How to know whether an integral can be solved?

Question

I just wonder: How do you know whether an integral can be solved? For example, exponential integral can not be derived to final result.

What does final result mean? – Emanuele Paolini Feb 12 '13 at 09:02 — Emanuele Paolini, Feb 12 '13 at 09:02

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 12 '13 at 09:05

1

You don't solve integrals, you compute them. The integral $$ \int_0^x \frac{e^t}{t}\, dt $$ can be computed as any other integral. Only the result is not a function which you may find in every pocket calculator...

answered Feb 12 '13 at 09:05

Emanuele Paolini

21,447

indefinte integrals are not computed but evaluated. – jimjim Feb 12 '13 at 09:20

jimjim · Answer 2 · 2013-02-12T11:50:07.017

1

Integrals are not solved, indefinite integrals are evaluated. One may compute definite integrals. The question you are trying to ask is this: "What integrals can be evaluated in terms of elementary or well known transcedental functions"

Example of transcedental functions : $\sin x , \ln x, e^x $ etc.

edited Feb 12 '13 at 11:50

answered Feb 12 '13 at 09:10

jimjim

9,675

$Ei(x)$ is a well known transcendental function. – Emanuele Paolini Feb 12 '13 at 09:39
The distinction definite/indefinite integrals regarding evaluation/computation seems irrelevant since lots of indefinite integrals are equivalent to definite ones and vice versa. – Did Feb 12 '13 at 09:40
@Did : yes that is correct, but I have not seen any examples of the two being interchanged in books, if I see some examples of them being interchanged in books written by native English speakers then I can agree. – jimjim Feb 12 '13 at 10:11
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Your procedures of agreement are a tad peculiar, to say the least... Since you do not mention books written by native English speakers in your post, my remark fully applies and you might want to reformulate your (at present misleading) post. – Did Feb 12 '13 at 10:15
@Did : If you could adjust the misleading part any way you see fit please, Ill appreciate it. I agree with anything that I either can infer, deduce or see some examples of it around. PS : I did found this answer of yours awesome : http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/74347/construct-a-function-which-is-continuous-in-1-5-but-not-differentiable-at-2/74383#74383 – jimjim Feb 12 '13 at 10:24
Omit "definite" in the second sentence. (Thanks for the appreciation of the W answer.) – Did Feb 12 '13 at 11:44
@Did : done, thank you – jimjim Feb 12 '13 at 11:51

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 21 '13 at 10:06

0

There is no universal criterion, distinguishing which integrals can be computed in elementary functions. (Rational functions of the exponent.)

edited Mar 21 '13 at 10:06

P..

14,929

answered Feb 12 '13 at 09:08

superAnnoyingUser

4,379

How to know whether an integral can be solved?

3 Answers3