AN EPISTEMOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPT OF IMPROPER INTEGRAL

Abstract

An improper integral is the generalization of a definite integral on an unlimited domain or the integrand that approaches infinity at one or more points in the range of integration. Improper integrals cannot be computed using a normal Riemann integral. This paper presents an epistemological analysis of the history of developing and forming the concept of improper integral, which helps determine the epistemological characteristics of an improper integral and some challenges students may face when learning the improper integral.