Thorycal Issue with Improper Integrals

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the theoretical aspects of improper integrals, particularly focusing on the conditions for convergence. Participants are exploring the definitions of bounded functions and the implications of finite intervals in the context of integrals that extend to infinity.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the meaning of a function being bounded and whether it relates to being within an interval or having specific upper and lower bounds. There is also confusion regarding the requirement for intervals to be finite, especially in the context of integrals that are defined from 0 to infinity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the definitions of boundedness and the nature of the integrand in improper integrals. Some have attempted to clarify the distinction between the function being integrated and the integral itself, while others continue to seek a clearer understanding of the concepts involved.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the definitions and properties of bounded functions, particularly in relation to improper integrals. Participants express uncertainty about the implications of these definitions on their understanding of convergence.

SclayP
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So, like i said in the Title this more of a theorycal question. In my university notebook i have written that an integral to converge has to happen the next:

1. The f has to be bounded (if not its just a dot)
2.The interval has to be finit.

[THIS IS WHAT IT'S WRITTEN IN MY NOTEBOOK]

See, my really issue is what it means to be bounded. If has to be in an interval, or if has to have Upper and Lower bounds. And why does it say that the interval has to be finit if there are integral that are definite between 0 and infinity, for example and converge.

------------------------------------------------------------------

For example:

[itex]\int^{infinty}_{1} \frac{1}{t} \, dt[/itex]

It's the function [itex]f(x) = \frac{1}{t}[/itex] or [itex]ln|t| + C[/itex] that has to be bounded.

Thanks
 
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SclayP said:
So, like i said in the Title this more of a theorycal question. In my university notebook i have written that an integral to converge has to happen the next:

1. The f has to be bounded (if not its just a dot)
2.The interval has to be finit.

[THIS IS WHAT IT'S WRITTEN IN MY NOTEBOOK]

See, my really issue is what it means to be bounded.
Doesn't your book have a definition of this term? It doesn't have anything to do with dots, as you said above.
SclayP said:
If has to be in an interval, or if has to have Upper and Lower bounds. And why does it say that the interval has to be finit if there are integral that are definite between 0 and infinity, for example and converge.

------------------------------------------------------------------

For example:

[itex]\int^{infinty}_{1} \frac{1}{t} \, dt = ln|t| + C[/itex]
The above doesn't make sense. On the left side you have an improper definite integral. The right side is the antiderivative of 1/t. In other words
$$\int \frac{dt}{t} = ln|t| + C$$
SclayP said:
It's the function [itex]\int^{infinity}_{1} \frac{1}{t} \, dt[/itex] or [itex]ln|t| + C[/itex] that has to be bounded.
What has to

##\int_1^{\infty} \frac{dt}{t} ## is not a function. What has to be bounded is the integrand, the function you are integrating.
 
Mark44 said:
Doesn't your book have a definition of this term? It doesn't have anything to do with dots, as you said above.
The above doesn't make sense. On the left side you have an improper definite integral. The right side is the antiderivative of 1/t. In other words
$$\int \frac{dt}{t} = ln|t| + C$$


What has to

##\int_1^{\infty} \frac{dt}{t} ## is not a function. What has to be bounded is the integrand, the function you are integrating.

Sorry for my mistakes i confused, but thank you. But i ask you again, what really bothers me, if bounded means to be in an interval or ther have upper and lower bound. I know it sounds really stupid and maybe is obious but i don't get it. I wrote that integral beacuse the interval it's not finit, all the contrary, and i don't know if that function I'm integrating [itex]f(x) = \frac{1}{t}[/itex] its bounded, again because i don't know what it really means.

Thanks and very sorry for my english.
 
SclayP said:
Sorry for my mistakes i confused, but thank you. But i ask you again, what really bothers me, if bounded means to be in an interval or ther have upper and lower bound. I know it sounds really stupid and maybe is obious but i don't get it. I wrote that integral beacuse the interval it's not finit, all the contrary, and i don't know if that function I'm integrating [itex]f(x) = \frac{1}{t}[/itex] its bounded, again because i don't know what it really means.

Thanks and very sorry for my english.

On the interval [1, ∞), f(t) = 1/t is bounded. In fact it is bounded above by 1, because for any t ≥ 1, 1/t ≤ 1. On the same interval, f(t) is bounded below by 0, since f(t) > 0 for all t ≥ 1.

A function f is bounded above on an interval if there is some number M such that f(t) ≤ M for all t in that interval. The definition for bounded below is similar.
 

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