Functions defined using integrals
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Not all integrals have antiderivatives that can be written down using the basic functions and operations that we know. Some functions are, in fact, defined using an integral. This applet shows two such functions.
Try the following:
- The applet shows a graph on the left of (sin x)/x and the graph of
on the right. This function, defined using an integral, is called the Sine Integral and frequently written as Si(x). There is no antiderivative for the integrand that can be written using the basic operations of algebra and the basic functions we know; the only way to define the sine integral is using this integral. Move the x slider to see various values of the function and the area that is accumulated to generate that value.
- Select the second example, showing the error function,
. This is another function that is defined using an integral. Move the x slider to see various values of the function and the area that is accumulated to generate that value.
For more information on rights and downloading, refer to http://www.calculusapplets.com/download.html.
© Copyright 2001 David J. Eck
© Copyright 2007 Thomas S. Downey
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