The discussion revolves around evaluating an integral, specifically involving the expression \(\int e^{-t^2}dt\). Participants are exploring the challenges associated with this integral and its properties, including its relationship to derivatives and potential substitutions.
The conversation is ongoing, with participants sharing insights and clarifying misunderstandings. Some have pointed out that the integral cannot be expressed in terms of elementary functions, while others are reflecting on the implications of the limits of integration. There is a mix of humor and seriousness as participants engage with the material.
Participants reference an exam from MIT's OpenCourseWare, which adds a layer of context regarding the perceived difficulty and nature of the problems being discussed. The mention of a "trick question" highlights the need for careful attention to detail in problem-solving.
sorry, the parenthesis is meant for a substitutionDick said:It's not really clear what integral you are actually trying to solve. Is there really a t^2 in the exponent? Is the sinh multiplying that?
it's from the MIT OCW websitedynamicsolo said:I've got a separate question about this: is that upper limit really 'ln 1'? Wouldn't that make the two limits of integration identical? Is someone pulling your leg on this one? Is it a trick question?
rocophysics said:it's from the MIT OCW website
http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/6055BD0B-FEA6-4BBD-AB05-9E9D81615CAA/0/ocw01exam3.pdf
lol it is both 0, i didn't even notice.
"18.01" is (college) freshman calculus. Every freshman at M.I.T. either "places" in a higher math course or takes 18.01 first semester freshman year (that's my memory from way back). I wouldn't want to be "elitist" but if you look carefully at that test you will see many problems that are easy if you understand the concepts rather than just apply formulas.Gib Z said:Thats an MIT test? I don't believe you. Here I was thinking MIT was an elite University...what grade is test meant to be for?
um yeah, you're definitely a nerd, lol. surprisingly that i did notice that it was "worth" 3 points. but since i didn't notice the lower/upper limits, it didn't click.dynamicsolo said:Bwah-hah-hah! As a classical MIT nerd would declare, "You've been hacked!" (That does explain why that question's only worth 3 points. The lecturer was probably checking to see who was awake...)
Whoa! Good ol' 18.01 -- takes me back...
ProTip: Watch out if someone at MIT has something to do with an exam like this. They love to pull a fast one on the unwary at some point... (It's a place where parties unknown break into a "secure" area and adorn the Great Dome of the main building with something monumental almost every year.* They also measure bridge spans in smoots... What can you expect?)
*In 2003, to mark the centennial of heavier-than-air aviation, a rough reproduction of a Wright Flyer appeared atop the building overnight...
math http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Mathematics/index.htm#undergradGib Z said:Thats an MIT test? I don't believe you. Here I was thinking MIT was an elite University...what grade is test meant to be for?
rocophysics said:um yeah, you're definitely a nerd, lol.