Exercise 53Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Integration › Improper integralsL1Added 2 Nov 2026
Proving convergence by comparison
#improper integrals#comparison test#divergence
Statement
Decide whether each integral converges.
Hint
For non-negative integrands, if and converges then converges; if diverges then diverges.
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Solution
1. The integrand is continuous on , so only matters. For , so , and . The integral converges.
2. For , , hence . Since , converges. The integral converges.
3. For , , so . Since , the integral diverges.
Remark. In (1) the exact value is , but it cannot be found with an elementary antiderivative; the comparison test proves convergence without knowing the value.