Solve Double Integration: \int\frac{x^2-y^2}{(x^2+y^2)^2}dx

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\int \frac{x^2 - y^2}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} dx

Above is an integration involved in a double integration, I know the answers via TI-89, but I am trying to find out how to get them :frown: I have tried trig substitution, u sub, integration by parts, etc. etc. And I am out of ideas. Can anyone please help?

Thanks!
 
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Do you know partial fractions?
 
First of all, label your original integral as, say, I

I=\int \frac{x^2 - y^2}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} dx

Then split the integral into two separate integrals, one where x^2 is in the numerator, and other where y^2 is in the numerator.

With the first integral (the numerator x^2 one), integrate this by parts with the aim of maxing the denominator of your integral (x^2 + y^2).

After you have done this, look at the complete expression for I (substituting into this the integration-by-parts you just carried out).The integrals which remain (the one involving y^2 in the numerator, and the integral which is left from integration by parts), combine them both back into one single integral, with the integrand expressed as a single fraction. Compare this integral with the the expression for I on the first line (i.e. the expression above). You should then have an algebraic equation in I, which you can solve.
 
Do a trig substitution with x = y Tan[theta], dx = y (Sec[theta])^2. This will reduce your function to something resembling a trig identity that can easily be integrated.
 
Partial fractioning is probably the easiest way as StatusX suggested.
 
StatusX said:
Do you know partial fractions?

Yea I tried that but you end up with

x^2 - y^2 = A(x^2 + Y^2) + B(x^2 + Y^2)

And when you set x^2 = -y^2 you would end up with -2y^2 =0 which really isn't a helpful expression :(
 
Why would you set x^2=-y^2? You need to write:

\frac{x^2-y^2}{(x^2+y^2)^2} = \frac{Ax+B}{x^2+y^2}+\frac{Cx+D}{(x^2+y^2)^2}

Then solve for A,B,C,D.
 
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There's a quicker way to manipulate the integrand into a form which ia easier to integrate if you say that

<br /> (x^2 + y^2) = (x+iy)(x-iy)<br />

and

<br /> x^2 - y^2 = \frac{1}{2}\left[(x+iy)^2 + (x-iy)^2\right]<br />

So,

<br /> \frac{x^2 - y^2}{(x^2 + y^2)^2} = \frac{1}{2}\frac{(x+iy)^2 + (x-iy)^2}{(x+iy)^2(x-iy)^2}<br />
 
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