Integrating sinx/x between (0,infinty)?

  • Thread starter saint_n
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Integrating
In summary: For 0<=n<=infinity.If you are looking for an approximation with an alternating series you might be interested in the second alternating series form of Si(x) on wolfram mathworld. I don't know how to post a link you'll have to google it.It's good for approximating Si(x) for x near zero.eg:In summary, the conversation is about integrating sinx/x between the interval (0, infinity). The integral exists and is bounded by Pi/2. The power series for sinx is used to prove this, but the method of approximation using an alternating series is not very accurate due to the quantization of x. A possible solution is to use a simple alternating series upper bound for
  • #1
saint_n
31
0
integrating sinx/x between (0,infinty)?

hey ppl!

Can you help me by giving me a method or how you would go around to prove that this

[tex]\mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid[/tex]

exists.
Thanx
Saint_n
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
  • #2
If a function is continuous on an interval, it is integrable (wrong word?) on that interval. sinx/x is continuous on <0, +inf> so an integral exists.

However, it is not elementary.
 
  • #3
There are many websites on google to break integrals down step by step. Recall that an integral is the reverse operation of a derivative. What is the reverse of sinx isn't it cosx?

Try this website http://mss.math.vanderbilt.edu/~pscrooke/toolkit.html

Good luck!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #4
interesting...
 
  • #5
Geez... there is not "standard" nice neat integral for sinx/x... And nint fails on the calculator... So.. :(

Maybe you like to try using Eular's method and start approximating for 0 using steps of 0.1 and find f(infinity) :)
 
  • #6
ebola could u tell me whether its lebesgues integrable over that interval and why it is.. ?? U can intergrate its power seires and let it tend to infinity.. etc
 
  • #7
thanx for the help ppl!My light bulb just went on!Couldnt av done it without yas

Saint_n
 
  • #8
The integral exists and is usually denoted Si(x)

[tex]Si(x) = \int_{u=0}^{u=x} \frac{\sin(u)}{u} \, du[/tex]

For the integral from 0 to infinity that you specifically request the value is Pi/2, though I don't remember how to do it. That is [tex]Si(\infty) = \pi/2[/tex].

If you merely interested in wheter or not the integral from zero to infinty exists (is bounded) rather than needing to know it's presice value then this is a much easier problem.

For example you can pretty easily verify that the integral is bounded by:

[tex]Si(\infty) \leq \pi\, \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k} [/tex]
 
Last edited:
  • #9
writing T(n) = [tex]\mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid[/tex]
Can u write sinx as a power series
then dividing by x
and integrating it
then you get T(n)
so T(n) = x + (x^3)/(3!3) + (x^5)/(5!5) + ... since i made my interval
[tex]( (n-1)\pi , n\pi)[/tex]
Why am i getting
t(n) > t(n-1)
What am i doing wrong??Can it be done this way?
Isnt t(n-1) > t(n)
I proved it another way but just frustrating that i don't know where i went wrong.
Wish i could put my calculations up but its just tooo long..
 
  • #10
Yeah, integrating the power series should work. But you've got the power series for sin wrong, remember that the sign of the terms alternate.


But I don't think the power series will help you evaluate this integral from 0 to infinity.

From the title of the thread I thought you were interested in integrating from 0 to infinty, but I notice in the body of the thread you don't mention those limits, what is the case?
 
  • #11
sorry!
i forgot to mention it.
But looks like everyone got the idea that it was (0,infinity) which it what i wanted.
Found out that the method i mentioned before...
i did a stupid thing by turning the minus to plus, DOPE!thanx
 
  • #12
i was thinking of approximating
[tex]\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\[/tex]

by changing it into an alternating series where
T(n) = [tex]\mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid[/tex] where n = 1... infinity
and waz even thinking of using complex analysis to integrate it and we see when i get through it but I am also trying to figure out why T(n-1) > T(n) which I am just stuck on at the end..

sorrie!
Having problems proving T(n) < T(n-1)

T(n)= [tex]\mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid[/tex]
and using the power series of sine and dividing by x and integrating it with the interval for n-1 is [(n-2)*pi,(n-1)*pi]
so will
T(n-1) = [tex] ( (n-1)\pi - \frac{((n-1)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n-1)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ...
-((n-1)\pi - \frac{((n-2)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n-2)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ...[/tex]

T(n) = [tex] ((n)/pi - \frac{((n)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ...
- ((n-1)\pi - \frac{((n-1)\pi)^3}{3!3} + \frac{((n-1)\pi)^5}{5!5} - ...) [/tex]

this is how far i am but how do i carry on from here?Is it correct?
 
Last edited:
  • #13
Told you so! Heh. Use Matlab or something to evaluate the integral.
 
  • #14
1) i don't know how to use MATLAB / mathematica (if u were thinking about it)

2) Gotta show all the working out hahaha
 
  • #15
saint_n said:
i was thinking of approximating
[tex]\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\[/tex]

by changing it into an alternating series where
T(n) = [tex]\mid\int\frac{sinx}{x}dx\mid[/tex] where n = 1... infinity



2) Gotta show all the working out hahaha

This is a homework or assignment question right. Are you sure you've interpreted it correctly and that you really require an approximation, or is it more a bound that you interested in. The approximation with an alternating series can only be crude anyway because of the "x" quantitization. (Meaning that it only approximates Si(x) at discrete values of x=k Pi).

Are you sure you're not just looking for the simple alternating series upper bound that I posted earlier
 
  • #16
That is,

[tex]Si(n \pi) \leq \pi\, \sum_{k=1}^{n} \frac{(-1)^{k+1}}{k} [/tex]
 

FAQ: Integrating sinx/x between (0,infinty)?

What is the purpose of integrating sinx/x between (0, infinity)?

The purpose of this integration is to find the area under the curve of the function sinx/x over the interval (0, infinity). This can be useful in various applications, such as calculating the expected value or average of a random variable with a sine distribution.

Is the integral of sinx/x between (0, infinity) convergent or divergent?

The integral of sinx/x is divergent over the entire interval of (0, infinity). This means that the area under the curve of the function is infinite, and the integral cannot be evaluated using traditional methods.

How can one approach the integration of sinx/x between (0, infinity)?

One approach to solving this integral is to use a substitution, such as u = 1/x, to transform the integral into a more manageable form. Another method is to use complex analysis and the residue theorem to evaluate the integral.

What are the applications of integrating sinx/x between (0, infinity)?

As mentioned earlier, this integration can be useful in calculating the expected value or average of a random variable with a sine distribution. It can also be applied in signal processing, where the sine function is commonly used to represent periodic signals.

Are there any special techniques or tricks for solving this integral?

Yes, there are a few special techniques that can be used to solve this integral. One is to use the Cauchy principal value, which involves taking the limit as the upper bound approaches infinity. Another is to use the Laplace transform, which can convert the integral into a more tractable form.

Back
Top