What Are the Limits of Simple Functions as x Approaches Infinity?

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The discussion focuses on evaluating limits and integrals as x approaches infinity, specifically examining the limit of x^2/e^x and the integral of x^2e^(-x). The limit calculations show that as x approaches infinity, both limits converge to 0. The integral of x^2e^(-x) is evaluated using integration by parts, leading to a final result of 2 after correcting earlier mistakes. The participants agree that the integrand is non-negative, confirming that the integral cannot be zero unless the integrand is zero almost everywhere. Overall, the calculations demonstrate the convergence of the integral and clarify the importance of careful integration steps.
chwala
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Homework Statement
see attached.
Relevant Equations
understanding of the l'hopital rule
1647927972699.png


Refreshing..i will attempt part (a) first ...of course this is easy...
$$\displaystyle{\lim_{x \to \infty}}\frac{x^2}{e^x} $$
$$\displaystyle{\lim_{x \to \infty}}\frac{2x}{e^x} $$
$$\displaystyle{\lim_{x \to \infty}}\frac{2}{e^x} =0$$
 
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Now to part (b);

##\int_0^∞ x^2e^{-x} dx##=##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\int_0^t x^2e^{-x} dx##
having indicated this then we shall have;

##\int x^2e^{-x} dx####=\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}##+##\int 2xe^{-x} dx##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-2xe^{-x}##+##\int e^{-x} dx##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-2xe^{-x}-e^{-x}##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-\dfrac{2x}{e^x}-\dfrac{1}{e^x}##
=##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\dfrac{-t^2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2t}{e^t}-\dfrac{1}{e^t}-[0-0-1]## =##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\dfrac{-2t}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}-\dfrac{1}{e^t}-[0-0-1]##
##={\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\dfrac{-2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}-\dfrac{1}{e^t}-[0-0-1]=[0-0-1]-[0-0-1]=-1+1=0##
thus converges and its value is ##0##.

your thoughts guys:cool:
 
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Have you looked at the plot for ##x^2 e^{-x}##. Would it make sense that the integral would be 0?
 
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DrClaude said:
Have you looked at the plot for ##x^2 e^{-x}##. Would it make sense that the integral would be 0?
Let me check...
 
Let me amend my post; it ought to be

Now to part (b);

##\int_0^∞ x^2e^{-x} dx##=##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\int_0^t x^2e^{-x} dx##
having indicated this then we shall have;

##\int x^2e^{-x} dx####=\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}##+##\int 2xe^{-x} dx##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-2xe^{-x}##+##2\int e^{-x} dx##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-2xe^{-x}-2e^{-x}##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-\dfrac{2x}{e^x}-\dfrac{2}{e^x}##...therefore on taking limits as required we shall have;

=##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\left[\dfrac{-t^2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2t}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}\right]####-[0-0-2]##
##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\left[\dfrac{-2t}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}\right]####-[-0-0-2]##

##={\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\left[\dfrac{-2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}\right]####-[0-0-2]=[-0-0-0]-[-0-0-2]=0+2=2##

thus converges and its value is ##2##.

your thoughts guys:cool:
 
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chwala said:
Let me amend my post; it ought to be

Now to part (b);

##\int_0^∞ x^2e^{-x} dx##=##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\int_0^t x^2e^{-x} dx##
having indicated this then we shall have;

##\int x^2e^{-x} dx####=\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}##+##\int 2xe^{-x} dx##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-2xe^{-x}##+##2\int e^{-x} dx##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-2xe^{-x}-2e^{-x}##
=##\dfrac{-x^2}{e^x}-\dfrac{2x}{e^x}-\dfrac{2}{e^x}##...therefore on taking limits as required we shall have;

=##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\left[\dfrac{-t^2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2t}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}\right]####-[0-0-1]##
##{\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\left[\dfrac{-2t}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}\right]####-[-0-0-2]##

##={\lim_{t \to \infty}}####\left[\dfrac{-2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}-\dfrac{2}{e^t}\right]####-[0-0-2]=[-0-0-0]-[-0-0-2]=0+2=2##

thus converges and its value is ##2##.

your thoughts guys:cool:
I checked the result, which is correct. So either you made a mistake twice in different directions, or it is ok.
 
fresh_42 said:
I checked the result, which is correct. So either you made a mistake twice in different directions, or it is ok.
I had made a mistake earlier by missing the ##'2'## ...after integration by parts...i.e in my post ##2## ...I amended that in my post ##5##...I didn't want to interfere with the post so as to make it easier for people to follow...
Just amended post ##5## ...latex typo...
 
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The integrand is non-negative, so the integral can be zero only if the integrand is zero almost everywhere. Clearly, that is not the case. The result you arrived at later is correct.
 

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