Substitution changes limits of integration?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the substitution made in the context of rewriting the gamma function as an infinite product. Participants explore the implications of changing the limits of integration when performing a substitution in an integral.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why the upper limit of integration changes from n to 1 after making the substitution s = t/n.
  • Another participant points out that substituting t = n into s = t/n results in s = 1, suggesting this explains the change in limits.
  • A different participant expresses confusion about the necessity of changing the limit of integration and provides their own steps for the substitution process.
  • One participant explains the general principle of changing limits of integration when making substitutions, using a different integral as an example.
  • A later reply acknowledges the explanation and expresses understanding, indicating a resolution of personal confusion but not necessarily of the broader discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit some disagreement regarding the necessity and understanding of changing the limits of integration. While one participant provides a rationale for the change, another remains uncertain about the process.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential misunderstandings of the substitution rule and the specific application to the gamma function integral. The discussion does not resolve the underlying confusion for all participants.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in integral calculus, particularly those studying substitution methods in integrals and their implications in advanced mathematical functions like the gamma function.

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I'm working through rewriting the gamma function as an infinite product, but my question is just about a specific substitution that was made in my textbook. They took the equation:

\Gamma_ n(z)=\int_0^n t^{z-1} (1-\frac{t}{n}) ^ndt for Re(z)>0 and n greater than or equal to 1.

and made the substitution s=t/n. The given result is:

\Gamma _n(z)=n^z\int_0^1 s^{z-1}(1-s)^nds

My question is, why did the upper limit of integration change from n to 1?
 
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Put t = n into your equation s = t/n and you get 1.
 
I don't see how that would change the limit of integration. In order to make the substitution, I did the following:

t^{z-1} = n^{z-1} (\frac{t}{t})^{z-1} = n^{z-1} s^{z-1}

(1-\frac{t}{n})^n = (1-s)^n

ds=\frac{1}{n}dt \rightarrow dt=nds

All that gives me \Gamma _n(z)=n^z\int_0^n s^{z-1}(1-s)^nds

I just can't figure out why I would need to change the limit of integration from n to 1.
 
I don't mean to sound flippant with this, but have you not used the substitution rule before in integrals?

For example, if I wanted to integrate f(x) = 2x(x^2 + 1)^10 from 1 to 2, then I would use the substitution u(x) = x^2 + 1, right? To find the new limits of integration, I would plug evaluate u(1) and u(2), and these would be my new limits of integration.

So s(t) = t/n is your substitution, right? You were integrating from 0 to n, so s(0) = 0 and s(n) = 1. So these are your new limits of integration.

If you aren't familiar with this, I suggest reading up a proof of the substitution rule to see why this is true.
 
Thanks JG89. It's just been a while. That makes sense.
 

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