What Am I Doing Wrong? : Improper Intergals

  • MHB
  • Thread starter Pull and Twist
  • Start date
In summary, Mark was trying to evaluate the equation \int_{0}^{2}z^2lnz\,dz. He used integration by parts to find u=\ln\left({z}\right) and then used L'hopital's rule to find v. He then evaluated v at different points, and found that -\frac{1}{9}\left[8-0\right]-\frac{1}{9}\left[8-0\right]\implies-\frac{16}{9}
  • #1
Pull and Twist
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Here's what I am trying to evaluate...

\(\displaystyle \int_{0}^{2}z^2lnz\,dz\)

This is what I did...

\(\displaystyle \lim_{{t}\to{0}}\int_{t}^{2}z^2lnz \,dz\)

Then using integration by parts...

\(\displaystyle u=\ln\left({z}\right)\)

\(\displaystyle du=\frac{1}{z}dz\)

\(\displaystyle dv=z^2dz\)

\(\displaystyle v=\frac{z^3}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \lim_{{t}\to{0}}\left[\frac{z^3}{3}\ln\left({z}\right)\right]-\frac{1}{3}\int_{t}^{2}z^2\,ds\)

\(\displaystyle \lim_{{t}\to{0}}\frac{1}{3}\left[z^3\ln\left({z}\right)\right]-\frac{1}{9}\left[z^3\right]\) for \(\displaystyle t \le z\le2\)

I know that \(\displaystyle \left[z^3\ln\left({z}\right)\right]\) will give me some trouble so I use L'hopital's rule.

\(\displaystyle \left[\frac{\ln\left({z}\right)}{z^\left(-3\right)}\right]\implies

\left[\frac{\frac{1}{z}}{-3z^\left(-4\right)}\right]\implies

-\frac{1}{3}\left[z^3\right]\)

Then I plug that all back into my equation...

\(\displaystyle \lim_{{t}\to{0}}-\frac{1}{9}\left[z^3\right]-\frac{1}{9}\left[z^3\right]\) for \(\displaystyle t \le z\le2\)

After evaluating I get...

\(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{9}\left[8-0\right]-\frac{1}{9}\left[8-0\right]\implies-\frac{16}{9}\)

What am I doing wrong? The solution manual states that I should be getting \(\displaystyle \frac{8}{3}\ln\left({2}\right)-\frac{8}{9}\) as my answer.
 
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  • #2
Oops, I think I see where I went wrong... I should only be using L'hopital's rule for the portion of \(\displaystyle \left[z^3\ln\left({z}\right)\right]\) evaluated at \(\displaystyle t=0\)

In which case I would get \(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{3}\left[z^3\right]\implies-\frac{1}{3}\left[0^3\right] =0\)

So evaluated at \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\left[2^3\ln\left({2}\right) - 0\right]-\frac{8}{9}\) I would get the correct answer.

Lol. Sometimes all it takes is typing it up on here.
 
  • #3
After you apply IBP, you should have:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\lim_{t\to0^{+}}\left[\left[z^3\ln(z)\right]_t^2-\int_t^2 z^2\,dz\right]\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\lim_{t\to0^{+}}\left[8\ln(2)-t^3\ln(t)-\frac{1}{3}\left[z^3\right]_t^2\right]\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\lim_{t\to0^{+}}\left[8\ln(2)-t^3\ln(t)-\frac{1}{3}\left(8-t^3\right)\right]\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{3}\ln(2)-\frac{8}{9}-\frac{1}{3}\lim_{t\to0^{+}}\left[\frac{\ln(t)}{t^{-3}}\right]\)

Now apply L'Hópital's Rule:

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{3}\ln(2)-\frac{8}{9}+\frac{1}{9}\lim_{t\to0^{+}}\left[t^3\right]\)

And your final answer is:

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{3}\ln(2)-\frac{8}{9}=\frac{8}{9}\left(3\ln(2)-1\right)\)
 
  • #4
Thanks Mark. I shortly figured out where I went wrong after posting this, but your explanation was insightful none the less.
 

FAQ: What Am I Doing Wrong? : Improper Intergals

What is an improper integral?

An improper integral is an integral where one or both limits of integration are infinite or where the integrand is unbounded at one or more points in the interval of integration.

Why are improper integrals important?

Improper integrals are important in mathematics and physics because they allow us to integrate functions that would not be possible with a standard definite integral. They also have applications in areas such as probability and statistics.

How do you know if an integral is improper?

An integral is considered improper if it meets one or more of the following conditions: the limits of integration are infinite, the integrand is unbounded at one or more points in the interval of integration, or the integrand is discontinuous in the interval of integration.

How do you evaluate improper integrals?

To evaluate an improper integral, you must first determine if it converges or diverges. If it converges, you can use various methods such as the limit comparison test or the comparison test to find its value. If it diverges, the integral does not have a finite value.

What are some common mistakes when working with improper integrals?

Some common mistakes when working with improper integrals include forgetting to check for convergence or divergence, incorrect use of integration techniques, and not properly identifying the type of improper integral (Type 1 or Type 2).

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