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Awesomesauce
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Homework Statement
(i) find [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{X}_{0}[/itex] xe[itex]^{-x^{2}}[/itex] dx in terms of X.
(ii) Find [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{X}_{0}[/itex] xe[itex]^{-x^{2}}[/itex] dx for X= 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Homework Equations
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The Attempt at a Solution
(i) [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{X}_{0}[/itex] xe[itex]^{-x^{2}}[/itex]dx
-x[itex]^{2}[/itex] = X
dX/dx=-2x hence -1/2 dX = xdx
so, -[itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [itex]\int[/itex][itex]^{X}_{0}[/itex] e[itex]^{x}[/itex] dx
then [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [1 - e[itex]^{x^{2}}[/itex] ]
Ok, here is the first problem I have encountered. For my answer, [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [1 - e[itex]^{x^{2}}[/itex] ], this is wrong according to wolfram and my textbook. the answer should be
[itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [1 - e[itex]^{-x^{2}}[/itex] ], where there is a minus before the x[itex]^{2}[/itex]. I can not think of how to come to this! :(
I assume substituting -x[itex]^{2}[/itex] = X is correct, as that is what i normally do with standard u-substitution problems.
Ok, second part (ii) So this problem also applies to other problems as well with negative powers of x.
Using the answer the textbook got, I input, [itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [1 - e[itex]^{(-1)^{2}}[/itex] ] and get -0.859. The answer should be 0.3161, and to get this I need to remove the brackets from (-1) hence[itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex] [1 - e[itex]^{-1^{2}}[/itex] ]
I'm not sure if my brain is playing up and this is a stupid question, or my calculator; but I always thought you place brackets around the negative number when squaring hence -1 x -1 = 1... rather than -1. This problem also happens with other integration problems I have gone through. Someone help me!
Thanks for your time!