How to calculate this? #lim_(x->oo)1/x int_0^xdt/(2+cost)#.

2 Answers
May 16, 2017

The limit is not defined.

Explanation:

Note that #int_0^oodt/(2+cost)# diverges. Without having to integrate the function, we see that #lim_(trarroo)1/(2+cost)# oscillates between values #1/(2+1)=1/3# and #1/(2-1)=1# since #cost# has a range from #-1# to #1#.

As the function is always positive and never converges to #0#, the area under the curve will also diverge, and the integral increases without bound.

Then, we see that #lim_(xrarroo)1/x int_0^xdx/(2+cost)# is really in the form #oo/oo#, where #int_0^xdt/(2+cost)# is the numerator that approaches #oo# and #x# is the denominator.

We can then apply l'Hopital's rule since we have the indeterminate form #oo/oo# by taking the derivative of the numerator and denominator separately.

#lim_(xrarroo)1/x int_0^xdt/(2+cost)=lim_(xrarroo)1/(d/dx(x))(d/dxint_0^xdt/(2+cost))#

The derivative of the integral is found through the Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

#=lim_(xrarroo)1/1(1/(2+cosx))=lim_(xrarroo)1/(2+cosx)#

As we already determined, this is an oscillating function and it doesn't converge.

May 17, 2017

#1/sqrt3#

Explanation:

#1/(2+cost)# is a periodic positive function with period #T=2pi# so we have

#lim_(x->oo)1/x int_0^x (dt)/(2+cost) =1/(2pi) int_0^(2pi) (dt)/(2+cost)=1/sqrt3#

NOTE:

#lim_(x->oo)1/x int_0^x (dt)/(2+cost) = lim_(k->oo)1/(2pi k)(k int_0^(2pi) (dt)/(2+cost)) = 1/(2pi)int_0^(2pi)(dt)/(2+cost)=1/sqrt3#