On the integration by parts infinitely many times

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conditions necessary for applying integration by parts infinitely many times, particularly in the context of functions that are sufficiently differentiable. Participants explore the implications of convergence for the resulting series and the potential utility of this approach in evaluating complex integrals, such as those encountered in analytic number theory.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a formula for repeated integration by parts and questions the conditions required for it to be applicable infinitely many times.
  • Another participant emphasizes that a necessary condition for the formula's infinite application is that no term in the expansion equals a constant times the original integral.
  • Concerns are raised about the convergence of the series resulting from repeated integration by parts, with a focus on the behavior of the integrals involved.
  • A participant suggests that if the functions are analytic and continuous, and the integral is finite, then valid transformations of the integral will maintain these properties.
  • One participant mentions their interest in using this formula for Mellin-type integrals in analytic number theory, where traditional methods like residue calculus may not yield explicit results.
  • Discussion includes the idea that convergence of the series implies a limit, unless the process of integration by parts is halted when the derivative of the function becomes zero.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various conditions and considerations for the infinite application of integration by parts, but there is no consensus on the exact criteria or the implications of convergence. Multiple viewpoints on the necessary conditions remain present.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on the properties of the functions involved, such as analyticity and continuity, as well as the unresolved nature of the convergence of the series derived from the repeated integration.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in advanced calculus, particularly those exploring integration techniques in mathematical analysis or analytic number theory, may find this discussion relevant.

mmzaj
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greetings . it's known that if [itex]g(x), f(x)[/itex] are two functions ,and [itex]f(x)[/itex] is sufficiently differentiable , then by repeated integration by parts one gets :

[tex]\int f(x)g(x)dx=f(x)\int g(x)dx -f^{'}(x)\int\int g(x)dx^{2}+f^{''}(x)\int \int \int g(x)dx^{3} - ... +(-1)^{n+1}f^{(n)}(x)\underbrace{\int...\int}g(x)dx^{n+1}+(-1)^{n}\int\left[ \underbrace{\int...\int}g(x)dx^{n+1}\right ]f^{n+1}(x)dx[/tex]

now, if [itex]f(x)[/itex] is a smooth function , one would expect the formula above to be repeatable infinitely man times . therefore :

[tex]\lim_{n \to \infty }\int\left[ \underbrace{\int...\int}g(x)dx^{n+1}\right ] f^{n+1}(x)dx=0[/tex]
is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the summation to converge . my question is , what are the conditions needed to extend the scope of the formula ??
also, are there any theorems on the multiple integrals - the ones containing [itex]g(x)[/itex] - besides cauchy formula for repeated integration
 
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i should have mentioned that another necessary condition for the formula above to be carried out infinitely many times, is that none of the terms in the expansion/summation should be equal to :

[tex]\pm a \int f(x)g(x)dx[/tex]

where[itex]a[/itex] is a constant .

a precise formulation of the question would be : what are the conditions for the formula above to be repeatable infinitely many times, and for the summation to converge .

i also should mention that this formula could come in handy when doing some nonelementary integral .
 
mmzaj said:
i should have mentioned that another necessary condition for the formula above to be carried out infinitely many times, is that none of the terms in the expansion/summation should be equal to :

[tex]\pm a \int f(x)g(x)dx[/tex]

where[itex]a[/itex] is a constant .

a precise formulation of the question would be : what are the conditions for the formula above to be repeatable infinitely many times, and for the summation to converge .

i also should mention that this formula could come in handy when doing some nonelementary integral .

Hey mmzaj.

The key things to look out for is that a) the integral converges and b) that derivative information makes sense under the type of integration that you are using.

If your functions are analytic continuous (derivatives are also continuous) in the region of integration and the integral itself is finite, then any valid transformation of the integral preserving these properties will also have these properties.
 
chiro said:
Hey mmzaj.

The key things to look out for is that a) the integral converges and b) that derivative information makes sense under the type of integration that you are using.

If your functions are analytic continuous (derivatives are also continuous) in the region of integration and the integral itself is finite, then any valid transformation of the integral preserving these properties will also have these properties.

thanks for the prompt reply... i am trying to use this formula to do some mellin-type integrals appearing in analytic number theory , where little is known about singularities- hence residues - of a function. the integration is finite , and the integrand is well defined , and analytic everywhere. however , residue calculus is rendered useless when trying to get an exact-explicit formula . hence the proposition of using the infinite integral by parts .

looking at the expansion as a conventional series; convergence implies the limit, unless repeated IBP is stopped when [itex]f^{(n+1)} (x) = 0[/itex] for some [itex]n < \infty[/itex]
 

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