# Introducing parameters in integrals

## Homework Statement

Using the integral ∫dx/1+x^2 = pi/2 from 0 to infinity as a guide, introduce a parameter and then differentiate with respect to this parameter to evaluate the integral
∫dx/(x^2+a^2)^3 from 0 to infinity

## The Attempt at a Solution

∫(1/1+x^2) = tan^-1(x)
introducing parameter x/a to replace x we get

∫(1/a)/(1+(x/a)^2) = tan^-1(x/a)

∫dx/(a^2+x^2) = 1/a*tan^-1(x/a)

d/da(1/(x^2+a^2)) = -2a/(x^2+a^2)^2

im kind of stuck here. i don't really understand how to do this question, if anyone can help me understand/ lead me to the correct path that would be appreciated.

STEMucator
Homework Helper

## Homework Statement

Using the integral ∫dx/1+x^2 = pi/2 from 0 to infinity as a guide, introduce a parameter and then differentiate with respect to this parameter to evaluate the integral
∫dx/(x^2+a^2)^3 from 0 to infinity

## The Attempt at a Solution

∫(1/1+x^2) = tan^-1(x)
introducing parameter x/a to replace x we get

∫(1/a)/(1+(x/a)^2) = tan^-1(x/a)

∫dx/(a^2+x^2) = 1/a*tan^-1(x/a)

d/da(1/(x^2+a^2)) = -2a/(x^2+a^2)^2

im kind of stuck here. i don't really understand how to do this question, if anyone can help me understand/ lead me to the correct path that would be appreciated.

How about, let ##x = atan(θ)## then ##dx = asec^2(θ)dθ##.

Sorry but I'm not sure where you're getting that from. My teacher used the method above to solve for a similar problem, but I don't fully understand it.

STEMucator
Homework Helper
Sorry but I'm not sure where you're getting that from. My teacher used the method above to solve for a similar problem, but I don't fully understand it.

It's called a trig substitution. It's designed to help you simplify the integral into something more manageable.

There are three trig substitutions you should probably learn, and they come from recognizing patterns in the integral.

The first paragraph of this article pretty much sums it all up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigonometric_substitution

Office_Shredder
Staff Emeritus
Gold Member
Zondrina's suggestion will help solve it, but it's not really the way the question asks you to do it. Consider
$$\frac{d}{da} \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{dx}{(x^2+a^2)}$$

Do you see how this will get you closer to the integral that you want to calculate?

Zondrina's suggestion will help solve it, but it's not really the way the question asks you to do it. Consider
$$\frac{d}{da} \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{dx}{(x^2+a^2)}$$

Do you see how this will get you closer to the integral that you want to calculate?

That's as far as I understand it unfortunately. I remember from a previous question we somehow manipulated the derivative of that to get this
2a∫dx/(a^2+x^2)^2 = 1/a^2*tan^-1(x/a) +(1/a)*1/(1+(x^2/a^2))*(x/a^2)

This is the the part I'm mostly having trouble understanding.

I also tried Zondria's method and got to 1/a^5∫cos^4(θ)dθ and got stuck, but like you said I'm mostly interested on the other method of finding it right now (although I'll continue to try this one too to fully understand this).

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Office_Shredder
Staff Emeritus
Gold Member
When you say "this is the part I'm mostly having trouble understanding", what part are you having trouble understanding exactly? Why that was helpful, or why you can take the derivative like that in the first place?

I mean I know how to find the derivative of the integral, but after that I'm not sure what to do. The above is finding the integral of 2a/(a^2+x^2)^2 after finding the derivative of 1/(a^2+x^2). I don't know what the point is in finding the derivative though. That's what I'm confused on. In the original question I probably have to find the derivative twice, but after that I'm not sure what to do. I might be completely wrong about all this. Would be nice if someone pushed me in the right direction.

Office_Shredder
Staff Emeritus
Gold Member
Once you took the derivative, the power of x2 + a2 went from 1 to 2 in the denominator. You wish it was three though.... can you guess what you should do to increase the power once more?

i already know that. find the derivative again but after that what do i do?

so i have the second derivative = -2(x^2-3a^2)/(a^2+x^2)^3

now what

Office_Shredder
Staff Emeritus
Gold Member
Whoops, forgot to mention that it might help to divide both sides by a before taking the next derivative.

man, never mind I give up. I just don't understand this and I'll leave it at that.

Office_Shredder
Staff Emeritus