Integrating sinx/x between (0,infinty)?

  • Thread starter Thread starter saint_n
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integrating
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on proving the existence of the integral of sin(x)/x from 0 to infinity, which is known to converge to π/2. Participants note that sin(x)/x is continuous over the interval, making it integrable. Various methods are suggested, including using power series and approximations, but the integral is acknowledged as non-elementary. There is also a mention of using alternating series to bound the integral. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the integral's existence and approaches to evaluate or approximate it.
saint_n
Messages
31
Reaction score
0
integrating sinx/x between (0,infinty)?

hey ppl!

Can you help me by giving me a method or how you would go around to prove that this

\mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid

exists.
Thanx
Saint_n
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
If a function is continuous on an interval, it is integrable (wrong word?) on that interval. sinx/x is continuous on <0, +inf> so an integral exists.

However, it is not elementary.
 
There are many websites on google to break integrals down step by step. Recall that an integral is the reverse operation of a derivative. What is the reverse of sinx isn't it cosx?

Try this website http://mss.math.vanderbilt.edu/~pscrooke/toolkit.html

Good luck!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
interesting...
 
Geez... there is not "standard" nice neat integral for sinx/x... And nint fails on the calculator... So.. :(

Maybe you like to try using Eular's method and start approximating for 0 using steps of 0.1 and find f(infinity) :)
 
ebola could u tell me whether its lebesgues integrable over that interval and why it is.. ?? U can intergrate its power seires and let it tend to infinity.. etc
 
thanx for the help ppl!My light bulb just went on!Couldnt av done it without yas

Saint_n
 
The integral exists and is usually denoted Si(x)

Si(x) = \int_{u=0}^{u=x} \frac{\sin(u)}{u} \, du

For the integral from 0 to infinity that you specifically request the value is Pi/2, though I don't remember how to do it. That is Si(\infty) = \pi/2.

If you merely interested in wheter or not the integral from zero to infinty exists (is bounded) rather than needing to know it's presice value then this is a much easier problem.

For example you can pretty easily verify that the integral is bounded by:

Si(\infty) \leq \pi\, \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k}
 
Last edited:
writing T(n) = \mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid
Can u write sinx as a power series
then dividing by x
and integrating it
then you get T(n)
so T(n) = x + (x^3)/(3!3) + (x^5)/(5!5) + ... since i made my interval
( (n-1)\pi , n\pi)
Why am i getting
t(n) > t(n-1)
What am i doing wrong??Can it be done this way?
Isnt t(n-1) > t(n)
I proved it another way but just frustrating that i don't know where i went wrong.
Wish i could put my calculations up but its just tooo long..
 
  • #10
Yeah, integrating the power series should work. But you've got the power series for sin wrong, remember that the sign of the terms alternate.


But I don't think the power series will help you evaluate this integral from 0 to infinity.

From the title of the thread I thought you were interested in integrating from 0 to infinty, but I notice in the body of the thread you don't mention those limits, what is the case?
 
  • #11
sorry!
i forgot to mention it.
But looks like everyone got the idea that it was (0,infinity) which it what i wanted.
Found out that the method i mentioned before...
i did a stupid thing by turning the minus to plus, DOPE!thanx
 
  • #12
i was thinking of approximating
\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\

by changing it into an alternating series where
T(n) = \mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid where n = 1... infinity
and waz even thinking of using complex analysis to integrate it and we see when i get through it but I am also trying to figure out why T(n-1) > T(n) which I am just stuck on at the end..

sorrie!
Having problems proving T(n) < T(n-1)

T(n)= \mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid
and using the power series of sine and dividing by x and integrating it with the interval for n-1 is [(n-2)*pi,(n-1)*pi]
so will
T(n-1) = ( (n-1)\pi - \frac{((n-1)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n-1)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ... <br /> -((n-1)\pi - \frac{((n-2)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n-2)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ...

T(n) = ((n)/pi - \frac{((n)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ... <br /> - ((n-1)\pi - \frac{((n-1)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n-1)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ...)

this is how far i am but how do i carry on from here?Is it correct?
 
Last edited:
  • #13
Told you so! Heh. Use Matlab or something to evaluate the integral.
 
  • #14
1) i don't know how to use MATLAB / mathematica (if u were thinking about it)

2) Gotta show all the working out hahaha
 
  • #15
saint_n said:
i was thinking of approximating
\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\

by changing it into an alternating series where
T(n) = \mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid where n = 1... infinity



2) Gotta show all the working out hahaha

This is a homework or assignment question right. Are you sure you've interpreted it correctly and that you really require an approximation, or is it more a bound that you interested in. The approximation with an alternating series can only be crude anyway because of the "x" quantitization. (Meaning that it only approximates Si(x) at discrete values of x=k Pi).

Are you sure you're not just looking for the simple alternating series upper bound that I posted earlier
 
  • #16
That is,

Si(n \pi) \leq \pi\, \sum_{k=1}^{n} \frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k}
 
Back
Top