# Beta - special functions - manipulation

1. May 5, 2012

### DigitalSwitch

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

I have this incomplete Beta function question I need to solve using the Beta function.

$\int^{a}_{0}y^{4}\sqrt{a^{2}-y^{2}}dy$

2. Relevant equations

Is there an obvious substitution which will help convert to a variant of Beta?
Beta function and variants are in Beta_function Wikipedia article

3. The attempt at a solution

Every time I look at the question I just start trying to integrate it as if the Beta function is irrelevant. I can't grasp how the beta function is applied to the 'incomplete' questions.

Thanks.

2. May 5, 2012

### Dick

How about trying the substitution y=a*sqrt(t)?

3. May 5, 2012

### DigitalSwitch

That did it thanks. Great skills! (I want them)

I've still got something wrong.

Subbing $y=a\sqrt{t}$ into integrand:

$a^{4}t^{2}\sqrt{a^{2}(1-t)}$

Changing bounds and var (wrongly?):
$t=\frac{y^{2}}{a^{2}}\rightarrow \frac{a^{2}}{2y}dt=dy$

$\frac{a^{2}}{2y}a^{5}\int^{1}_{0}t^{2}(1-t)^{1/2}dt$

which gives (by subbing indices + 1 into Beta function):
$\frac{a^{7}}{2y}B(3,3/2)$ but $B(3,3/2)=\frac{16}{105}$

Mathematica says the answer by integration is $\frac{\pi a^{6}}{32}$
Pi is missing! I have a feeling that the beta function should of produced it.

4. May 5, 2012

### Dick

It will. You did it wrong. How can you wind up with a y outside of the integral? y is a function of t. Do it more carefully.

Last edited: May 6, 2012
5. May 6, 2012

### DigitalSwitch

Solution

To solve: $\int^{a}_{0}y^{4}\sqrt{a^{2}-y^{2}}dy$ (Utilising the Beta special function)

Use the substitution $y=a\sqrt{t}$
This implies $t = \frac{y^{2}}{a^{2}}$

Change bounds and variable
for y=0, t=0; for y=a, t = a2/a2 = 1

$t=\frac{y^{2}}{a^{2}}\rightarrow \frac{a^{2}}{2y}dt=dy$

Changing variable, bounds and subbing for y gives equivalent integrals:

$\int^{a}_{0}y^{4}\sqrt{a^{2}-y^{2}}dy \Leftrightarrow \int^{1}_{0}\frac{a^{6}t^{2}(a^{2}-a^{2}t)^{1/2}}{2a\sqrt{t}}dt$

Simplifying (which gives the desired Beta function form)

$\frac{a^{6}}{2}\int^{1}_{0}t^{3/2}(1-t)^{1/2}dt$

Solution
$\frac{a^{6}}{2} B(5/2,3/2) = \frac{a^{6}}{2}\cdot\frac{\pi}{16} = \frac{\pi a^{6}}{32}$

Thanks for the help Dick. I obviously need to work more carefully and practice far more calculus as I keep making the simplest mistakes. As for choosing the substitution, I hope that comes with practice.

I hope my working will help somebody, I end up on these forums from google searches often!

6. May 6, 2012

### Dick

That looks great. If you look back at it, the choice of y=a*sqrt(t) isn't really all that clever. It's just about the only thing you can do to get a (1-t) into the integral.

7. May 7, 2012