# An Interesting Limit...

• May 9th 2008, 09:07 PM
Chris L T521
An Interesting Limit...
I already evaluated the limit, and got the answer, but I want to see if you guys can come up with an easier way to solve it (Sun):

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\int_{0}^{b}\frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}}{b}\,dx$.
• May 9th 2008, 10:43 PM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris L T521
I already evaluated the limit, and got the answer, but I want to see if you guys can come up with an easier way to solve it (Sun):

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\int_{0}^{b}\frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}}{b}\,dx$.

*Yawn* I'll bite.

$\frac{\int_{0}^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}\,dx}{b}$ is an indeterminant form $\left( \frac{\infty}{\infty}\right)$ so I'll just be lazy and apply l'Hospital:

$\lim_{b\to \infty} \frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-b}}}{1} = 1$.

There are many other ways - I'll save them for the pleasure of others.
• May 9th 2008, 10:44 PM
wingless
$\lim_{b\to \infty}\int_{0}^{b}\frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}}{b}~dx$

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\frac{\int_{0}^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}~dx}{b}$

Now we know that $\int_{0}^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}~dx$ converges because it's always greater than zero and the limit of $\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}$ is 1. So the limit is in indeterminate form $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$. We can use L'hopital later.

Define $F(x) = \int \sqrt{1-e^{-x}}~dx$.

$\int_{0}^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}~dx = F(b) - F(0)$

Now it's $\lim_{b\to \infty}\frac{F(b) - F(0)}{b}$.

Use L'hopital:

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\frac{\frac{d}{db}F(b) - \frac{d}{db}\not{F(0)}}{\frac{d}{db}~b}$

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\frac{\frac{d}{db}F(b)}{1}$

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\frac{d}{db}\int \sqrt{1-e^{-b}}~db$

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\sqrt{1-e^{-b}} = 1$
• May 9th 2008, 11:00 PM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris L T521
I already evaluated the limit, and got the answer, but I want to see if you guys can come up with an easier way to solve it (Sun):

$\lim_{b\to \infty}\int_{0}^{b}\frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}}{b}\,dx$.

For once L'hopitals's rule is appropriate:

$L=\lim_{b\to \infty}\int_{0}^{b}\frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}}{b}\,dx=\lim_{b \to \infty}\frac{\int_0^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}~dx}{b}.$

(Note the integral in the expression on the right goes to infinity as $b$ does as the integrand goes to $1$ for large $x$)

So

$
L=\lim_{b \to \infty} \frac{(d/db)\left(\int_0^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}~dx \right)}{(d/db)(b)}=\lim_{b \to \infty} \frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-b}}}{1}=1
$

RonL
• May 9th 2008, 11:01 PM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainBlack
For once L'hopitals's rule is appropriate:

$L=\lim_{b\to \infty}\int_{0}^{b}\frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}}{b}\,dx=\lim_{b \to \infty}\frac{\int_0^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}}{b}.$

(Note the integral in the expression on the right goes to infinity as the integrand goes to $1$ for large $x$)

So

$
L=\lim_{b \to \infty} \frac{(d/db)\left(\int_0^{b}\sqrt{1-e^{-x}}\right)}{(d/db)(b)}=\lim_{b \to \infty} \frac{\sqrt{1-e^{-b}}}{1}=1
$

RonL

The l'Hospital's busy tonight (Rofl)

By the way, CaptainB ..... "For once L'hopitals's rule is appropriate" .... solid gold! (Rofl)
• May 9th 2008, 11:07 PM
CaptainBlack
Quote:

Originally Posted by mr fantastic
The l'Hospital's busy tonight (Rofl)

By the way, CaptainB ..... "For once L'hopitals's rule is appropriate" .... solid gold! (Rofl)

Careless of me, I hadn't noticed the other replies(Doh)

I take that back, just looked at the cached version of the question, no replies when I started typing, so just slow typing on my or other's part :)

RonL
• May 9th 2008, 11:12 PM
mr fantastic
Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainBlack
Careless of me, I hadn't noticed the other replies(Doh)

RonL

Well, if you hadn't replied, I wouldn't be wiping away tears of laughter right now. (Clapping)
• May 11th 2008, 01:35 PM
Krizalid
Let's make this more generally:

If $\lim_{x\to\infty}f(x)=\lambda\implies\lim_{x\to\in fty}\frac1x\int_0^x f(y)\,dy=\lambda.$
• May 11th 2008, 02:29 PM
ThePerfectHacker
Quote:

Originally Posted by Krizalid
Let's make this more generally:

If $\lim_{x\to\infty}f(x)=\lambda\implies\lim_{x\to\in fty}\frac1x\int_0^x f(y)\,dy=\lambda.$

It is not as general as you wrote it. You need to satisfy some conditions.

"If $f:[0,\infty)\mapsto \mathbb{R}$ is a continous function and $\lim_{x\to \infty} f(x)$ exists and is $L$, and if $\int_0^{\infty} f(\xi) d\xi = \infty$ then $\lim_{x\to \infty} \frac{1}{x} \int_0^x f(\xi) d\xi = L$."
• May 11th 2008, 02:46 PM
ThePerfectHacker
Here is a solution without L'Hopital's rule.

Note that, $1 - e^{-t} \leq \sqrt{1-e^{-t}} \leq 1$ for all $t\geq 0$.

Thus, $\int_0^x 1 - e^{-t} dt \leq \int_0^x \sqrt{1-e^{-t}}dt \leq \int_0^x 1dx$.

This gives us, $x + (e^{-x} - 1) \leq \int_0^x \sqrt{1-e^{-t}}dt \leq x$.

Dividing by $x$ gives, $1 + \frac{e^{-x} - 1}{x} \leq \frac{1}{x}\int_0^x \sqrt{1-e^{-t}}dt \leq 1$.

Since $\lim_{x\to \infty} \frac{e^{-x} - 1}{x} = 0$ it follows by the Squeeze theorem that $\lim_{x\to \infty} \frac{1}{x}\int_0^x \sqrt{1-e^{-t}}dt = 1$.