# Squaring Integrals

1. Sep 12, 2015

### Ibraheem

Hello,

When I recently was studying for my calculus I's rules of definite integrals, I was wondering if squaring a definite integral would be the same as integrating twice like in the following:

( Definite integral of f(x) from a to b)^2 = definite integral ,from a to b, of the definite integral of f(x) from a to b)

2. Sep 12, 2015

### PeroK

Did you think to try this with an example function f(x)?

3. Sep 12, 2015

### mathman

Simplest example f(x)=x.

4. Sep 12, 2015

### Ibraheem

Yes, It is clearer now.

( Definite integral of f(x) from a to b)^2 does not equal definite integral ,from a to b, of the definite integral of f(x) from a to b)

5. Sep 12, 2015

### WWGD

It may be interesting to figure out if it is ever actually true. But it is a hard problem, considering all possible functions and all possible limits of integration. Seems maybe an issue of calculus of variations?

6. Sep 13, 2015

### davidmoore63@y

How does this make sense? The RHS is "definite integral ,from a to b, of the definite integral of f(x) from a to b)"
which equals definite integral, from a to b, of a constant.

7. Sep 13, 2015

### WWGD

A constant is a continuous function, which can be Riemann-integrated: $\int_a^b C dx=C(b-a)$

8. Sep 13, 2015

### davidmoore63@y

ok then so letting Integral[a,b] f(x)dx =C, the problem is equivalent to C^2= C(b-a) and hence C=0 or b-a

9. Sep 13, 2015

### WWGD

Yes, seems right.

10. Sep 17, 2015

### Michael David

Hmm I think i saw something like what you're saying once.. a way of solving the poisson integral by squaring it... It was something like I^2=Integral [minus, plus infinity] e^(-x^2)dx times same thing but with y instead of x.... then you get integral [minus,plux] of integral [minus,plus] of e^-(x^2+y^2)dxdy which is an integral over the whole xy plane....... and so you can change to polar coordinates and you easily get the result for that integral which is pi..... so there you have it.. I squared is pi, therefor I is the square root of pi..