Indefinite Integral of an Absolute Convergent Function

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the convergence of indefinite integrals of functions that are absolutely convergent over the interval (0, ∞). Participants explore whether the indefinite integral of such functions retains convergence properties and examine specific cases and notations related to double integrals.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether the indefinite integral of an absolutely convergent function over (0, ∞) will also be absolutely convergent.
  • One participant proposes a specific function f(x) and asks if the resulting g(x) from its double integral is convergent on the same interval.
  • Another participant challenges the notation used, suggesting that it leads to confusion and incorrect conclusions about convergence.
  • There are discussions about the implications of Fubini's theorem and whether it applies to the indefinite integral of an improper integral.
  • Some participants express frustration with the clarity of notation and the assumptions made regarding convergence.
  • One participant claims to have solved their problem by demonstrating that their integrals do not equal each other, leading to a conclusion about convergence.
  • Another participant disputes the validity of the calculations presented, suggesting fundamental misunderstandings of integration rules.
  • There is a mention of the importance of using appropriate variables in integration to avoid confusion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the convergence of the indefinite integral of absolutely convergent functions, and multiple competing views remain regarding the application of Fubini's theorem and the correctness of various calculations.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved issues regarding the assumptions made about convergence, the clarity of notation, and the implications of integrating functions with respect to different variables. Some participants express uncertainty about the conditions under which certain integrals can be exchanged or simplified.

flouran
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Hi,
I was wondering if a function is absolutely convergent over a certain interval, say,
<br /> (0,\infty)<br />
will its indefinite integral also be absolutely convergent over the same interval?

Also, assume that f(x) is convergent for
<br /> (0,\infty). <br />
Would
<br /> g(x) = \int{\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x)dx}dy &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}{\int{f(x)}dydx + {C}<br />
this function, g(x), also be convergent on the same interval as f(x)?
 
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Any help would be appreciated.
 
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It is slightly unpleasant to read somebody's posts, if one has to use latex-software to generate some pdf or ps files out of the posted source code.

I suggest you start using the "edit"-button now :wink:

Get those begin and end document commands out, and use [ tex ] and [ /tex ] tags for latex equations.
 
flouran said:
[...]
<br /> g(x) = \int{\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x)dx}dy &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}{\int{f(x)}dydx + {C}<br />
this function, g(x), also be convergent on the same interval as f(x)?
Sorry I cannot make sense of your notation.
g(y !) = \int{\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x)dx}dy = F(\infty)\cdot y - F(0) \cdot y +C
 
A single function is neither "convergent" nor "uniformly convergent". Did you mean "continuous"?
 
No, what I meant was if the indefinite integral of that function converges on the same interval as the original function.
 
If my notation is confusing, here is what I am saying:
Assume that f(x) is convergent for
<br /> (0,\infty). <br />
Would
<br /> g(x) = \int[{\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x)dx}]dy &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}[{\int{f(x)}dy]dx + {C}<br />
this function, g(x), also be convergent on the same interval as f(x)?
 
flouran said:
If my notation is confusing, here is what I am saying:
Assume that f(x) is convergent for
<br /> (0,\infty). <br />
Would
<br /> g(x) = \int[{\int_{0}^{\infty}f(x)dx}]dy &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}[{\int{f(x)}dy]dx + {C}<br />
this function, g(x), also be convergent on the same interval as f(x)?

Adding brackets didn't help. The result of the integration would still be what I wrote down before. How about you demonstrate what you mean with f(x)=\frac{1}{(x+1)^2} ?
And tell me what g(x) is then.
 
Ok. So basically what I am saying is, assume f(x)=\frac{y}{(x+1)^2} is convergent on (0,\infty).. Would then, g(x) = {\int}}({\int_{0}^{\infty}}\frac{y}{(x+1)^2}}dx)dy &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}({\int{\frac{y}{(x+1)^2}}dy)dx + {C} = {\int_{0}^{\infty}}{\frac{y^2}{{2}{(x+1)^2}}dx + {C} also be convergent on the same interval? Is that clear enough?!
 
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  • #10
flouran said:
Ok. So basically what I am saying is, assume f(x)=\frac{y}{(x+1)^2} is convergent on (0,\infty).. Would then, g(x) = {\int}}({\int_{0}^{\infty}}\frac{y}{(x+1)^2}}dx)dy &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}({\int{\frac{y}{(x+1)^2}}dy)dx + {C} = {\int_{0}^{\infty}}{\frac{y^2}{{2}{(x+1)^2}}dx + {C} also be convergent on the same interval? Is that clear enough?!

No it is not. "g(x)" is not a function of x but of y because the x disappears when you insert the boundaries. "f(x)" is a function of x and y so it should be f(x,y). The C comes from out of nowhere, and you illegally take it out of your integration. This sloppy notation will never give accurate results.
You don't specify what you mean by a convergent function so I assumed you meant a the integral to converge, but I don't know. And finally you should be able to resolve the last integral with high school calculus, so you would see that the integral converges and not assume it.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh but if you don't clean up your notation we will get nowhere.
 
  • #11
Sorry about that. f(x,y) &amp;=&amp; \frac{y}{(x+1)^2}. {\int}}({\int_{0}^{\infty}}\frac{y}{(x+1)^2}}dx)dy &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}({\int{\frac{y}{(x+1)^2}}dy)dx + {C} = {\int_{0}^{\infty}}{\frac{y^2}{{2}{(x+1)^2}}dx + {C}

Yes, what I meant by convergence is that the integral converges in the domain (0,\infty). I most definitely could not have been referring to anything in that case.
 
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  • #12
I solved my problem. Basically, I said f(x,n) &amp;=&amp; {e^x}{n}. Next, I found {\int}}{\int}}{e^x}{n}dn dx = {\int}{e^x}{nx}dn = n{{\int}{e^x}{x}dx}. Then I found {\int}}{\int}}{e^x}{n}dx dn &amp;=&amp; {\int}{n}{e^x}{dn} = {nx}{e^x}+{C}. Thus, since n{{\int}{e^x}{x}dx} obviously does not equal {nx}{e^x}+{C}, we can thus conclude that {\int}}{\int}}{f(x,n)}dndx does not equal {\int}}{\int}}{f(x,n)}dxdn. So the answer to my question is a resounding "NO".
 
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  • #13
flouran said:
I solved my problem. Basically, I said f(x,n) &amp;=&amp; {e^x}{n}. Next, I found {\int}}{\int}}{e^x}{n}dn dx \neq {\int}{e^x}{nx}dn \neq n{{\int}{e^x}{x}dx}. Then I found {\int}}{\int}}{e^x}{n}dx dn = {\int}{n}{e^x}{dn} \neq {nx}{e^x}+{C}. Thus, since n{{\int}{e^x}{x}dx} obviously does not equal {nx}{e^x}+{C}, we can thus conclude that {\int}}{\int}}{f(x,n)}dndx does not equal {\int}}{\int}}{f(x,n)}dxdn. So the answer to my question is a resounding "NO".

You just disproved Fubini's theorem. These calculations are false beyond repair. Sorry. Maybe some of these will cheer you up:
http://www.crank.net/maths.html
 
  • #14
Then you do it. Show me what I did wrong and disprove me, please.
 
  • #15
Ok. Fubini's theorem states that you may change the order of integration in normal circumstances.

Doing infinite integrals will not work before we can do finite integrals. Doing multi variable integrals will not work before we can so single variable integrals. Doing integrals will not work before we master derivatives.

The integral's solution is \int \int f(x,n) \, dx \,dn = \int \int ne^x \, dx \,dn = \frac{n^2}{2}e^x + c_1 x + c_2 y + c_3 with any order of integration.

Using n is a bad choice of variables because it usually denotes constants that are not being integrated over. Your calculation shows very basic errors with integration of the simplest functions like f(x)=kx You do not know your integration rules. I suspect you cannot derive either, because that would have enabled you to check your results. Maybe a page like http://www.calculus.org/ could help, or a good book, or a college course or a math teacher since I don't know your age. Learning these things takes a normal person a year, that is in a class with homework.
 
  • #16
FYI, I have taken calculus, and I got an A in it (in fact, I got the highest grade in the class). It's just that I have not yet taken multivariable calculus, which involves double integrals. It's double integrals which I find really confusing.

Thanks for your help in preparing me for the multivariable course I will be eventually taking
 
  • #17
Yeah, you're right about the n thing. I should have used a better variable b/c I kept on thinking it was a constant (FAIL).

I see my error (wow, I can't believe I made such a stupid mistake).
 
  • #18
Quick Question: Does Fublini's Theorem apply to the indefinite integral of an improper integral? In other words, {\int}}{\int_{0}^{\infty}}{f(x,n)}dxdn &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}{\int}}{f(x,n)}dndx?
 
  • #19
flouran said:
Quick Question: Does Fublini's Theorem apply to the indefinite integral of an improper integral? In other words, {\int}}{\int_{0}^{\infty}}{f(x,n)}dxdn &amp;=&amp; {\int_{0}^{\infty}}{\int}}{f(x,n)}dndx?

No it doesn't. The integration constant produced by the integral over n will kill any convergence, when doing the integral over x. Furthermore I don't know if you noticed, but the double integral is not solved by simply integrating twice, you search for a function that will produce f(x,y) after deriving twice. For smooth functions it doesn't matter which derivative you do first, so I think that implies that you can exchange the order of integration if there are no boundaries, for boundaries there is Fubini saying the same thing. I have not seen integrals with and without boundaries mixed yet anyway.
 

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