Complex analysis - evaluate integral

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the integral $\displaystyle \int_0^{2\pi} \! \frac{1}{(2 + \cos \theta)^2} \mathrm{d} \theta$. Participants explore various methods related to complex analysis, including residue calculus and differentiation under the integral sign, while expressing concerns about the complexity of existing solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Matteo seeks assistance in evaluating the integral and notes the complexity of solutions found online.
  • Some participants suggest using tools like Wolfram Alpha, but others point out that the solutions provided may not directly address the specific integral posed by Matteo.
  • One participant emphasizes that the integral is a typical exercise in a complex analysis course, suggesting that simpler methods related to Taylor/Laurent series or residue calculus should be applicable.
  • Another participant introduces a method involving the substitution $z=e^{i\theta}$, transforming the integral into a contour integral with poles, but acknowledges that the computation is tedious.
  • A different approach is proposed using differentiation under the integral sign, leading to a formula for the integral that involves parameters, but it is not clear how this directly applies to the original integral without further context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to evaluate the integral, with multiple competing approaches and no clear resolution on which is preferable or simpler.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the complexity of the solutions and the applicability of different methods, indicating that assumptions about the integral's evaluation may vary based on the chosen approach.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students and practitioners of complex analysis, particularly those interested in integral evaluation techniques and the application of residue calculus.

matteoit81
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Hi all,

I need to evaluate this integral

anybody could point me to a solution?
I've tried to look around (google, books), but I found no clue to solve it

I wrote it in latex

$\displaystyle \int_0^{2\pi} \! \frac{1}{(2 + \cos \theta)^2} \mathrm{d} \theta$

Thanks for the help,
matteo
 
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matteoit81 said:
Hi all,

I need to evaluate this integral

anybody could point me to a solution?
I've tried to look around (google, books), but I found no clue to solve it

I wrote it in latex

$\displaystyle \int_0^{2\pi} \! \frac{1}{(2 + \cos \theta)^2} \mathrm{d} \theta$

Thanks for the help,
matteo

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=integral[1/(2+Cos[x])]

Click Show Steps.
 
Thank for the fast rea\ply. I didn't know about mathematica website, very useful! :-)

There is just one "problem"

I read the solution of the integral and it is complete but way too complicated...
this one is a typical proposed exercise of complex analysis course and I don't think we are supposed to evaluate it in this way

the course topics are related to taylor/laurent series or residue calculus

is there any easier way to compute the defined integral?
 
Prove It said:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=integral[1%2F(2%2BCos[x])]

Click Show Steps.

unfortunately that is not the integral asked for. It will offer up a steps for the correct integral, but the OPs objection is at least as valid for that.

CB
 
matteoit81 said:
Thank for the fast rea\ply. I didn't know about mathematica website, very useful! :-)

There is just one "problem"

I read the solution of the integral and it is complete but way too complicated...
this one is a typical proposed exercise of complex analysis course and I don't think we are supposed to evaluate it in this way

the course topics are related to taylor/laurent series or residue calculus

is there any easier way to compute the defined integral?

... and there is one more minor problem: the integral to be computed is...

$\displaystyle \int_{0}^{2 \pi} \frac{d\ \theta}{(2+\cos \theta)^{2}}$ (1)

... where the denominator is squared and not $\displaystyle \int_{0}^{2 \pi} \frac{d\ \theta}{2+\cos \theta}$!...

The standard procedure to compute an integral like (1) using complex analysis is to set $\displaystyle z=e^{i\ \theta} \implies \cos \theta= \frac{z+z^{-1}}{2}\ ,\ d \theta= -i\ \frac{d z}{z}$, so that the integral becomes...

$\displaystyle \int_{0}^{2 \pi} \frac{d\ \theta}{(2+\cos \theta)^{2}}= -16\ i\ \int_{C} \frac {z}{z^{4}+8 z^{3} + 18 z^{2} +8 z +1}\ dz$ (2)

... where C is the unit circle [a circle centered in z=0 and with radious 1...]. The f(z) in (2) has a pair of poles with multiplicity 2 in $\displaystyle z_{1}= -2 -\sqrt{3}$ and $z_{2}= -2+\sqrt{3}$ and only the last is inside the unit circle. Applying the Cauchy integral theorem the (2) is $\displaystyle I= 2\ \pi\ i\ r_{1}$ where...

$\displaystyle r_{1}= \lim_{z \rightarrow z_{2}}\frac{d}{dz}\ \{ f(z)\ (z-z_{2})^{2} \}= -16\ i\ \lim_{z \rightarrow z_{2}} \frac{d}{dz} \frac{z}{(z+2+\sqrt{3})^{2}}$ (3)

The details of computation are tedious but not too difficult and are left to 'Matteo'...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
Two words: 'magic differentiation'. Define:

$ \begin{aligned}I(\lambda) & :=\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{\lambda+a\cos{x}}\;{dx} \\& =\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{\lambda\left(\sin^{2} \frac{1}{2}x+\cos^{2} \frac{1}{2}x\right)+a\left(\cos^{2} \frac{1}{2}x-\sin^{2}\frac{1}{2}x\right)}\;{dx}\\& =\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{( \lambda-a)\sin^{2}\frac{1}{2}x+(\lambda+a)\cos^{2} \frac{1}{2} x}\;{dx}\\& =\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{\sec^{2}{\frac{1}{2}x}}{( \lambda+a)+( \lambda-a)\tan^{2}\frac{1}{2}x}\;{dx}\\& = 4\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{( \lambda+a)+(\lambda-a)t^{2}}\;{dt}\\& = 4\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{1}{(\sqrt{\lambda+a})^{2}+(\sqrt{\lambda-a})^{2}t^{2}}\;{dt}\\& =\frac{4}{{\sqrt{\lambda^{2}-a^{2}}}}\tan^{-1}\bigg(\frac{\sqrt{\lambda-a}}{\sqrt{\lambda+a}}~t\bigg)\bigg|_{0}^{\infty}\\& =\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{\lambda^{2}-a^{2}}}.\end{aligned} $

But $\displaystyle I'(\lambda) =-\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{(\lambda+a\cos{x})^{2}}\;{dx} $, thus:

$ \displaystyle \int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{(\lambda+a\cos{x})^{2}}\;{dx}=\frac{2\lambda\pi}{\sqrt{(\lambda^{2}-a^{2})^{3}}}. $
 

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