Evaluating Improper Integrals - AP Calculus BC

  1. Determine convergence: ∫0∞e−x2 dx\int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} \, dx.
    Converges. Gaussian integral converges due to exponential decay.
  2. When does an integral ∫abf(x) dx\textstyle \int_{a}^{b} f(x) \, dx become improper?
    If aa, bb, or f(x)f(x) are infinite or unbounded. Any infinite bound or unbounded integrand makes it improper.
  3. Evaluate: \textstyle \text{∫}_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{\text{√}x} \text{dx}.
    Converges to 22. lim⁡a→0+[2x]a1=21−0=2\lim_{a \to 0^+} [2\sqrt{x}]_a^1 = 2\sqrt{1} - 0 = 2.
  4. What does it mean if an improper integral converges?
    The limit defining the integral exists and is finite. The limit exists and equals a finite real number.
  5. Identify convergence: ∫1∞1x dx\int_{1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} \, dx.
    Diverges. Since p=12≤1p = \frac{1}{2} \leq 1, the integral diverges.
  6. Identify the singularity: ∫011xdx\textstyle \int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{x} dx.
    Unbounded integrand at x=0x = 0. Integrand has vertical asymptote at the lower limit.
  7. Determine behavior: \textstyle \text{∫}_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{\text{√}x} \text{dx}
    Converges. Power −12>−1-\frac{1}{2} > -1 ensures convergence at x=0x = 0.
  8. Evaluate: \textstyle \text{∫}_{0}^{\text{∞}} e^{-x} \text{dx}.
    Converges to 11. lim⁡b→∞[−e−x]0b=0−(−1)=1\lim_{b \to \infty} [-e^{-x}]_0^b = 0 - (-1) = 1.
  9. Convert to limit form: ∫−∞0ex dx\textstyle ∫_{-∞}^{0} e^{x} \, dx.
    lim⁡a→−∞∫a0ex dx\textstyle \lim_{a \to -∞} ∫_{a}^{0} e^{x} \, dx. Negative infinite lower limit requires limit form.
  10. Convert to limit: \textstyle \text{∫}_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{x} \text{dx}.
    \textstyle \text{lim}_{a \to 0^+} \text{∫}_{a}^{1} \frac{1}{x} \text{dx}. Integrand 1x\frac{1}{x} is unbounded at lower limit x=0x = 0.
  11. Identify singularity: ∫1∞1(x−1)2dx\int_{1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{(x-1)^2} dx.
    Unbounded integrand at x=1x=1. Function becomes infinite at the lower limit x=1x = 1.
  12. Evaluate: ∫1∞e−xdx\textstyle \int_{1}^{\infty} e^{-x} \text{dx}
    Converges to 1e\frac{1}{e}. lim⁡b→∞[−e−x]1b=0−(−e−1)=1e\lim_{b \to \infty} [-e^{-x}]_1^b = 0 - (-e^{-1}) = \frac{1}{e}
  13. Evaluate: ∫0111−x2 dx\int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}} \, dx.
    Converges to π2\frac{\pi}{2}. Arcsine function evaluation: arcsin⁡(1)−arcsin⁡(0)=π2\arcsin(1) - \arcsin(0) = \frac{\pi}{2}.
  14. State the condition for the convergence of ∫0a(a−x)−1/2 dx\int_{0}^{a} (a-x)^{-1/2} \, dx.
    Converges if a>0a > 0. For a>0a > 0, the singularity at x=ax = a is integrable.
  15. What is convergence for \textstyle \text{∫}_{1}^{\text{∞}} \frac{1}{x^4} \text{dx}?
    Converges to 13\frac{1}{3}. lim⁡b→∞[−13x3]1b=0−(−13)=13\lim_{b \to \infty} [-\frac{1}{3x^3}]_1^b = 0 - (-\frac{1}{3}) = \frac{1}{3}.
  16. What is an improper integral?
    An integral with infinite limits or an unbounded integrand. Defined when limits of integration or integrand are infinite.
  17. What is convergence for ∫1∞1x4 dx\int_1^\infty \frac{1}{x^4} \, dx?
    Converges to 13\frac{1}{3}. lim⁡b→∞[−13x3]1b=0−(−13)=13\lim_{b \to \infty} [-\frac{1}{3x^3}]_1^b = 0 - (-\frac{1}{3}) = \frac{1}{3}.
  18. Evaluate limit: lim⁡a→0+∫a11xdx\textstyle \lim_{a \to 0^+} \int_{a}^{1} \frac{1}{x} dx.
    Diverges. lim⁡a→0+[ln⁡x]a1=0−(−∞)=∞\lim_{a \to 0^+} [\ln x]_a^1 = 0 - (-\infty) = \infty.
  19. Determine behavior: ∫011xpdx\textstyle \int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{x^p} \text{dx} for p<1p<1.
    Converges. When p<1p < 1, the singularity at x=0x = 0 is integrable.
  20. Find the limit: lim⁡b→∞∫1b1x3dx\textstyle \lim_{b \to \infty} \int_{1}^{b} \frac{1}{x^3} dx.
    Converges to 12\frac{1}{2}. lim⁡b→∞[−12x2]1b=0−(−12)=12\lim_{b \to \infty} [-\frac{1}{2x^2}]_1^b = 0 - (-\frac{1}{2}) = \frac{1}{2}.
  21. Evaluate: ∫1∞e−x dx\int_{1}^{\infty} e^{-x} \, dx.
    Converges to 1e\frac{1}{e}. lim⁡b→∞[−e−x]1b=0−(−e−1)=1e\lim_{b \to \infty} [-e^{-x}]_1^b = 0 - (-e^{-1}) = \frac{1}{e}
  22. Find the limit: lim⁡b→∞∫1b1x3dx\textstyle \lim_{b \to \infty} \int_{1}^{b} \frac{1}{x^3} \text{dx}
    Converges to 12\frac{1}{2}. lim⁡b→∞[−12x2]1b=0−(−12)=12\lim_{b \to \infty} [-\frac{1}{2x^2}]_1^b = 0 - (-\frac{1}{2}) = \frac{1}{2}
  23. Convert to limit: ∫0∞xe−x dx\textstyle \int_{0}^{\infty} x e^{-x} \, dx.
    lim⁡b→∞∫0bxe−x dx\textstyle \lim_{b \to \infty} \int_{0}^{b} x e^{-x} \, dx. Infinite upper limit requires limit evaluation.
  24. Evaluate: ∫1∞1x2dx\int_{1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{x^2} dx
    Converges to 11. lim⁡b→∞[−1x]1b=lim⁡b→∞(0+1)=1\lim_{b \to \infty} [-\frac{1}{x}]_1^b = \lim_{b \to \infty} (0 + 1) = 1
  25. ∫0∞xe−x dx\textstyle \int_{0}^{\infty} x e^{-x} \, dx
    lim⁡b→∞∫0bxe−x dx\textstyle \lim_{b \to \infty} \int_{0}^{b} x e^{-x} \, dx. Infinite upper limit requires limit evaluation.
  26. Determine convergence: ∫0∞e−x2dx\textstyle \int_{0}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} \text{dx}
    Converges. Gaussian integral converges due to exponential decay.
  27. What is the behavior of \textstyle \text{∫}_{0}^{1} x^{-1/3} \text{dx}?
    Converges. Power −13>−1-\frac{1}{3} > -1 ensures convergence.
  28. Identify the type of improper integral: ∫011xdx\int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} \text{dx}.
    Unbounded integrand at x=0x = 0. 1x\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} becomes infinite as x→0+.x \to 0^+.
  29. State the behavior of ∫01x−1dx\int_{0}^{1} x^{-1} dx.
    Diverges. Same as ∫011xdx\int_0^1 \frac{1}{x} dx which diverges.
  30. Identify singularity: ∫1∞1(x−1)2dx\textstyle \int_{1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{(x-1)^2} \text{d}x.
    Unbounded integrand at x=1x=1. Function becomes infinite at the lower limit x=1x = 1.
  31. Determine behavior: ∫011xdx\int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} \mathrm{d}x.
    Converges. Power −12>−1-\frac{1}{2} > -1 ensures convergence at x=0x = 0.
  32. Evaluate: ∫1∞1x(ln⁡x)2 dx\textstyle \int_{1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{x (\ln x)^2} \, dx.
    Converges. Higher power in denominator ensures convergence.
  33. What is the behavior of ∫−∞∞e−x2 dx\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-x^2} \, dx?
    Converges to π\sqrt{\pi}. Famous Gaussian integral equals π\sqrt{\pi}.
  34. Identify convergence: ∫1∞1xdx\int_{1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} dx.
    Diverges. Since p=12≤1p = \frac{1}{2} \leq 1, the integral diverges.
  35. Convert to limit form: ∫−∞0ex dx\int_{-\infty}^{0} e^{x} \, dx.
    lim⁡a→−∞∫a0ex dx\lim_{a \to -\infty} \int_{a}^{0} e^{x} \, dx. Negative infinite lower limit requires limit form.
  36. When does an integral ∫abf(x) dx\int_{a}^{b} f(x) \, dx become improper?
    If aa, bb, or f(x)f(x) are infinite or unbounded. Any infinite bound or unbounded integrand makes it improper.
  37. Evaluate limit: lim⁡a→0+∫a11xdx\textstyle \lim_{a \to 0^+} \int_{a}^{1} \frac{1}{x} \text{dx}
    Diverges. lim⁡a→0+[ln⁡x]a1=0−(−∞)=∞\lim_{a \to 0^+} [\ln x]_a^1 = 0 - (-\infty) = \infty
  38. Identify the singularity: ∫011x dx\textstyle \int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{x} \, dx.
    Unbounded integrand at x=0x = 0. Integrand has vertical asymptote at the lower limit.
  39. What is the behavior of ∫−∞0ex dx\int_{-\infty}^{0} e^x \, dx?
    Converges to 11. lim⁡a→−∞[ex]a0=1−0=1\lim_{a \to -\infty} [e^x]_a^0 = 1 - 0 = 1.
  40. Explain divergence in the context of improper integrals.
    The integral's limit is infinite or does not exist. The limit is infinite or undefined.
  41. Convert to limit: ∫011x dx\int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{x} \, \mathrm{d}x.
    lim⁡a→0+∫a11x dx\lim_{a \to 0^+} \int_{a}^{1} \frac{1}{x} \, \mathrm{d}x. Integrand 1x\frac{1}{x} is unbounded at lower limit x=0x = 0.
  42. What is the behavior of \textstyle \text{∫}_{-\text{∞}}^{0} e^x \text{dx}?
    Converges to 11. lim⁡a→−∞[ex]a0=1−0=1\lim_{a \to -\infty} [e^x]_a^0 = 1 - 0 = 1.
  43. State the condition for the convergence of ∫0a(a−x)−1/2 dx\textstyle \int_{0}^{a} (a-x)^{-1/2} \, dx.
    Converges if a>0a > 0. For a>0a > 0, the singularity at x=ax = a is integrable.
  44. Determine behavior: ∫011xpdx\textstyle \int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{x^p} dx for p<1p<1.
    Converges. When p<1p < 1, the singularity at x=0x = 0 is integrable.
  45. Evaluate: ∫0111−x2 dx\textstyle \int_{0}^{1} \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}} \, dx.
    Converges to π2\frac{\pi}{2}. Arcsine function evaluation: arcsin⁡(1)−arcsin⁡(0)=π2\arcsin(1) - \arcsin(0) = \frac{\pi}{2}.
  46. Evaluate: \textstyle \text{∫}_{1}^{\text{∞}} \frac{1}{x^2} \text{dx}.
    Converges to 11. lim⁡b→∞[−1x]1b=lim⁡b→∞(0+1)=1\lim_{b \to \infty} [-\frac{1}{x}]_1^b = \lim_{b \to \infty} (0 + 1) = 1.
  47. State the behavior of ∫01x−1dx\int_0^1 x^{-1} \text{dx}
    Diverges. Same as ∫011xdx\int_0^1 \frac{1}{x} dx which diverges.
  48. Determine convergence: ∫1∞1xdx\textstyle \int_{1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{x} \text{dx}.
    Diverges. ln⁡(x)\ln(x) grows without bound, so the integral diverges.

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