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How do I prove that the exponential integral $f(x)=\int \frac{e^x}{x}\mathrm dx$ is not an elementary function?

Also, what are the general methods and tricks to prove that an integral or solution to an equation is not an elementary function?

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    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risch_algorithm2011-10-28

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All we need for this is a theorem of Liouville (1835): Suppose that $f$ and $g$ are rational functions with $f\neq 0$ and $g$ non-constant. Then $\int f(x) e^{g(x)} dx $ is an elementary function if and only if there exists a rational function $r$ such that f=r'+g'r.

Here we have $g(x)=x$ and $f(x) = 1/x.$ Assume there exists a rational function $r$ such that 1/x = r' + r \text{ } (1). Denote the multiplicity of the pole at $0$ by $m$ (where $m\geq 1$ so that both sides of (1) agree when $x\to 0$), so that $ \displaystyle r(x) = \frac{p(x)}{x^m Q(x)} $ where $p, Q$ are polynomials with no common factors and $Q$ is not divisible by $x.$

Substituting this form into (1) and multiplying both sides by $x^m$ yields x^{m-1} = \frac{p(x)+ p'(x)}{Q(x)} - \frac{Q'(x) p(x) }{Q^2(x)} - \frac{m}{x Q(x)} . Taking limits of both sides as $x\to 0$ illustrates the lunacy in our assumption that such a rational function exists, and hence $\displaystyle \int \frac{e^x}{x} dx$ is non-elementary.

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    The fun is then of course hidden in the proof of Liouville's theorem. We could also say that «we only need the theorem that $\int e^x/x$ cannot be expressed in elementary terms»! :)2011-10-28