DEFINITE integral of sinaxsinbx FROM 0 to infinity

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the evaluation of the definite integral of the product of sine functions, specifically sin(ax)sin(bx), from 0 to infinity. Participants explore various approaches and mathematical identities related to this integral, including its convergence properties and alternative formulations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in finding the solution to the integral of sin(ax)sin(bx) from 0 to infinity, noting that their professor has not provided assistance.
  • Another participant suggests using product-to-sum formulas for the sine functions, indicating that if a and b are equal, the double angle formula could be applied.
  • There is a mention that the integral may not converge as t approaches infinity, which raises concerns about the evaluation of the integral in that limit.
  • A later reply elaborates on the derivation of the integral using trigonometric identities, leading to an expression involving cosine functions, but highlights the challenge of taking the limit as A approaches infinity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the convergence of the integral or the best approach to evaluate it, indicating that multiple competing views remain regarding the integral's behavior and the appropriate mathematical techniques to apply.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific mathematical identities and formulas, but there are unresolved assumptions regarding the convergence of the integral and the implications of using different bounds.

iqjump123
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Hello, first time poster.

I am putting this question in the PDE section because this was a question I came up while solving a PDE question.

Also, I figured that since this is not a straight homework question, I can post in this category. Mods, feel free to move this post to wherever you see fit. thanks.

I have looked everywhere, including the gredsteyin book of integrals and transforms to find this solution, but I wasn't able to find it. I am especially talking about the one from 0 to infinity as the bounds.

using mathcad just gives me a solution with infinity in it as a variable.

My professor will not tell me what it is, pretty much telling me that I am a fool for not being able to find it. @#%@#%@#%@

Also, another one that I couldn't find it for was:

integral of sin(ax)sin(ax) from 0 to an arbitrary number t?
Any help on this will be appreciated!
Thanks so much.

iqjump123
 
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iqjump123 said:
Hello, first time poster.

I am putting this question in the PDE section because this was a question I came up while solving a PDE question.

Also, I figured that since this is not a straight homework question, I can post in this category. Mods, feel free to move this post to wherever you see fit. thanks.

I have looked everywhere, including the gredsteyin book of integrals and transforms to find this solution, but I wasn't able to find it. I am especially talking about the one from 0 to infinity as the bounds.

using mathcad just gives me a solution with infinity in it as a variable.

My professor will not tell me what it is, pretty much telling me that I am a fool for not being able to find it. @#%@#%@#%@

Also, another one that I couldn't find it for was:

integral of sin(ax)sin(ax) from 0 to an arbitrary number t?
Any help on this will be appreciated!
Thanks so much.

iqjump123

Look at the product formulas here if a and b aren't equal:

http://www.sosmath.com/trig/prodform/prodform.html

If a = b you can use the double angle formula for sin2(θ). I don't think you will find the integral converges for t → ∞.
 
LCKurtz said:
Look at the product formulas here if a and b aren't equal:

http://www.sosmath.com/trig/prodform/prodform.html

If a = b you can use the double angle formula for sin2(θ). I don't think you will find the integral converges for t → ∞.

Thanks for the info!

I figured as such for the ones with the different values for a and b..
I think I will just write out the indefinite forms and write out the limits manually instead of evaluating it.

If anybody else can shed light on this topic, that will be great!
Thanks very much.
 
You might remember that cos(a+ b)= cos(a)cos(b)- sin(a)sin(b)
Changing the sign on b: cos(a- b)= cos(a)cos(b)+ sin(a)sin(b)
(because cos(-b)= cos(b) and sin(-b)= -sin(b).

Subtracting the first equation from the second, the "cos(a)cos(b)" terms cancel and we have
cos(a-b)- cos(a+b)= 2sin(a)sin(b) so that

sin(a)sin(b)= (1/2)(cos(a-b)- cos(a+ b)[

and, therefore,
sin(ax)sin(bx)= (1/2)(cos((a-b)x)- cos((a+b)x)

From that, it is easy to get
\int_0^A sin(ax)sin(bx)= (1/2)\int_0^A cos((a-b)x)dx- (1/2)\int_0^A cos((a+b)x)
\frac{1}{2(a-b)}sin((a-b)A- \frac{1}{2(a+b)}sin((a+b)A)

But the problem is taking the limit as A goes to infinity!
 

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