In calculus, an improper integral is the limit of a definite integral as an endpoint of the interval(s) of integration approaches either a specified real number or โ or โโ or, in some cases, as both endpoints approach limits.
Specifically, an improper integral is a limit of the form
or of the form
in which one takes a limit in one or the other (or sometimes both) endpoints (Apostol 1967, ยง10.23). Integrals are also improper if the integrand is undefined at an interior point of the domain of integration, or at multiple such points.
It is often necessary to use improper integrals in order to compute a value for integrals which may not exist in the conventional sense (as a Riemann integral, for instance) because of a singularity in the function, or an infinite endpoint of the domain of integration.
Read more about Improper Integral: Examples, Convergence of The Integral, Types of Integrals, Improper Riemann Integrals and Lebesgue Integrals, Singularities, Cauchy Principal Value, Summability, Bibliography
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