Problem #7.3, MA598R, Summer 2009, Weigel

Back to The_Pirate's_Booty

Show that $ \int_{\mathbb{R}^{n}}e^{-|x|^{2}}d\vec{x} = \pi^{n/2} $

Proof by induction (by Robert the Pirate):

For $ n=1 $ it is an easy manipulation of Calculus 2 tricks. (I really don't feel like writing the whole thing out)

Now, assume that for $ n $ the equation is true. We just need to show that it holds for $ n+1 $

$ \int_{\mathbb{R}^{n+1}}e^{-|x|^{2}}dx_{1}\cdots dx_{n+1}= $ $ \int_{\mathbb{R}}e^{-x_{n+1}^{2}}(\int_{\mathbb{R}^{n}}e^{-|x|^{2}}dx_{1}\cdots dx_{n})dx_{n+1} $ $ =\pi^{1/2}\cdot \pi^{n/2} = \pi^{(n+1)/2} $ (By Fubini's Theorem, induction hypothesis, and properties of exp)

Q.E.D

--Rlalvare 13:24, 27 July 2009 (UTC)


Back to the Pirate's Booty

Back to Assignment 7

Back to MA598R Summer 2009

Alumni Liaison

Correspondence Chess Grandmaster and Purdue Alumni

Prof. Dan Fleetwood