How do you evaluate the integral int 1/x from [0,1]?

2 Answers
Feb 20, 2018

It's undefined.

Explanation:

The integral int_0^1 1/xdx is equivalent to int_0^1x^-1dx.
All integrals of the form int_0^t x^ndx, where t is a real parameter, are equal to t^(n+1)/(n+1), so if t = 1 and n=-1,
int_0^1 1/xdx = 1^0/0, which is undefined.

Feb 20, 2018

Diverging...

Explanation:

int_0 ^1 1/x dx = [ln(x) ]_0 ^1

=> ln1 - ln0 = ln 0

We know ln0 is undefined, but lim_(n to 0^+ ) ln n = -oo

So hence the integral is diverging...