What's the point of calculating definite integrals since you can't possibly do them all?

What makes doing the specific integrals in this book of value aren't the specific answers we'll obtain, but rather the methods we'll use in obtaining those answers; methods you can use for evaluating the integrals you will encounter in the future.

This book, now in its second edition, is written in a light-hearted manner for students who have completed the first year of college or high school AP calculus and have just a bit of exposure to the concept of a differential equation. Every result is fully derived. If you are fascinated by definite integrals, then this is a book for you. New material in the second edition includes 25 new challenge problems and solutions, 25 new worked examples, simplified derivations, and additional historical discussion.

New edition with 25 added challenge problems and solutions and 25 new worked examples A "recipe book" with many valuable little-known integration techniques Written with an accessible and easy-to-follow style by acclaimed popular science author and engineering professor Paul Nahin Includes rarely-taught problem solving techniques including Feynman's favorite: differentiation under the integral Features worked-out and thoroughly explained practice problems

Autorentext

Paul J. Nahin is professor emeritus of electrical engineering at the University of New Hampshire. He is the author of 21 books on mathematics, physics, and the history of science, published by Springer, and the university presses of Princeton and Johns Hopkins. He received the 2017 Chandler Davis Prize for Excellence in Expository Writing in Mathematics (for his paper The Mysterious Mr. Graham, The Mathematical Intelligencer , Spring 2016). He gave the invited 2011 Sampson Lectures in Mathematics at Bates College, Lewiston, Maine.

Inhalt
From the Contents: Preface.- Introduction.- 'Easy' Integrals.- Feynman's Favorite Trick.- Gamma and Beta Function Integrals.- Using Power Series to Evaluate Integrals.- Seven Not-So-Easy Integrals.- Using (-1) to Evaluate Integrals.- Contour Integration.- Epilogue.- Solutions to the Challenge Problems.