Lesson 25: Improper Integrals
Preview
Lesson Preview
We’ve now learned many techniques for integrating functions. But all the while we’ve been working on indefinite integrals or definite integrals in which the limits of integration are numbers. What happens if one (or both) of those limits of integration is infinite? Or what happens if the integrand tends to infinite somewhere inside the interval of integration? In this lesson we’ll study these types of “improper integrals.” In Module 1 we’ll work on defining improper integrals precisely and on ensuring we can spot them in the wild. Then, in Modules 2–3 we’ll define what we’ll mean by the evaluating an improper integral and work through several examples of that.
Learn
The lesson notes below contain a learning plan with three stages -- Learn, Reflect, and Practice -- and guidance for what to do within each stage. Some tips for you as you work through this resource, and those that it points to:
I recommend using Cornell Notes (or a modification of it; see this video starting at the 1:05 mark) to take notes on the lesson and the videos. This note-taking method balances detail with big-picture thinking to help you summarize and retain what you are learning. See this other video for additional note-taking techniques you might want to experiment with.
Lesson Notes
Lesson 25.pdfReflect
If you are currently enrolled in this course with me, submit the written reflections Google Form I have emailed you after working through the lesson notes and videos. Some tips:
Submit substantive, but concise, answers to each question; you will be doing the future you a big favor by taking time now to accurately and succinctly summarize what you have learned from the lesson.
Send yourself a copy of your reflections; they will come in handy later when you start preparing for quizzes and other assessments.
If you are not currently enrolled in this course with me, those written reflections ask three reflective questions designed to help you retain what you've learned and pinpoint any remaining areas of confusion. Those questions are:
Please summarize the main mathematical takeaways from the lesson notes.
What was the most interesting part of what you learned, and why?
What, if anything, do you still find confusing?
Practice
Work through the practice problems suggested below to see how much of this lesson you've understood.
Lesson 25 PP.pdf