Integration, Limits, and e^(x)

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of the function e^(t^2) and the evaluation of limits involving this expression. Participants are exploring the challenges of finding a closed form for the integral and applying the fundamental theorem of calculus in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning how to integrate e^(t^2) and whether it can be expressed in a simpler form. There is discussion about applying L'Hopital's rule for evaluating limits, particularly in the context of indeterminate forms like 0/0 and ∞/∞. Some participants express uncertainty about the application of these concepts.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with participants sharing their thoughts on the application of L'Hopital's rule and the differentiation of exponential functions. Some guidance has been provided regarding the conditions under which L'Hopital's rule can be applied, but there is no explicit consensus on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of constraints related to the inability to find a closed form for the integral of e^(t^2), and participants are grappling with the implications of this limitation on their problem-solving strategies.

Krishan93
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http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/4765/img0161u.jpg

I don't know how to integrate e^(t^2) like that. I am thinking that it become e^(t^2+1) with some constant in front of the whole expression.

And then with A) I just don't know how to begin.

A kick in the right direction would help. Thanks.
 
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You can't integrate it to get a closed form expression, so you need to figure out a different way of evaluating those limits. You'll likely want to make use of the fundamental theorem of calculus.
 
Yeah...I'm still stumped.
I don't know how to do this one, let alone apply the fundamental theorem.

How should one come about the solution to these problems?
 
What do you get if you try applying L'Hopital's rule to the first one?
 
How do you know to use Lhopitals rule?
Whats the rule when you're dealing with infinity-I already know the 0/0, just not infinity.

Deriving top and bottom expression should yield
xe^(x^2)+F(x)
x^2(e^(x^2))(2x) <-- (chain rule, right?)
 
L'Hopital's rule can be used when you have indeterminate forms. 0/0 is one such form; ∞/∞ is another.

The denominator would be correct without the x2 in front. When you differentiate the exponential, you get the exponential, and then the chain rule gives you the factor of 2x. You end up with
\frac{xe^{x^2}+F(x)}{2xe^{x^2}} = \frac{1}{2} + \frac{F(x)}{2xe^{x^2}}When you try to take the limit now, the second term is again ∞/∞, so you need to apply L'Hopital's rule on it.
 
Krishan93 said:
How do you know to use Lhopitals rule?
Whats the rule when you're dealing with infinity-I already know the 0/0, just not infinity.

Deriving top and bottom expression should yield
xe^(x^2)+F(x)
x^2(e^(x^2))(2x) <-- (chain rule, right?)

Assuming you're working with the (a), the derivative of the denominator is incorrect.

\displaystyle \frac{d}{dx}e^{x^2}=2xe^{x^2}
 
You can show that F(x) diverges when x grows to +infinity, hence you're allowed to use differentiation (required by L'Ho^pital's rule) when computing those limits.
 

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