Mastering Integrals: Tips and Tricks for Convergence and Divergence

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the convergence or divergence of series through the evaluation of improper integrals. The subject area includes integral calculus and series convergence tests.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the integral test for convergence but expresses uncertainty about how to evaluate specific integrals. They present three integrals and question their convergence based on their limits as t approaches infinity.
  • Some participants clarify the behavior of the integrals, particularly regarding the limits and the implications for convergence.
  • Another participant discusses a separate series and its convergence, seeking to relate it to the integral test.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the integrals and their limits. Clarifications have been offered regarding the behavior of the integrals, but no consensus has been reached on the convergence of the series or the integrals themselves.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of recalling integral calculus concepts after a significant time lapse. There is also a mention of the original poster's confusion regarding the limits of integration and the behavior of functions as they approach infinity.

JustaNickname
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Been a long time I had my integral class so I forgot almost everything I knew... I need to integrate to see if the serie converge (limn→∞ an = 0). Thus, there is a theorem of the integral, if you evaluate the limit of the integral of a serie when it tends to the infinite minus when x=1 you can determine if the serie is convergent or divergent...

I can`t find a way to start the problems:

1. limt→∞ ∫ [1, t] sin(1/x) dx
2. limt→∞ ∫ [1, t] xe^(-2x) dx
3. limt→∞ ∫ [1, t] 1/(1+x^(1/2)) dx

You can also dirrectly evaluate the limit when the serie tend to infinite but I haven't found any way to match with the answers... (1. Divergent 2. Convergent 3. Divergent)

The #1 when x tend to infinite, 1/x tend to zero thus sin(1/x) tend to zero also... The serie should be converging if so ??
The #2 should give me an integral like this one:

1/(-2)^2 (-2x-1)e^(-2x) + C
-1/4 * (2x+1)e^(-2x) + C

But you can see right away if you evaluate the integral that it tends to infinite which is not converging :frown:

For the two others I have no idea! Any help is welcome thanks!
 
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JustaNickname said:
Been a long time I had my integral class so I forgot almost everything I knew... I need to integrate to see if the serie converge (limn→∞ an = 0). Thus, there is a theorem of the integral, if you evaluate the limit of the integral of a serie when it tends to the infinite minus when x=1 you can determine if the serie is convergent or divergent...

I can`t find a way to start the problems:

1. limt→∞ ∫ [1, t] sin(1/x) dx
2. limt→∞ ∫ [1, t] xe^(-2x) dx
3. limt→∞ ∫ [1, t] 1/(1+x^(1/2)) dx

You can also dirrectly evaluate the limit when the serie tend to infinite but I haven't found any way to match with the answers... (1. Divergent 2. Convergent 3. Divergent)

The #1 when x tend to infinite, 1/x tend to zero thus sin(1/x) tend to zero also... The serie should be converging if so ??
x is not going to infinity. It is the upper limit on the integral that is going to infinity. x ranges from 1 to infinity in that integral.
The #2 should give me an integral like this one:
1/(-2)^2 (-2x-1)e^(-2x) + C
-1/4 * (2x+1)e^(-2x) + C

But you can see right away if you evaluate the integral that it tends to infinite which is not converging :frown:y

For the two others I have no idea! Any help is welcome thanks!
What you get for the integral is correct but, as t goes to infinity, it does NOT go to infinity. Why would you think it does?

For (3) let [itex]u= 1+ x^{1/2}[/itex]
 
Just making sure I understand you correctly (I am natively speaking french).

The serie Ʃ∞n=1 ne^(-2n) = e^-2 + 2e^(-4) + ... + ne^(-2n)

I can clearly see here the serie is decreasing and convergent because it gets closer to a number since an > an+1.

I would like to prove it with the integral theorem but I can't find a way to make the limt→∞ ∫ [1, t] xe^(-2x) dx = 0 thus converging.
 
Quoting my notes:

If ∫[1,∞[ f(x) is convergent <=> Ʃ∞n=1 an is convergent where an = f(x)

So the goal is to prove the integral is convergent to find out if the serie is converging.
 

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