.\tag{*}$$

To get the last inequality, use the upper bound $\cos^2 x \le 1$ and the inequality $1 + x^3 \ge x^3$. Now since $(*)$ holds, it suffices (by the comparison test for improper integrals) to show that $\int_1^\infty \frac{dx}{x^2}$ converges. Compute $\int_1^\infty \frac{dx}{x^2}$ directly to show that it converges to $1$.
 
Euge said:
Hi brunette15,

Note that

$$0 \le \frac{x\cos^2 x}{1 + x^3} \le \frac{1}{x^2}\quad \text{for all} \quad x \ge 1.\tag{*}$$

To get the last inequality, use the upper bound $\cos^2 x \le 1$ and the inequality $1 + x^3 \ge x^3$. Now since $(*)$ holds, it suffices (by the comparison test for improper integrals) to show that $\int_1^\infty \frac{dx}{x^2}$ converges. Compute $\int_1^\infty \frac{dx}{x^2}$ directly to show that it converges to $1$.
Thankyou everyone!
 
brunette15 said:
I am attempting to solve the improper integral (x*cos^2(x))/(1+x^3) dx between infinity and 1 to see if it converges or diverges. My approach was to place a point 'x' that approaches infinity to be able to solve the integral and then evaluate the limits however i am stuck on actually computing the antiderivative. Can anyone help me with this?
Thanks in advance!

Let suppose that the integral is from 0 to $\infty$, so that we have to compute...

$\displaystyle I = \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{x\ \cos^{2} x}{1+x^{3}}\ dx = \frac{1}{2}\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{x}{1+x^{3}}\ d x + \frac{1}{2}\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{x\ \cos 2 x}{1+x^{3}}\ d x\ (1)$

The first integral is a 'not impossible task' and You obtain...

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{x}{1+x^{3}}\ dx = \frac{\pi}{3\ \sqrt{3}}\ (2)$

The second integral is a little more complex ...

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{x\ \cos 2x}{1+x^{3}}\ dx = - \frac{1}{6}\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\cos\ 2 x}{1 + x}\ dx + \frac{1}{12}\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{(1 + i\ \sqrt{3})\ \cos 2 x}{x - \frac{1 + i\ \sqrt{3}}{2}}\ d x +\frac{1}{12}\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{(1 - i\ \sqrt{3})\ \cos 2 x}{x - \frac{1 - i\ \sqrt{3}}{2}}\ d x\ (3) $

And now?... now You can use the relation found in...

http://mathhelpboards.com/analysis-50/too-difficult-integral-1842.html?highlight=difficult+integral

$\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\cos \omega x}{x + a}\ d x = - \cos (a\ \omega)\ \text{Ci}\ (a\ \omega) + \sin (a\ \omega)\ [\frac{\pi}{2} - \text{Si}\ (a\ \omega)]\ (4) $

Of course the effective computation is not very comfortable, expecially for me, very poor in pure calculus (Wasntme) ...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
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