Sunday, 3 November 2013

calculus - Substitution for definite integrals



In my experience, Calculus II students dislike changing bounds in definite integrals involving substitution. When facing an integral like
π0xsin(x2)dx,
for example, most US Calc II students would introduce u=x2 and compute
xsin(x2)dx=12sin(u)du=12cos(u)+c=12cos(x2)+c.
Afterward, they would conclude that
π0xsin(x2)dx=12cos(x2)|π0=1.
I would generally encourage them to write
π0xsin(x2)dx=12π0sin(u)du=12cos(u)|π0=1.

This question expresses opinion of a typical such student and this answer correctly expresses the fact that the two step process favored my most calculus students is actually more work.



I think there's more to it than this, though. Specifically, the identity
baf(g(x))g(x)dx=g(b)g(a)f(u)du
is a relationship between definite integrals which could have applications other than symbolic evaluation of the integral on the left. In this case, the change of the bounds of integration is important in its own right. Thus my question:



What are some important applications of change of variables in definite integration, other than symbolic evaluation?



I have at least one answer but would be happy to hear more, particularly those that are easily understandable by Calc II students, as I think it's an important pedagogical question.


Answer





What are some important applications of change of variables in definite integration, other than symbolic evaluation?




Here are a handful:




  1. To give a computational (as opposed to geometric) proof that
    aaf(x)dx={0if f is odd;2a0f(x)dxif f is even.


  2. To show that if a and b are positive real numbers, then
    aba1tdt=b11tdt,
    which, of course, is the key to proving log(ab)=log(a)+log(b).



  3. To prove that if f is continuous on [1,1], then
    2π0f(cosθ)sinθdθ=2π0f(sinθ)cosθdθ=0.



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