Small mistake, complex calculus

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a complex calculus problem involving contour integration and the evaluation of an integral with trigonometric functions. The original poster attempts to compute an integral but arrives at an incorrect result, prompting requests for assistance in identifying the mistake.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the contour integral and question specific factors involved in the calculations. There are inquiries about the derivation of certain coefficients and signs in the expressions used.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and questioning each other's reasoning. Some guidance has been offered regarding potential errors in the calculations, and there is a recognition of typographical mistakes that may have contributed to the confusion.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of a homework problem, which may limit the amount of information shared and the depth of explanation provided. There is an acknowledgment of simple mistakes that can occur in complex calculations.

joris_pixie
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Im trying to solve:
But i always come out:
[tex]\int^{2PI}_{0}[/tex] (sin²(x) / (5 - 4cos(x))dx

==> (i/4)[tex]\oint(z^2-1)^2 / (z^2(z-2)(z-1/2)) dz[/tex]= 2pi i (i/4) (RES (z=0) + RES (z = 1/2)) = (-pi/2) (5/2 - 3/2) = -pi/2

instead of pi/4 please help
 
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I can't really tell what you are doing wrong from what you've posted, but I get a factor of (-i/8) in front of your contour integral.
 
Dick said:
I can't really tell what you are doing wrong from what you've posted, but I get a factor of (-i/8) in front of your contour integral.

That would do the trick, but could you please write how you get to -i/8 in front of it ?
 
How did you get your i/4?
 
my mistake

my mistake should be here:

http://www.pixie.be/wrong.jpg

But I can't see it ...
Could some one please help ? :(
 
Last edited by a moderator:
In going from the second contour to the third you seem to have just moved an i from the denominator to the numerator. You are now off by a sign. 5z-2z^2-2=(-2)(z-2)(z-1/2). There's another sign and a factor of two you made disappear.
 
Dick said:
In going from the second contour to the third you seem to have just moved an i from the denominator to the numerator.
ow yes, that was a typing error !

Dick said:
You are now off by a sign. 5z-2z^2-2=(-2)(z-2)(z-1/2).
Aha, got it;
After studying a lot of math, it's mostly the problem that i forget to do the 'simple' things correct ;) haha
Stupid mistake, but thank you so much !
 

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