# Math Help - Proper or Improper?

1. ## Proper or Improper?

Out of these three, is only the last one proper?

2. Impossible to tell. There are no limits specified.

This might help:

Improper integral - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3. Originally Posted by Matt Westwood
Impossible to tell. There are no limits specified.

This might help:

Improper integral - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I think the OP was referring to whether or not the integrand is proper or not. If that is the case, then only the last one is proper. The other two would first require long division and then other techniques to integrate.

4. If you mean "proper" or "improper" fractions all three are "improper" because all three have the same degree in numerator and denominator. In order to integrate first divide to get a number plus a proper fraction.

5. Originally Posted by Chris L T521
I think the OP was referring to whether or not the integrand is proper or not. If that is the case, then only the last one is proper. The other two would first require long division and then other techniques to integrate.
Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
If you mean "proper" or "improper" fractions all three are "improper" because all three have the same degree in numerator and denominator. In order to integrate first divide to get a number plus a proper fraction.
So should I treat the last problem as improper or not? I need to know encase it comes up on the test I have tomorrow...

6. Originally Posted by azurephantom
So should I treat the last problem as improper or not? I need to know encase it comes up on the test I have tomorrow...

I will summarise the other responses that you have had:

We do not really know what you mean by proper/improper in the context of these integrals (one of the responses may contain the answer that you need but I cannot tell).

Tell us what definition for the term proper you are working with.

CB