Exercise 2077Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Integration › Improper integralsM1Added 2 Nov 2026
The integral of sin x / x
#improper integrals#conditional convergence#integration by parts
Statement
- Show that converges.
- Show that it is not absolutely convergent: .
Hint
At the integrand extends continuously. At infinity, integrate by parts to gain a factor . For part 2, bound from below.
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Solution
Near . Since , the integrand extends to a continuous function on : no problem there.
1. At infinity. For , integrate by parts with , :
As , , and , so converges. Hence has a limit: the integral converges.
2. Not absolutely. On , and , so
Summing over gives at least (harmonic series). So the absolute integral diverges.
Remark. The integral converges only thanks to cancellations between positive and negative lobes. Its exact value is (the Dirichlet integral).