# Proof that this function is bounded

How can I prove that $$\int_0^1(1+\epsilon^{-1}e^{-\beta x/p\epsilon})dx\leq C,$$ where $\epsilon$ is a small parameter. In the limit $\epsilon^{-1}$ is unbounded so how is this integral bounded?

• It seems to me that you can calculate the integral explicitly, and then see what happens to your $\varepsilon$. – R.T. Aug 8 '13 at 16:39

$$\int_0^1 \! (1 + \epsilon^{-1}e^{-\beta x/p\epsilon}) \, dx$$ $$= 1 + \epsilon^{-1}\int_0^1 \! e^{-\frac{\beta}{p \epsilon}x} \, dx$$ $$= 1 + \frac{1}{\epsilon}\frac{-p\epsilon}{\beta}(e^{\frac{-\beta}{p\epsilon}} - 1)$$ $$= 1 + \frac{p}{\beta}(1-e^{\frac{-\beta}{p\epsilon}})$$ This last expression is bounded in absolute value as long as $\epsilon$ does not become arbitrarily negative. Basically the reason the integral stays bounded is that the exponential term becomes small much faster than the $\epsilon^{-1}$ term becomes large as $\epsilon \to 0$ from the right. Notice also that you are only asking for an upper bound $$\int_0^1 \! (1 + \epsilon^{-1}e^{-\beta x/p\epsilon}) \, dx \le C$$ and such an expression is valid for any $\epsilon$ with $C = 1 + \frac{p}{\beta}$.
If I am not mistaken, your integral equals $$1+\frac{p}{\beta}(1-e^{-\frac{\beta}{p\varepsilon}})$$
Change variables, $x=\epsilon u$ in your integral: \begin{align} \int_0^1\left(1+\epsilon^{-1}e^{-\frac{\beta x}{p\epsilon}}\right)\,\mathrm{d}x &=\int_0^{1/\epsilon}\left(\epsilon+e^{-\frac{\beta u}{p}}\right)\,\mathrm{d}u\\ &\to1+\int_0^\infty e^{-\frac{\beta u}{p}}\,\mathrm{d}u\\ &=1+\frac{p}{\beta} \end{align} as $\epsilon\to0$. So for $\epsilon$ near $0$, the integral is near $1+\frac{p}{\beta}$.