Calculus II, Lecture 13: Improper integrals

Lecture 13: Improper Integrals.

A definite integral is called improper when the function is not defined at one of the limits (a vertical asymptote), or when one of the limits is infinite (a horizontal asymptote). In this case, the integral is defined to be a limit of "proper" integrals where the endpoint(s) approach this "bad value". In many cases, such an improper integral actually converges because the area under the curve is finite, despite the presence of an asymptote.