Complex Analysis - Cauchy Integral? Which technique do I use?

r19ecua
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Homework Statement



\int_0^\infty\frac{x^{p-1}}{1+ x}dx
** I could not get p-1 to show as the exponent; the problem is x raised to the power of
p-1.

\int_0^\infty\frac{ln(x) dx}{(x^2+1)^2}


The Attempt at a Solution



There is no attempt, but I would like to make one! I'm asking for guidance. I've been given these integrals from my engineering professor and was told to solve them over the winter break. That by researching these integrals, I can begin to prepare myself for complex analysis next semester. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to approach them. What complex analysis technique is used to solve these? I'd really like to read up on it as well as everything I need to know to understand the technique.. Thanks !
 
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r19ecua said:

Homework Statement



∫ \frac{x^(p-1)}{1+ x} dx
0
Put the p-1 (or anything you want kept together) in { }, not ( ). Also, it is better to put an entire formula in Latex, not just part. The Latex for the integral sign is "\int_0^\infty".

\int_0^\infty\frac{x^{p-1}}{1+ x} dx gives
\int_0^\infty\frac{x^{p-1}}{1+ x} dx

** I could not get p-1 to show as the exponent; the problem is x raised to the power of p-1.
Assuming that p\ge 1, that has a pole only at x=-1. One way to do this is to write it as part of contour integral, with the complex z in place of x, going along the upper quarter-circle |z|= \epsilon from \epsilon i to \epsilon, 0), the real axis from \epsilon to R, the quarter circle of |z|= R, from R to Ri, then the imaginary axis from Ri to \epsilon i. End by taking the limits as R goes to infinity and \epsilon goes to 0.

∫\frac{ln(x) dx}{(x^2+1)^2}


The Attempt at a Solution



There is no attempt, but I would like to make one! I'm asking for guidance. I've been given these integrals from my engineering professor and was told to solve them over the winter break. That by researching these integrals, I can begin to prepare myself for complex analysis next semester. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to approach them. What complex analysis technique is used to solve these? I'd really like to read up on it as well as everything I need to know to understand the technique.. Thanks !
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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