Solving Reverse Integrals: Find f(x) to Solve 1-0.1^n

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Big-Daddy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integrals Reverse
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 2K views
Big-Daddy
Messages
333
Reaction score
1
I need to find a function f(x) such that

[tex]\int_{-\infty}^{100+10n} (f(x)) dx = 1-0.1^n[/tex]

for n=1,2,3,4,5,6...∞. How would I go about this? It must be exponential in some way I'm guessing?

This is not a homework problem. I don't just want the answer. I want guidance on this type of problem and function, but please from someone with an idea of how to answer this particular case too ...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Replace (100+10n) by a real variable (y). Take the derivative of both sides, this will give you an expression for f(y) if it exists. It will be an exponential.
 
Last edited:
mathman said:
Replace (100+10n) by a real variable (y). Take the derivative of both sides, this will give you an expression for f(y) if it exists. It will be an exponential.

So y=100+10n, n = 1/10(y-100) = (1/10)y-10.

Now what? I need to bear the integral limits (-∞ to y) in mind...