Mathematics Problem Of the Week

Fall 2007

POW #5

Impossible Integral?

The value of the integral shown below is related to the famous bell-shaped curve of a normal distribution and interesting because the integrand has no antiderivative among ordinary functions.

You may assume this fact is true without proving it, but then use it to find the value of

and then for a bigger challenge extend the result to find

for any positive integer m. Show work to justify your answers.

Due Friday, October 5^th at Noon.

Solutions should be submitted to Dr. R. Lock's mailbox in the Math/CS/Stat office or sent via e-mail to rlock@stlawu.edu.