Improper Double Integrals

Learning Objectives

  • Solve problems involving double improper integrals.

In single-variable calculus, an improper integral arises when attempting to integrate a function on an unbounded region, or attempting to integrate a function on an interval where that function is discontinuous.  We briefly recall both types of improper integrals below.

Recall: Improper Integrals

A type I improper integral arises when integrating a function [latex] f(x) [/latex] on an unbounded interval, either [latex] [a,\infty) [/latex], [latex] [-\infty,b) [/latex], or [latex] (-\infty,\infty) [/latex].  Each of these integrals is defined in terms of a limit.

  1. [latex] \displaystyle \int_a^\infty f(x)dx = \displaystyle \lim_{t\rightarrow\infty} \int_a^t f(x)dx [/latex]
  2. [latex] \displaystyle \int_{-\infty}^b f(x)dx = \displaystyle \lim_{t\rightarrow-\infty} \int_t^b f(x)dx [/latex]
  3. [latex] \displaystyle \int_{-\infty}^\infty f(x)dx = \displaystyle \int_{-\infty}^c f(x)dx + \displaystyle \int_c^\infty f(x)dx [/latex]   (where [latex] c [/latex] is a real number)

If the limits above exist, the improper integrals are said to be convergent.  Otherwise, the integrals are divergent.

A type II improper integral arises when integrating a function [latex] f(x) [/latex] on a half-open interval [latex] [a, b) [/latex] or [latex] (a,b] [/latex]. In these respective cases, the improper integrals are defined as follows:

  1. [latex] \displaystyle \int_a^b f(x)dx = \displaystyle \lim_{t\rightarrow b^-} \int_a^t f(x)dx [/latex]
  2. [latex] \displaystyle \int_a^b f(x)dx = \displaystyle \lim_{t\rightarrow a^+} \int_t^b f(x)dx [/latex]

The two definitions above can be used to define an improper integral on a closed interval [latex] [a,b] [/latex] where there exists a [latex] c \in [a,b] [/latex] such that [latex] f(x) [/latex] is discontinuous at [latex] c[/latex].

[latex] \displaystyle \int_a^b f(x)dx = \displaystyle \int_a^c f(x)dx + \int_c^b f(x)dx [/latex]

An improper double integral is an integral [latex]\underset{D}{\displaystyle\iint}{f \ dA}[/latex] where either [latex]D[/latex] is an unbounded region or [latex]f[/latex] is an unbounded function. For example, [latex]{D} = {\left \{{(x,y)}{\mid} \ {\mid}{x-y}{\mid} \ {\geq} \ {2} \right \}}[/latex] is an unbounded region, and the function [latex]{f(x,y)} = {1}{/}{(1-{x^2}-2{y^2})}[/latex] over the ellipse [latex]{x^2} + {3y^2} \leq {1}[/latex] is an unbounded function. Hence, both of the following integrals are improper integrals:

  1. [latex]\underset{D}{\displaystyle\iint}{xy\,dA}[/latex] where [latex]D = \{(x,y)| \mid{x}-y\mid\geq2\}[/latex];
  2. [latex]\underset{D}{\displaystyle\iint}{\dfrac{1}{1-x^2-2y^2}}{dA}[/latex] where [latex]\large{D} = {\left \{{(x,y)}{\mid}{x^2} + {3y^2} \ {\leq} \ {1} \right \}}[/latex].

In this section we would like to deal with improper integrals of functions over rectangles or simple regions such that [latex]f[/latex] has only finitely many discontinuities. Not all such improper integrals can be evaluated; however, a form of Fubini’s theorem does apply for some types of improper integrals.

theorem: fubini’s theorem for improper integrals


If [latex]D[/latex] is a bounded rectangle or simple region in the plane defined by [latex]{\left \{{(x,y)}{:} \ {a} \ {\leq} \ {x} \ {\leq} \ {b,g(x)} \ {\leq} \ {y} \ {\leq} \ {h(x)} \right \}}[/latex] and also by [latex]{\left \{{(x,y)}{:} \ {c} \ {\leq} \ {y} \ {\leq} \ {d,j(y)} \ {\leq} \ {x} \ {\leq} \ {k(y)} \right \}}[/latex] and [latex]f[/latex] is a nonnegative function on [latex]D[/latex] with finitely many discontinuities in the interior of [latex]D[/latex], then

[latex]\large{\underset{D}{\displaystyle\iint}f\,dA=\displaystyle\int_{x=a}^{x=b}\displaystyle\int_{y=g(x)}^{y=h(x)}f(x,y)dydx=\displaystyle\int_{y=c}^{y=d}\displaystyle\int_{x=j(y)}^{x=k(y)}f(x,y)dxdy.}[/latex]

It is very important to note that we required that the function be nonnegative on [latex]D[/latex] for the theorem to work. We consider only the case where the function has finitely many discontinuities inside [latex]D[/latex].

Example: evaluating a double improper integral

Consider the function [latex]{f(x,y)}={\frac{e^y}{y}}[/latex] over the region [latex]{D} = {\left \{{(x,y)}{:} \ {0} \ {\leq} \ {x} \ {\leq} \ {1,x} \ {\leq} \ {y} \ {\leq} \ {\sqrt{x}} \right \}}[/latex].

Notice that the function is nonnegative and continuous at all points on [latex]D[/latex] except [latex](0, 0)[/latex]. Use Fubini’s theorem to evaluate the improper integral.

As mentioned before, we also have an improper integral if the region of integration is unbounded. Suppose now that the function [latex]f[/latex] is continuous in an unbounded rectangle [latex]R[/latex].

theorem: improper integrals on an unbounded region


If [latex]R[/latex] is an unbounded rectangle such as [latex]{R} = {\left \{{(x,y)}{:} \ {a} \ {\leq} \ {x} \ {\leq} \ {\infty, c} \ {\leq} \ {y} \ {\leq} \ {c} \ {\leq} \ {\infty} \right \}}[/latex], then when the limit exists, we have

[latex]\large{\underset{R}{\displaystyle\iint}f(x,y)dA=\displaystyle\lim_{(b,d)\to(\infty,\infty)}\displaystyle\int_a^b\left(\displaystyle\int_c^d{f}(x,y)dy\right)dx=\displaystyle\lim_{(b,d)\to(\infty,\infty)}\displaystyle\int_c^d\left(\displaystyle\int_a^b{f}(x,y)dx\right)dy}[/latex]

The following example shows how this theorem can be used in certain cases of improper integrals.

Example: evaluating a double improper integral

Evaluate the integral [latex]\underset{R}{\displaystyle\iint}{xy}{e^{{-x^2}{-y^2}}}{dA}[/latex] where [latex]R[/latex] is the first quadrant of the plane.

try it

Evaluate the improper integral [latex]\underset{D}{\displaystyle\iint}{\dfrac{y}{\sqrt{1-x^2-y^2}}}{dA}[/latex] where [latex]{D} = {\left \{{(x,y)}{x} \ {\geq} \ {0,y} \ {\geq} \ {0,x^2+y^2} \ {\leq} \ {1} \right \}}[/latex].

Watch the following video to see the worked solution to the above Try It

You can view the transcript for “CP 5.15” here (opens in new window).
In some situations in probability theory, we can gain insight into a problem when we are able to use double integrals over general regions. Before we go over an example with a double integral, we need to set a few definitions and become familiar with some important properties.

definition


Consider a pair of continuous random variables [latex]X[/latex] and [latex]Y[/latex], such as the birthdays of two people or the number of sunny and rainy days in a month. The joint density function [latex]f[/latex] of [latex]X[/latex] and [latex]Y[/latex] satisfies the probability that [latex](X, Y)[/latex] lies in a certain region [latex]D[/latex]:

[latex]{P}{((X,Y)\in{D})} =\underset{D}{\displaystyle\iint}{f(x,y)}{dA}[/latex].

Since the probabilities can never be negative and must lie between [latex]0[/latex] and [latex]1[/latex], the joint density function satisfies the following inequality and equation:

[latex]{f(x,y)} \ {\geq} \ {0}[/latex] and [latex]\underset{R^2}{\displaystyle\iint}{f(x,y)}{dA} = {1}[/latex].

definition


The variables [latex]X[/latex] and [latex]Y[/latex] are said to be independent random variables if their joint density function is the product of their individual density functions:

[latex]{f(x,y)} = {f_1}{(x)}{f_2}{(y)}[/latex].

Example: application to probability

At Sydney’s Restaurant, customers must wait an average of 15 minutes for a table. From the time they are seated until they have finished their meal requires an additional 40 minutes, on average. What is the probability that a customer spends less than an hour and a half at the diner, assuming that waiting for a table and completing the meal are independent events?

Another important application in probability that can involve improper double integrals is the calculation of expected values. First we define this concept and then show an example of a calculation.

definition


In probability theory, we denote the expected values [latex]E(X)[/latex] and [latex]E(Y)[/latex], respectively, as the most likely outcomes of the events. The expected values [latex]E(X)[/latex] and [latex]E(Y)[/latex] are given by

[latex]{E(X)} = \underset{S}{\displaystyle\iint}{xf}{(x,y)}{dA}[/latex] and [latex]{E(Y)} = \underset{S}{\displaystyle\iint}{yf}{(x,y)}{dA}[/latex],

where [latex]S[/latex] is the sample space of the random variables [latex]X[/latex] and [latex]Y[/latex].

Example: finding expected value

Find the expected time for the events ‘waiting for a table’ and ‘completing the meal’ in Example “Application to Probability”.

try it

The joint density function for two random variables [latex]X[/latex] and [latex]Y[/latex] is given by

[latex]\hspace{6cm}f(x,y) = \begin{align} &\frac1{16,250}(x^2+y^2) &\,&\text{ if } 0 \leq x \leq 15,0 \leq y \leq 10 \\ &0 &\,&\text{otherwise} \end{align}[/latex]

Find the probability that [latex]X[/latex] is at most 10 and [latex]Y[/latex] is at least 5.