Definite Integral of Exponential Function

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[SOLVED] Definite Integral of Exponential Function

Homework Statement


I have an integral that I need to solve for a quantum physics problem

[tex]\int^{\infty}_{-\infty}e^{-a|x| - ikx}dx[/tex]

How would I go about solving this thing?
 
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Split it into two intervals, i.e. [itex](-\infty,0),\,(0,\infty)[/itex] and make a change or variables in the first one [itex]x\to-x[/itex]
 
Rainbow Child said:
Split it into two intervals, i.e. [itex](-\infty,0),\,(0,\infty)[/itex] and make a change or variables in the first one [itex]x\to-x[/itex]


[tex]\int^{\infty}_{-\infty}e^{-a|x| - ikx}dx[/tex]

Split into two intervals
[tex]\int^{\infty}_{0}e^{-a|x| - ikx}dx + \int^{0}_{-\infty}e^{-a|x| - ikx}dx[/tex]

Change of variables in the second term x to -x
[tex]\int^{\infty}_{0}e^{-a|x| - ikx}dx - \int^{0}_{\infty}e^{-a|x| + ikx}dx[/tex]

[tex]\int^{\infty}_{0}e^{-a|x| - ikx}dx + \int^{\infty}_{0}e^{-a|x| + ikx}dx[/tex]

Are these steps what you are talking about?
What would I do from here?
 
Since [itex]x\in(0,\infty)\Rightarrow |x|=x[/itex]. Now combine the two integrals.
 
Rainbow Child said:
Since [itex]x\in(0,\infty)\Rightarrow |x|=x[/itex]. Now combine the two integrals.

Oh...duh...thank you