MHB Can You Crack This Tricky Integral Challenge?

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    2015
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The integral challenge presented involves evaluating the integral of the function (cos x - cos 2x) divided by x squared over the entire real line. Participants are encouraged to justify each major step in their calculations. Despite the complexity, no solutions were provided by other users, highlighting the difficulty of the problem. The original poster has shared their own solution, indicating a willingness to engage with the challenge. This integral problem serves as a stimulating exercise for those interested in advanced calculus techniques.
Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Evaluate the integral

$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{\cos x - \cos 2x}{x^2}\, dx.$$

Justify the major steps of your calculation.
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No one answered this week's problem. Here is my solution.
The integral evaluates to $\pi$. First write

$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{\cos x - \cos 2x}{x^2}\, dx = 2\int_0^\infty \frac{\cos x - \cos 2x}{x^2}\, dx = 2\int_{0}^\infty \int_1^2 \frac{\sin tx}{x}\, dt\, dx.$$

The integral $\int_0^\infty \frac{\sin tx}{x}\, dx$ converges uniformly on $[1,2]$ since it converges (to $\frac{\pi}{2}$) on $[1,2]$ and the integrand (which we assume to have value $t$ at $x = 0$) is continuous on every rectangle $[1,2] \times [0,M]$, $M > 0$. Therefore

$$2\int_0^\infty \int_1^2 \frac{\sin tx}{x}\, dt\, dx = 2\int_1^2 \int_0^\infty \frac{\sin tx}{x}\, dx\, dt = 2\int_1^2 \frac{\pi}{2}\, dt = \pi.$$
 

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