How does WolframAlpha use the gamma function to solve this integral?

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on how WolframAlpha utilizes the gamma function to solve the integral of e^(ix)/(ix)^(1/5) from negative to positive infinity. The user expresses difficulty in understanding the derivation of the result, specifically the appearance of Γ(4/5). The solution involves applying the Fourier transform of the function f(x) = (ix)^(-1/5) and evaluating it at the angular frequency of -1, leading to the conclusion that the expression simplifies to 2π/Γ(1/5), which aligns with WolframAlpha's output.

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I don't see how it produced \Gamma (\frac{4}{5}), but I did find one way to solve it:

The Fourier transform of f(x) in non-unitary, angular frequency form is:

\hat f (\upsilon) = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) e^{-i \upsilon x} dx

We have f(x) = (ix)^{-\frac{1}{5}} and will just need to evaluate \hat f (\upsilon) at \upsilon = -1 once we find an expression for it:

You'll note that the bottom entry in this table (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_transform#Distributions) works for us in this situation, with \alpha = \frac{1}{5}

At \upsilon = -1 the expression reduces to \hat f (-1) = \frac{2 \pi}{\Gamma (\frac{1}{5})} = 1.368... -- agreeing with wolframalpha's calculated value.
 
Last edited:

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