MA1S12: SOLUTIONS TO TUTORIAL 3

1. Evaluate the improper integral

Z 1
1
√ dx
0 x

Solution: There is a vertical asymptote at x = 0 and so

Z 1 Z 1
1 1
√ dx = lim+ √ dx
0 x a→0 a x
1 1
h i
= lim 2x 2
a→0+ a
√
= lim+ 2 − 2 a
a→0

= 2

2. Evaluate the improper integral

Z ∞
2x
dx
−∞ (x2 + 1)2

Solution: Express the improper integral as a sum of two improper

integrals,
Z ∞ Z 0 Z ∞
2x 2x 2x
dx = dx + dx
−∞ (x + 1)2
2
−∞ (x + 1)2
2
0 (x2 + 1)2
1
2 MA1S12: SOLUTIONS TO TUTORIAL 3

Region bounded by the curve y=2xHx^2+1L^2

0.6

0.4 y = 2 x  Hx ^ 2 + 1L ^ 2

0.2

0.0

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6
-4 -2 0 2 4

We have
Z 0 Z 0
2x 2x
dx = lim dx
−∞ (x + 1)2
2 a→−∞ a (x2 + 1)2
 0
1
= lim −
a→−∞ x2 + 1 a
1
= lim −1 +
a→−∞ a2 +1
= −1

and
Z ∞ Z b
2x 2x
dx = lim dx
0 (x2 + 1)2 b→∞ 0 (x2 + 1)2
 b
1
= lim − 2
b→∞ x +1 0
1
= lim − +1
b→∞ b2 + 1
= 1

Combining these results gives

Z ∞
2x
dx = −1 + 1 = 0
−∞ (x2 + 1)2
 MA1S12: SOLUTIONS TO TUTORIAL 3 3

3. Use the Midpoint Rule with n = 5 to approximate the definite inte-

gral
Z 5
cos(x2 ) dx
0

Solution: Taking n = 5 we have stepsize

b−a 5−0
h= = =1
n 5

We partition the interval [0, 5] into smaller subintervals of width h.

Our sample points are the midpoints of these subintervals.

1
Midpoint of [0, 1] x0 = 2
3
Midpoint of [1, 2] x1 = 2
5
Midpoint of [2, 3] x2 = 2
7
Midpoint of [3, 4] x3 = 2
9
Midpoint of [4, 5] x4 = 2

By the Midpoint Rule we obtain the approximation

Z 5
cos(x2 ) dx ≈ h cos((0.5)2 ) + cos((1.5)2 ) + cos((2.5)2 ) + cos((3.5)2 ) + cos((4.5)2 )
 
0

≈ 1 [0.9689 − 0.6282 + 0.9994 + 0.9504 + 0.1695]

= 2.46

4. Use Simpson’s Rule with n = 4 to approximate the definite integral

Z 2
2
e−x dx
0

Solution: Taking n = 4 we have stepsize

b−a 2−0 1
h= = =
n 4 2

We partition the interval [0, 2] into smaller subintervals of width h.

Our sample points are
4 MA1S12: SOLUTIONS TO TUTORIAL 3

Region bounded by the graph of f HxL = e^H-x^2L

1.0

0.8

f HxL = e ^ H-x ^ 2L
0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

x0 = 0
1
x1 = x0 + h = 2

x2 = x0 + 2h = 1
3
x3 = x0 + 3h = 2

x4 = x0 + 4h = 2
By Simpson’s Rule we obtain the approximation
Z 2
2 h h −(0)2 1 2 2 3 2 2
i
e−x dx ≈ e + 4e−( 2 ) + 2e−(1) + 4e−( 2 ) + e−(2)
0 3
1
≈ [1 + 4(0.7788) + 2(0.3679) + 4(0.1054) + 0.0183]
6
1
= [5.2909]
6
= 0.8818