- #1
courtrigrad
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Hello all
If we want to calculate the definite integral [tex] \int^b_a x^{\alpha} [/tex] for any irrational value of [tex] \alpha [/tex] where [tex] 0<a<b [/tex] do we use the Mean Value Theorem? Would [tex] \alpha [/tex] be represented as a limit of a sequence of rational numbers [tex] \alpha = \lim_{x\rightarrow \infty} \alpha_n [/tex] and [tex] \alpha [/tex] is not equal to -1. Hence [tex] x^{\alpha} = \lim_{x\rightarrow \infty} x^{\alpha_n} [/tex] So we can always find a number such that [tex] |x^{\alpha} - x^{\alpha_n}| < \epsilon [/tex] (how do we prove this)?.
Now [tex] f(x) = x^\alpha [/tex] and [tex] g(x) = x^{\alpha_n} [/tex]. Now applying the Mean Value Theorem for Integral Calculus we get:
[tex] -\epsilon(b-a) + \int^b_a x^{\alpha_n} \ dx < \int^b_a x^{\alpha} \ dx < \int^b_a x^{\alpha_n} + \epsilon(b-a) [/tex]
We know that [tex] \int^b_a x^{\alpha} \ dx = \frac {1}{\alpha +1}(b^{\alpha +1} - a^{\alpha+1}) [/tex].
[tex] -\epsilon(b-a) + \frac{1}{\alpha_n +1}(b^{\alpha_n+1} - a^{\alpha_n+1}) < \int^b_a x^\alpha \ dx < \frac{1}{\alpha_n +1}(b^{\alpha_n+1} - a^{\alpha_n+1}) + \epsilon(b-a) [/tex]. From here how do we receive
[tex] \int^b_a \ dx = \frac{1}{\alpha +1}(b^{\alpha+1} - a^{\alpha +1})[/tex]?
Thanks
If we want to calculate the definite integral [tex] \int^b_a x^{\alpha} [/tex] for any irrational value of [tex] \alpha [/tex] where [tex] 0<a<b [/tex] do we use the Mean Value Theorem? Would [tex] \alpha [/tex] be represented as a limit of a sequence of rational numbers [tex] \alpha = \lim_{x\rightarrow \infty} \alpha_n [/tex] and [tex] \alpha [/tex] is not equal to -1. Hence [tex] x^{\alpha} = \lim_{x\rightarrow \infty} x^{\alpha_n} [/tex] So we can always find a number such that [tex] |x^{\alpha} - x^{\alpha_n}| < \epsilon [/tex] (how do we prove this)?.
Now [tex] f(x) = x^\alpha [/tex] and [tex] g(x) = x^{\alpha_n} [/tex]. Now applying the Mean Value Theorem for Integral Calculus we get:
[tex] -\epsilon(b-a) + \int^b_a x^{\alpha_n} \ dx < \int^b_a x^{\alpha} \ dx < \int^b_a x^{\alpha_n} + \epsilon(b-a) [/tex]
We know that [tex] \int^b_a x^{\alpha} \ dx = \frac {1}{\alpha +1}(b^{\alpha +1} - a^{\alpha+1}) [/tex].
[tex] -\epsilon(b-a) + \frac{1}{\alpha_n +1}(b^{\alpha_n+1} - a^{\alpha_n+1}) < \int^b_a x^\alpha \ dx < \frac{1}{\alpha_n +1}(b^{\alpha_n+1} - a^{\alpha_n+1}) + \epsilon(b-a) [/tex]. From here how do we receive
[tex] \int^b_a \ dx = \frac{1}{\alpha +1}(b^{\alpha+1} - a^{\alpha +1})[/tex]?
Thanks
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