Calculus (3rd Edition)

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1464125260
ISBN 13: 978-1-46412-526-3

Chapter 8 - Techniques of Integration - 8.8 Probability and Integration - Exercises - Page 448: 8

Answer

The integral $\int_{0}^{\infty} (x) p(x) \ dx$ diverges because the mean value is infinite.

Work Step by Step

We have: $p(x)=\dfrac{2}{\pi(x^2+1)} $ The mean value of $p(x)$ (probability density function) on $[0, \infty)$ is given by: $\mu=\int_{0}^{\infty} (x) p(x) \ dx \\=\int_{0}^{\infty} \dfrac{2x}{\pi(x^2+1)}\\=\dfrac{1}{\pi} \int_0^{\infty} \dfrac{2x}{(x^2+1)} dx$ Suppose that $a=x^2+1 \implies da=2x dx$ Therefore, we have: $\mu=\dfrac{1}{\pi} \int_0^{\infty} \dfrac{2x}{(x^2+1)} dx\\=\dfrac{1}{\pi} \int_1^{\infty} \dfrac{da}{a}\\=\dfrac{1}{\pi} [\ln a]_1^{\infty}\\=\infty$ So, the integral $\int_{0}^{\infty} (x) p(x) \ dx$ diverges because the mean value is infinite.
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