Sophomore's Dream
In mathematics, the sophomore's dream is the pair of identities (especially the first) :\begin \int_0^1 x^\,dx &= \sum_^\infty n^ \\ \end :\begin \int_0^1 x^x \,dx &= \sum_^\infty (-1)^n^ = - \sum_^\infty (-n)^ \end discovered in 1697 by Johann Bernoulli. The numerical values of these constants are approximately 1.291285997... and 0.7834305107..., respectively. The name "sophomore's dream"It appears in . is in contrast to the name "freshman's dream" which is given to the incorrectIncorrect in general, but correct when one is working in a commutative ring of prime characteristic ''p'' with ''n'' being a power of ''p''. The correct result in a general commutative context is given by the binomial theorem. identity . The sophomore's dream has a similar too-good-to-be-true feel, but is true. Proof The proofs of the two identities are completely analogous, so only the proof of the second is presented here. The key ingredients of the proof are: * to write ''x''''x'' = exp('' ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Identity (mathematics)
In mathematics, an identity is an equality relating one mathematical expression ''A'' to another mathematical expression ''B'', such that ''A'' and ''B'' (which might contain some variables) produce the same value for all values of the variables within a certain range of validity. In other words, ''A'' = ''B'' is an identity if ''A'' and ''B'' define the same functions, and an identity is an equality between functions that are differently defined. For example, (a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2 and \cos^2\theta + \sin^2\theta =1 are identities. Identities are sometimes indicated by the triple bar symbol instead of , the equals sign. Common identities Algebraic identities Certain identities, such as a+0=a and a+(-a)=0, form the basis of algebra, while other identities, such as (a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab +b^2 and a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b), can be useful in simplifying algebraic expressions and expanding them. Trigonometric identities Geometrically, trigonometric ide ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Integration By Substitution
In calculus, integration by substitution, also known as ''u''-substitution, reverse chain rule or change of variables, is a method for evaluating integrals and antiderivatives. It is the counterpart to the chain rule for differentiation, and can loosely be thought of as using the chain rule "backwards". Substitution for a single variable Introduction Before stating the result rigorously, consider a simple case using indefinite integrals. Compute \textstyle\int(2x^3+1)^7(x^2)\,dx. Set u=2x^3+1. This means \textstyle\frac=6x^2, or in differential form, du=6x^2\,dx. Now :\int(2x^3 +1)^7(x^2)\,dx = \frac\int\underbrace_\underbrace_=\frac\int u^\,du=\frac\left(\fracu^\right)+C=\frac(2x^3+1)^+C, where C is an arbitrary constant of integration. This procedure is frequently used, but not all integrals are of a form that permits its use. In any event, the result should be verified by differentiating and comparing to the original integrand. :\frac\left frac(2x^3+1)^+C\right\f ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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OEIS
The On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS) is an online database of integer sequences. It was created and maintained by Neil Sloane while researching at AT&T Labs. He transferred the intellectual property and hosting of the OEIS to the OEIS Foundation in 2009. Sloane is chairman of the OEIS Foundation. OEIS records information on integer sequences of interest to both professional and amateur mathematicians, and is widely cited. , it contains over 350,000 sequences, making it the largest database of its kind. Each entry contains the leading terms of the sequence, keywords, mathematical motivations, literature links, and more, including the option to generate a graph or play a musical representation of the sequence. The database is searchable by keyword, by subsequence, or by any of 16 fields. History Neil Sloane started collecting integer sequences as a graduate student in 1965 to support his work in combinatorics. The database was at first stored on punched cards. H ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Series (mathematics)
In mathematics, a series is, roughly speaking, a description of the operation of adding infinitely many quantities, one after the other, to a given starting quantity. The study of series is a major part of calculus and its generalization, mathematical analysis. Series are used in most areas of mathematics, even for studying finite structures (such as in combinatorics) through generating functions. In addition to their ubiquity in mathematics, infinite series are also widely used in other quantitative disciplines such as physics, computer science, statistics and finance. For a long time, the idea that such a potentially infinite summation could produce a finite result was considered paradoxical. This paradox was resolved using the concept of a limit during the 17th century. Zeno's paradox of Achilles and the tortoise illustrates this counterintuitive property of infinite sums: Achilles runs after a tortoise, but when he reaches the position of the tortoise at the beginning of ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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L'Hôpital's Rule
In calculus, l'Hôpital's rule or l'Hospital's rule (, , ), also known as Bernoulli's rule, is a theorem which provides a technique to evaluate limits of indeterminate forms. Application (or repeated application) of the rule often converts an indeterminate form to an expression that can be easily evaluated by substitution. The rule is named after the 17th-century French mathematician Guillaume de l'Hôpital. Although the rule is often attributed to l'Hôpital, the theorem was first introduced to him in 1694 by the Swiss mathematician Johann Bernoulli. L'Hôpital's rule states that for functions and which are differentiable on an open interval except possibly at a point contained in , if \lim_f(x)=\lim_g(x)=0 \text \pm\infty, and g'(x)\ne 0 for all in with , and \lim_\frac exists, then :\lim_\frac = \lim_\frac. The differentiation of the numerator and denominator often simplifies the quotient or converts it to a limit that can be evaluated directly. History Guillaume ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Falling Factorial
In mathematics, the falling factorial (sometimes called the descending factorial, falling sequential product, or lower factorial) is defined as the polynomial :\begin (x)_n = x^\underline &= \overbrace^ \\ &= \prod_^n(x-k+1) = \prod_^(x-k) \,. \end The rising factorial (sometimes called the Pochhammer function, Pochhammer polynomial, ascending factorial, (A reprint of the 1950 edition by Chelsea Publishing Co.) rising sequential product, or upper factorial) is defined as :\begin x^ = x^\overline &= \overbrace^ \\ &= \prod_^n(x+k-1) = \prod_^(x+k) \,. \end The value of each is taken to be 1 (an empty product) when . These symbols are collectively called factorial powers. The Pochhammer symbol, introduced by Leo August Pochhammer, is the notation , where is a non-negative integer. It may represent ''either'' the rising or the falling factorial, with different articles and authors using different conventions. Pochhammer himself actually used with yet another meaning, namely to d ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Mathematical Induction
Mathematical induction is a method for proving that a statement ''P''(''n'') is true for every natural number ''n'', that is, that the infinitely many cases ''P''(0), ''P''(1), ''P''(2), ''P''(3), ... all hold. Informal metaphors help to explain this technique, such as falling dominoes or climbing a ladder: A proof by induction consists of two cases. The first, the base case, proves the statement for ''n'' = 0 without assuming any knowledge of other cases. The second case, the induction step, proves that ''if'' the statement holds for any given case ''n'' = ''k'', ''then'' it must also hold for the next case ''n'' = ''k'' + 1. These two steps establish that the statement holds for every natural number ''n''. The base case does not necessarily begin with ''n'' = 0, but often with ''n'' = 1, and possibly with any fixed natural number ''n'' = ''N'', establishing the truth of the statement for all natu ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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List Of Integrals Of Logarithmic Functions
The following is a list of integrals (antiderivative functions) of logarithmic functions. For a complete list of integral functions, see list of integrals. ''Note:'' ''x'' > 0 is assumed throughout this article, and the constant of integration is omitted for simplicity. Integrals involving only logarithmic functions : \int\log_a x\,dx = x\log_a x - \frac = \frac : \int\ln(ax)\,dx = x\ln(ax) - x : \int\ln (ax + b)\,dx = \frac : \int (\ln x)^2\,dx = x(\ln x)^2 - 2x\ln x + 2x : \int (\ln x)^n\,dx = x\sum^_(-1)^ \frac(\ln x)^k : \int \frac = \ln, \ln x, + \ln x + \sum^\infty_\frac : \int \frac = \operatorname(x), the logarithmic integral. : \int \frac = -\frac + \frac\int\frac \qquad\mboxn\neq 1\mbox : \int \ln f(x)\,dx = x\ln f(x) - \int x\frac\,dx \qquad\mbox f(x) > 0\mbox Integrals involving logarithmic and power functions : \int x^m\ln x\,dx = x^\left(\frac-\frac\right) \qquad\mboxm\neq -1\mbox : \int x^m (\ln x)^n\,dx = \frac - \frac\int x^m (\ln x)^ dx \qquad\mbo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Constant Of Integration
In calculus, the constant of integration, often denoted by C (or c), is a constant term added to an antiderivative of a function f(x) to indicate that the indefinite integral of f(x) (i.e., the set of all antiderivatives of f(x)), on a connected domain, is only defined up to an additive constant. This constant expresses an ambiguity inherent in the construction of antiderivatives. More specifically, if a function f(x) is defined on an interval, and F(x) is an antiderivative of f(x), then the set of ''all'' antiderivatives of f(x) is given by the functions F(x) + C, where C is an arbitrary constant (meaning that ''any'' value of C would make F(x) + C a valid antiderivative). For that reason, the indefinite integral is often written as \int f(x) \, dx = F(x) + C, although the constant of integration might be sometimes omitted in lists of integrals for simplicity. Origin The derivative of any constant function is zero. Once one has found one antiderivative F(x) for a function f(x) ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Integration By Parts
In calculus, and more generally in mathematical analysis, integration by parts or partial integration is a process that finds the integral of a product of functions in terms of the integral of the product of their derivative and antiderivative. It is frequently used to transform the antiderivative of a product of functions into an antiderivative for which a solution can be more easily found. The rule can be thought of as an integral version of the product rule of differentiation. The integration by parts formula states: \begin \int_a^b u(x) v'(x) \, dx & = \Big (x) v(x)\Biga^b - \int_a^b u'(x) v(x) \, dx\\ & = u(b) v(b) - u(a) v(a) - \int_a^b u'(x) v(x) \, dx. \end Or, letting u = u(x) and du = u'(x) \,dx while v = v(x) and dv = v'(x) \, dx, the formula can be written more compactly: \int u \, dv \ =\ uv - \int v \, du. Mathematician Brook Taylor discovered integration by parts, first publishing the idea in 1715. More general formulations of integration by parts ex ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Gamma Function
In mathematics, the gamma function (represented by , the capital letter gamma from the Greek alphabet) is one commonly used extension of the factorial function to complex numbers. The gamma function is defined for all complex numbers except the non-positive integers. For every positive integer , \Gamma(n) = (n-1)!\,. Derived by Daniel Bernoulli, for complex numbers with a positive real part, the gamma function is defined via a convergent improper integral: \Gamma(z) = \int_0^\infty t^ e^\,dt, \ \qquad \Re(z) > 0\,. The gamma function then is defined as the analytic continuation of this integral function to a meromorphic function that is holomorphic in the whole complex plane except zero and the negative integers, where the function has simple poles. The gamma function has no zeroes, so the reciprocal gamma function is an entire function. In fact, the gamma function corresponds to the Mellin transform of the negative exponential function: \Gamma(z) = \mathcal M \ (z ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Euler Integral
In mathematics, there are two types of Euler integral: # The ''Euler integral of the first kind'' is the beta function \mathrm(z_1,z_2) = \int_0^1t^(1-t)^\,dt = \frac # The ''Euler integral of the second kind'' is the gamma function \Gamma(z) = \int_0^\infty t^\,\mathrm e^\,dt For positive integers and , the two integrals can be expressed in terms of factorials and binomial coefficients: \Beta(n,m) = \frac = \frac = \left( \frac + \frac \right) \frac \Gamma(n) = (n-1)! See also *Leonhard Euler *List of topics named after Leonhard Euler 200px, Leonhard Euler (1707–1783) In mathematics and physics, many topics are named in honor of Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707–1783), who made many important discoveries and innovations. Many of these items named after Euler includ ... References External links and references Wolfram MathWorld on the Euler Integral* NIST Digital Library of Mathematical Functiondlmf.nist.gov/5.2.1relation 5.2.1 andlmf.nist.gov/5.12relation 5 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |