Troubleshooting the Integral of e^-ax^2: Where Did That Negative Sign Come From?

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SUMMARY

The integral of the function \( e^{-ax^2} \) from 0 to infinity is correctly evaluated as \( \int_0^{\infty} e^{-ax^2} x \, dx = \frac{1}{2a} \). The confusion arises from an incorrect application of limits during the variable substitution \( u = x^2 \), which leads to an erroneous negative sign. Specifically, the limit evaluation at the lower bound introduces an unnecessary negative factor, which is clarified by the user "tiny tim".

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genericusrnme
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Hey guys

I've been reading through a few books and I can't seem to work this out;
[tex]\int _0^{\infty }e^{-a x^2}xdx = \frac{1}{2a}[/tex]
I keep getting
[tex]\int _0^{\infty }e^{-a x^2}xdx = -\frac{1}{2a}[/tex]
I do the old variable switch
[tex]u = x^2[/tex]
[tex]du=2 x dx[/tex]
Which leaves me with
[tex]\int_0^{\infty } \frac{e^{-a u}}{2} \, du[/tex]
Which them leads me to
[tex]\text{Lim} u\to 0\frac{e^{- a u}}{-2 a}=-\frac{1}{2a}[/tex]
Where am I picking up this unwanted - from?
I can't see where I've gone wrong
 
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hey genericusrnme! :smile:
genericusrnme said:
Where am I picking up this unwanted - from?

0 is the lower limit … so there's an extra minus :wink:
 
man I feel stupid now :L

thanks tiny tim :D
 

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