Questions about the delta function

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of the delta function and its application in a specific integral. The individual is unsure about the correct approach and discusses a potential solution using substitution. They also address a potential issue with the substitution and the bounds of the integral.
  • #1
rmiller70015
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1

Homework Statement


I just have a quick question about the delta function, I'm pretty confident in most other cases but in this simple one I'm not so sure.

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \phi (x)\delta (-x)dx$$

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \phi (x)\delta (-x)dx$$
Using substitution where u=-x and du=-dx:
$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \phi (-u)\delta (u)(-du) = -\phi (0)$$
Is this correct?
 
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  • #2
Wouldn't that yield ##\phi(-0)## instead of ##-\phi(0)## ?
 
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  • #3
BvU said:
Wouldn't that yield ##\phi(-0)## instead of ##-\phi(0)## ?
I'm not entirely sure. I do realize that there should be a negative inside the phi test function but I omitted it because it's zero anyway and I would have had to account for it if the delta function was something like (x-a), but here I didn't. However, when I do the substitution I have to deal with a negative u differential which makes the whole function negative in my mind.
 
  • #4
And the bounds of the integral ?
 
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  • #5
Ahh the bounds so when I do the substitution I get:
$$-\int_{\infty}^{-\infty} \phi (-u)\delta (u)du$$
Then I change my limits and lose the negative.
Thank you.
 

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