How Does Complex Analysis Explain the Integral of Sin^2(x)/x^2?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of the integral $$\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\sin^2 x}{x^2}dx$$ using complex analysis techniques. Participants explore various methods, including the use of Fourier transforms, residue theory, and the properties of complex functions.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states the integral evaluates to $$\frac{\pi}{2}$$ and suggests considering the integral of $$(1 - e^{2ix})/x^2$$.
  • Another participant provides an expression for $$\sin^2 z$$ using complex exponentials but expresses confusion about how to apply the hint given.
  • Some participants propose using Parseval's identity of the Fourier Transform as a method to compute the integral, suggesting a specific function for analysis.
  • There is a discussion on the even nature of $$\frac{\sin^2 z}{z^2}$$ and its implications for the integral over symmetric limits.
  • One participant questions how the term $$\cos 2z$$ simplifies to $$e^{-2iz}$$ in the context of their calculations.
  • Several participants detail the steps involved in using residue theory to evaluate the integral, including the treatment of poles and limits in the complex plane.
  • Another participant raises a question about the treatment of the exponential series expansion and its terms in relation to the integral.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various methods and approaches to evaluate the integral, with no consensus on a single method being preferred. Multiple competing views and techniques remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the application of specific techniques, such as the use of Parseval's identity or the simplification of complex terms, indicating that further clarification may be needed.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for those interested in complex analysis, integral calculus, and the application of Fourier transforms in evaluating integrals.

Dustinsfl
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$$
\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\sin^2 x}{x^2}dx = \frac{\pi}{2}
$$.

[Hint: Consider the integral of $(1 - e^{2ix})/x^2)$.]

If we look at the complex sine, we have that $\sin z = \frac{e^{iz}-e^{-iz}}{2i}$. Then
$$
\sin^2z = \frac{e^{-2iz}-e^{2iz}}{4}
$$
so
$$
\frac{\sin^2 z}{z^2} = \frac{e^{-2iz}-e^{2iz}}{4z^2}
$$

I can't obtain the hint it is saying. What am I doing wrong?
 
Last edited:
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Is...

$\displaystyle \sin^{2} z= (\frac{e^{i z}-e^{- i z}}{2i})^{2}= - \frac{e^{2 i z} -2 + e^{-2 i z}}{4}$ (1)

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
chisigma said:
Is...

$\displaystyle \sin^{2} z= (\frac{e^{i z}-e^{- i z}}{2i})^{2}= - \frac{e^{2 i z} -2 + e^{-2 i z}}{4}$ (1)

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

From that, I don't see how we get the hint.
 
In my opinion the best way to compute the definite integral $\displaystyle \int_{- \infty}^{+ \infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}}\ dx$ is the application of the Parseval's identity of the Fourier Transform...

$\displaystyle \int_{- \infty}^{+ \infty} |f(t)|^{2}\ dt = \frac{1}{2 \pi}\ \int_{- \infty}^{+ \infty} |F(\omega)|^{2}\ d \omega$ (1)

... to the function...

$\displaystyle f(t)=\begin{cases}1&\text{if}\ |t|<1\\ 0 &\text{if}\ |t|>1\end{cases}$ (2)

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
chisigma said:
In my opinion the best way to compute the definite integral $\displaystyle \int_{- \infty}^{+ \infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}}\ dx$ is the application of the Parseval's identity of the Fourier Transform...$\displaystyle \int_{- \infty}^{+ \infty} |f(t)|^{2}\ dt = \frac{1}{2 \pi}\ \int_{- \infty}^{+ \infty} |F(\omega)|^{2}\ d \omega$ (1)... to the function... $\displaystyle f(t)=\begin{cases}1&\text{if}\ |t|1\end{cases}$ (2)Kind regards $\chi$ $\sigma$
In the fall when I am taking Fourier Transforms & Series, this method may be great, but at the moment, it isn't.I need to use Residue Theory, Cauchy Principal Value Theorem, and complex integration.
 
Since $\frac{\sin^2 z}{z^2}$ is even,
$$
\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\sin^2 x}{x^2}dx = \frac{1}{2}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\frac{\sin^2 x}{x^2}dx
$$
and $\sin^2z = \frac{1 - \cos 2z}{2}$.

Then we have
$$
\frac{1}{4}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}\frac{1 - \cos 2z}{z^2}dx
$$

How does $\cos 2z$ which is $\frac{e^{2iz}+e^{-2iz}}{2}$ go from that to simply $e^{-2iz}$?
 
$\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{2} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{2} \ \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{4} \ \text{Re} \ \text{PV}\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{1-e^{2ix}}{x^{2}} \ dx $let $f\displaystyle (z) = \frac{1-e^{2iz}}{z^{2}}$

$\displaystyle \int_{-R}^{-r} f(x) \ dx + \int_{C_{r}} f(z) \ dz + \int_{r}^{R} f(x) \ dx + \int_{C_{R}} f(z) \ dz = 2 \pi i (0) = 0$

where $C_{r}$ is a small upper half circle of radius $r$ about the origin and $C_{R}$ is a large upper half circle of radius $R$$f(z)$ has a simple pole at the origin

$\displaystyle \frac{1- e^{2iz}}{z^{2}} = \frac{1 -(1 +2iz-2z^{2} + \ldots) }{z^{2}} = -\frac{2i}{z} + 2 + \ldots $now let $r$ go to zero and $R$ go to infinity

$\displaystyle \text{PV}\ \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) \ dx + \lim_{r \to 0} \int_{C_{r}} f(z) \ dz + \lim_{R \to \infty} \int_{C_{R}} f(z) \ dz = 0$since $z=0$ is a simple pole $\displaystyle \lim_{r \to 0} \int_{C_{r}} f(z) \ dz = - i \pi \text{Res}[f,0] = -i \pi (-2i) = -2 \pi $

and $\displaystyle \lim_{R \to \infty} \int_{C_{R}} f(z) \ dz = 0$ by Jordan's lemmaso $\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{4} \text{Re} \ \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) \ dx = \frac{1}{4} (2 \pi) = \frac{\pi}{2}$
 
Random Variable said:
$\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{2} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{2} \ \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{4} \ \text{Re} \ \text{PV}\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{1-e^{2ix}}{x^{2}} \ dx $let $f\displaystyle (z) = \frac{1-e^{2iz}}{z^{2}}$

$\displaystyle \int_{-R}^{-r} f(x) \ dx + \int_{C_{r}} f(z) \ dz + \int_{r}^{R} f(x) \ dx + \int_{C_{R}} f(z) \ dz = 2 \pi i (0) = 0$

where $C_{r}$ is a small upper half circle of radius $r$ about the origin and $C_{R}$ is a large upper half circle of radius $R$$f(z)$ has a simple pole at the origin

$\displaystyle \frac{1- e^{2iz}}{z^{2}} = \frac{1 -(1 +2iz-2z^{2} + \ldots) }{z^{2}} = -\frac{2i}{z} + 2 + \ldots $now let $r$ go to zero and $R$ go to infinity

$\displaystyle \text{PV}\ \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) \ dx + \lim_{r \to 0} \int_{C_{r}} f(z) \ dz + \lim_{R \to \infty} \int_{C_{R}} f(z) \ dz = 0$since $z=0$ is a simple pole $\displaystyle \lim_{r \to 0} \int_{C_{r}} f(z) \ dz = - i \pi \text{Res}[f,0] = -i \pi (-2i) = -2 \pi $

and $\displaystyle \lim_{R \to \infty} \int_{C_{R}} f(z) \ dz = 0$ by Jordan's lemmaso $\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = \frac{1}{4} \text{Re} \ \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) \ dx = \frac{1}{4} (2 \pi) = \frac{\pi}{2}$

This is great but it didn't answer the question I had in post 6. If it does, it isn't explicitly apparent.
 
$\displaystyle \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{1-e^{2ix}}{x^{2}} \ dx = \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{1-\cos 2x - i \sin 2x}{x^{2}} \ dx $

so $\displaystyle \text{Re} \ \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{1-e^{2ix}}{x^{2}} \ dx = \text{PV} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{1-\cos 2x}{x^{2}} \ = \ \text{PV} \ 2 \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx = 2 \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx$ (since $\displaystyle \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\sin^{2} x}{x^{2}} \ dx$ is a convergent integral)
 
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  • #10
One last quick question. Why is your expansion of e neglecting division by division by n! for the respected term of the series?
Never mind I forgot to square the 2
 

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