# Homework Help: Extremely confusing integral

1. Oct 3, 2012

### Elysian

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Find the integral of

$\int\frac{cos(x)}{1+e^{x}}$

2. Relevant equations

Given that

$\frac{1}{1+e^{x}}$-$\frac{1}{2}$ is an odd function

3. The attempt at a solution

I tried integration by parts, with both u = cos(x) and u = 1+e^x, and both only complicated it even more. I've not learned infinite series and sequences so I'm not sure thats the way.

I did try writing cos(x) as $\frac{e^{ix}+e^{-ix}}{2}$, but I'm not sure what to do after that. I can see that there'd be some hyperbolic stuff in here but again, I'm not sure where exactly to start.

2. Oct 3, 2012

### LCKurtz

I don't see how that is relevant unless you are doing a definite integral on an interval like [-a,a].
I don't think there is an elementary antiderivative.

3. Oct 3, 2012

### Elysian

Oh jeez I forgot to put the interval. its from -pi/2 to pi/2. I'm really sorry about that

4. Oct 3, 2012

### LCKurtz

If $f(x)$ is odd what do you know about $\int_{-a}^a f(x)\, dx$?

5. Oct 3, 2012

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
So, what is $\displaystyle \int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2}\left(\frac{1}{1+e^{x}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)\cos(x)\,dx\ ?$

6. Oct 3, 2012

### Elysian

It would equal 0. So as SammyS put it, it would be $\displaystyle \int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2}\left(\frac{1}{1+e^{x}}-\frac{1}{2}\right)\cos(x)\,dx\ ?$, where the first term would go to zero and then I'm left to evaluate the last bit which would be -$\int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2}\frac{cos(x)}{2}$?

Is this just the integral of the right side then? So it's just -1?

7. Oct 3, 2012

### LCKurtz

No. You don't evaluate an integral in pieces like that. You have $\frac{1}{1+e^{x}}-\frac{1}{2}$ multiplied by $\cos x$. Is $\cos x$ even, odd, or neither? What about its product with $\frac{1}{1+e^{x}}-\frac{1}{2}$?

8. Oct 3, 2012

### SammyS

Staff Emeritus
Remember, the hint says that $\displaystyle \frac{1}{1+e^{x}}-\frac{1}{2}\$ is odd (that entire expression).

How do you get $\displaystyle \frac{1}{1+e^{x}}-\frac{1}{2}\$ from $\displaystyle \frac{1}{1+e^{x}}\ ?$