Definite integral giving negative value as a result?
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I want to calculate definite integral
$$int_{-2}^{-1} frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx = Omega$$
$$int frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx=-e^{frac{1}{x}}+C$$
so:
$$Omega = [-e^{frac{1}{-2}}]-[-e^{frac{1}{-1}}]=-frac{1}{sqrt{e}} + frac{1}{e}$$
which is a negative value. I believe it should be positive.
What went wrong in the process?
calculus integration definite-integrals
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show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
I want to calculate definite integral
$$int_{-2}^{-1} frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx = Omega$$
$$int frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx=-e^{frac{1}{x}}+C$$
so:
$$Omega = [-e^{frac{1}{-2}}]-[-e^{frac{1}{-1}}]=-frac{1}{sqrt{e}} + frac{1}{e}$$
which is a negative value. I believe it should be positive.
What went wrong in the process?
calculus integration definite-integrals
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2
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How exactly did you go about calculating the antiderivative? Wolfram Alpha gives a much different result.
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– Eevee Trainer
Apr 6 at 0:14
2
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Your antiderivative is completely incorrect: The derivative of $e^{1/x^2}$ is $e^{1/x^2} / (-x^3)$. The red flag that you found is indeed a correct one, and shows that your answer cannot be right. This is a good thing to check.
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– T. Bongers
Apr 6 at 0:15
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Thanks. I have fixed it now. I meant $int frac{1}{x^2} e^{frac{1}{x}}dx$.
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– weno
Apr 6 at 0:19
5
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You flipped the interval's endpoints. $-2<-1$
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– mr_e_man
Apr 6 at 0:25
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And just to confirm, taking account of @mr_e_man’s comment above, your work seems correct.
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– Lubin
Apr 6 at 0:27
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
I want to calculate definite integral
$$int_{-2}^{-1} frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx = Omega$$
$$int frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx=-e^{frac{1}{x}}+C$$
so:
$$Omega = [-e^{frac{1}{-2}}]-[-e^{frac{1}{-1}}]=-frac{1}{sqrt{e}} + frac{1}{e}$$
which is a negative value. I believe it should be positive.
What went wrong in the process?
calculus integration definite-integrals
$endgroup$
I want to calculate definite integral
$$int_{-2}^{-1} frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx = Omega$$
$$int frac{1}{x^2}e^{frac{1}{x}} dx=-e^{frac{1}{x}}+C$$
so:
$$Omega = [-e^{frac{1}{-2}}]-[-e^{frac{1}{-1}}]=-frac{1}{sqrt{e}} + frac{1}{e}$$
which is a negative value. I believe it should be positive.
What went wrong in the process?
calculus integration definite-integrals
calculus integration definite-integrals
edited Apr 6 at 0:30
Eevee Trainer
10.2k31742
10.2k31742
asked Apr 6 at 0:09
wenoweno
40011
40011
2
$begingroup$
How exactly did you go about calculating the antiderivative? Wolfram Alpha gives a much different result.
$endgroup$
– Eevee Trainer
Apr 6 at 0:14
2
$begingroup$
Your antiderivative is completely incorrect: The derivative of $e^{1/x^2}$ is $e^{1/x^2} / (-x^3)$. The red flag that you found is indeed a correct one, and shows that your answer cannot be right. This is a good thing to check.
$endgroup$
– T. Bongers
Apr 6 at 0:15
$begingroup$
Thanks. I have fixed it now. I meant $int frac{1}{x^2} e^{frac{1}{x}}dx$.
$endgroup$
– weno
Apr 6 at 0:19
5
$begingroup$
You flipped the interval's endpoints. $-2<-1$
$endgroup$
– mr_e_man
Apr 6 at 0:25
$begingroup$
And just to confirm, taking account of @mr_e_man’s comment above, your work seems correct.
$endgroup$
– Lubin
Apr 6 at 0:27
|
show 2 more comments
2
$begingroup$
How exactly did you go about calculating the antiderivative? Wolfram Alpha gives a much different result.
$endgroup$
– Eevee Trainer
Apr 6 at 0:14
2
$begingroup$
Your antiderivative is completely incorrect: The derivative of $e^{1/x^2}$ is $e^{1/x^2} / (-x^3)$. The red flag that you found is indeed a correct one, and shows that your answer cannot be right. This is a good thing to check.
$endgroup$
– T. Bongers
Apr 6 at 0:15
$begingroup$
Thanks. I have fixed it now. I meant $int frac{1}{x^2} e^{frac{1}{x}}dx$.
$endgroup$
– weno
Apr 6 at 0:19
5
$begingroup$
You flipped the interval's endpoints. $-2<-1$
$endgroup$
– mr_e_man
Apr 6 at 0:25
$begingroup$
And just to confirm, taking account of @mr_e_man’s comment above, your work seems correct.
$endgroup$
– Lubin
Apr 6 at 0:27
2
2
$begingroup$
How exactly did you go about calculating the antiderivative? Wolfram Alpha gives a much different result.
$endgroup$
– Eevee Trainer
Apr 6 at 0:14
$begingroup$
How exactly did you go about calculating the antiderivative? Wolfram Alpha gives a much different result.
$endgroup$
– Eevee Trainer
Apr 6 at 0:14
2
2
$begingroup$
Your antiderivative is completely incorrect: The derivative of $e^{1/x^2}$ is $e^{1/x^2} / (-x^3)$. The red flag that you found is indeed a correct one, and shows that your answer cannot be right. This is a good thing to check.
$endgroup$
– T. Bongers
Apr 6 at 0:15
$begingroup$
Your antiderivative is completely incorrect: The derivative of $e^{1/x^2}$ is $e^{1/x^2} / (-x^3)$. The red flag that you found is indeed a correct one, and shows that your answer cannot be right. This is a good thing to check.
$endgroup$
– T. Bongers
Apr 6 at 0:15
$begingroup$
Thanks. I have fixed it now. I meant $int frac{1}{x^2} e^{frac{1}{x}}dx$.
$endgroup$
– weno
Apr 6 at 0:19
$begingroup$
Thanks. I have fixed it now. I meant $int frac{1}{x^2} e^{frac{1}{x}}dx$.
$endgroup$
– weno
Apr 6 at 0:19
5
5
$begingroup$
You flipped the interval's endpoints. $-2<-1$
$endgroup$
– mr_e_man
Apr 6 at 0:25
$begingroup$
You flipped the interval's endpoints. $-2<-1$
$endgroup$
– mr_e_man
Apr 6 at 0:25
$begingroup$
And just to confirm, taking account of @mr_e_man’s comment above, your work seems correct.
$endgroup$
– Lubin
Apr 6 at 0:27
$begingroup$
And just to confirm, taking account of @mr_e_man’s comment above, your work seems correct.
$endgroup$
– Lubin
Apr 6 at 0:27
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
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What you effectively did was swap the order of evaluation for the fundamental theorem of calculus. Recall:
$$int_a^b f(x)dx = F(b) - F(a)$$
when the antiderivative of $f$ is $F$. You instead have $F(a) - F(b)$ ($a=-2,b=-1$) in this case. The end result is merely a sign error - you have precisely the negative of the answer which you should expect.
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$begingroup$
What you effectively did was swap the order of evaluation for the fundamental theorem of calculus. Recall:
$$int_a^b f(x)dx = F(b) - F(a)$$
when the antiderivative of $f$ is $F$. You instead have $F(a) - F(b)$ ($a=-2,b=-1$) in this case. The end result is merely a sign error - you have precisely the negative of the answer which you should expect.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
What you effectively did was swap the order of evaluation for the fundamental theorem of calculus. Recall:
$$int_a^b f(x)dx = F(b) - F(a)$$
when the antiderivative of $f$ is $F$. You instead have $F(a) - F(b)$ ($a=-2,b=-1$) in this case. The end result is merely a sign error - you have precisely the negative of the answer which you should expect.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
What you effectively did was swap the order of evaluation for the fundamental theorem of calculus. Recall:
$$int_a^b f(x)dx = F(b) - F(a)$$
when the antiderivative of $f$ is $F$. You instead have $F(a) - F(b)$ ($a=-2,b=-1$) in this case. The end result is merely a sign error - you have precisely the negative of the answer which you should expect.
$endgroup$
What you effectively did was swap the order of evaluation for the fundamental theorem of calculus. Recall:
$$int_a^b f(x)dx = F(b) - F(a)$$
when the antiderivative of $f$ is $F$. You instead have $F(a) - F(b)$ ($a=-2,b=-1$) in this case. The end result is merely a sign error - you have precisely the negative of the answer which you should expect.
answered Apr 6 at 0:26
Eevee TrainerEevee Trainer
10.2k31742
10.2k31742
add a comment |
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2
$begingroup$
How exactly did you go about calculating the antiderivative? Wolfram Alpha gives a much different result.
$endgroup$
– Eevee Trainer
Apr 6 at 0:14
2
$begingroup$
Your antiderivative is completely incorrect: The derivative of $e^{1/x^2}$ is $e^{1/x^2} / (-x^3)$. The red flag that you found is indeed a correct one, and shows that your answer cannot be right. This is a good thing to check.
$endgroup$
– T. Bongers
Apr 6 at 0:15
$begingroup$
Thanks. I have fixed it now. I meant $int frac{1}{x^2} e^{frac{1}{x}}dx$.
$endgroup$
– weno
Apr 6 at 0:19
5
$begingroup$
You flipped the interval's endpoints. $-2<-1$
$endgroup$
– mr_e_man
Apr 6 at 0:25
$begingroup$
And just to confirm, taking account of @mr_e_man’s comment above, your work seems correct.
$endgroup$
– Lubin
Apr 6 at 0:27