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Exercise 68Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Integration › Improper integralsL1Added 6 Nov 2026

An improper integral of $\ln x/x^2$ by parts

#improper integral#integration by parts#logarithm

Statement

Compute
∫1+∞ln⁡xx2 dx.\int_1^{+\infty}\frac{\ln x}{x^2}\,dx.

Hint

Integrate by parts on [1,a][1,a] with u=ln⁡xu=\ln x, dv=dxx2dv=\frac{dx}{x^2}; then take the limit a→+∞a\to+\infty and use the growth comparison ln⁡aa→0\frac{\ln a}{a}\to0.

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Solution

Integration by parts on [1,a][1,a]. For a>1a>1, take u(x)=ln⁡xu(x)=\ln x and v′(x)=1x2v'(x)=\frac{1}{x^2}, so u′(x)=1xu'(x)=\frac1x and v(x)=−1xv(x)=-\frac1x. Then
∫1aln⁡xx2 dx=[−ln⁡xx]1a+∫1adxx2.\int_1^a\frac{\ln x}{x^2}\,dx=\left[-\frac{\ln x}{x}\right]_1^a+\int_1^a\frac{dx}{x^2}.

Evaluate.
[−ln⁡xx]1a=−ln⁡aa+0=−ln⁡aa,∫1adxx2=[−1x]1a=−1a+1.\left[-\frac{\ln x}{x}\right]_1^a=-\frac{\ln a}{a}+0=-\frac{\ln a}{a},\qquad \int_1^a\frac{dx}{x^2}=\left[-\frac1x\right]_1^a=-\frac1a+1.

Limit as a→+∞a\to+\infty. Since ln⁡aa→0\frac{\ln a}{a}\to0 and 1a→0\frac1a\to0,
∫1+∞ln⁡xx2 dx=lim⁡a→+∞(−ln⁡aa−1a+1)=1.\int_1^{+\infty}\frac{\ln x}{x^2}\,dx=\lim_{a\to+\infty}\left(-\frac{\ln a}{a}-\frac1a+1\right)=1.