Method for assigning values to certain improper integrals which would otherwise be undefined
This article is about a method for assigning values to improper integrals. For the values of a complex function associated with a single branch, see
Principal value. For the negative-power portion of a
Laurent series, see
Principal part.
In mathematics, the Cauchy principal value, named after Augustin-Louis Cauchy, is a method for assigning values to certain improper integrals which would otherwise be undefined. In this method, a singularity on an integral interval is avoided by limiting the integral interval to the non singular domain.