Solve the following integral without complex analysis:

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of the integral \(\int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(x)}{1+x^2}\,dx\) without using complex analysis or transformation methods. Participants explore various approaches, including integration by parts and series expansions, while also referencing methods involving Fourier transforms and residues.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using integration by parts twice, although there is uncertainty about its effectiveness and the limits involved.
  • One participant introduces a method involving the differentiation of an integral with respect to a parameter, leading to a proposed solution of \(\frac{\pi}{2e}\), but this method relies on assumptions that are not fully verified.
  • Another participant describes a method using residues, arriving at the same result of \(\frac{\pi}{2e}\), but acknowledges that this approach involves complex analysis, which is not permitted in the context of the original question.
  • Several participants express interest in the Fourier transform method, with one participant indicating that they believe it could yield the same result, but no detailed exploration of this method is provided in the thread.
  • There are discussions about the validity of limits in integration by parts, with some participants admitting they have not verified these limits.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to evaluate the integral, with multiple competing views and approaches presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the effectiveness of the proposed methods without the use of complex analysis.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made in the proposed methods, particularly concerning the handling of limits in integration by parts and the reliance on complex analysis in some suggested approaches.

alyafey22
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\[\int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(x) }{1+x^2}\,dx\]

I know it can be solved by Fourier transform and also by residues , but my teacher
asked me to solve it by not using transformation or complex analysis (Happy)
 
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ZaidAlyafey said:
$\int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(x) }{1+x^2}$

I know it can be solved by Fourier transform and also by residues , but my teacher
asked me to solve it by not using transformation or complex analysis (Happy)
Try integration by parts twice.

Warning: There are some limits that come up which I think can be removed. But I didn't check that in detail.

-Dan
 
topsquark said:
Try integration by parts twice.

-Dan

Is this just a suggestion , or does it really work because it doesn't get any simper ?

topsquark said:
Warning: There are some limits that come up which I think can be removed. But I didn't check that in detail.

-Dan

I don't get what you mean ?
 
ZaidAlyafey said:
$\displaystyle \int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(x) }{1+x^2}\;{dx}$

Let $\displaystyle I(\lambda) = \int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\sin(\lambda x)}{x(1+x^2)}\;{dx} ~~ (\lambda > 0). $ Differentiating this w.r.t. $\lambda$ we have $\displaystyle I'(\lambda) = \int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(\lambda x) }{1+x^2}\;{dx}.$

Also $\displaystyle I''(\lambda) = -\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{x\sin(\lambda x)}{1+x^2}\;{dx}$ thus $\displaystyle I(\lambda)-I''(\lambda) =\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{(1+x^2) \sin( \lambda x)}{x(1+x^2)}\;{dx} = \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin(\lambda x)}{x}\;{dx}.$

Letting $\displaystyle t = \lambda x$ we have $\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin(\lambda x)}{x}\;{dx} = \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin{t}}{t}\;{dt} = \frac{\pi}{2}$ (well-known). Hence $\displaystyle I(\lambda)-I''(\lambda) = \frac{\pi}{2}$.
Solving $ I''(\lambda)-I(\lambda)+\frac{\pi}{2} =0$ we get $ I(\lambda) = \mathcal{C}_{1}e^x+\mathcal{C}_{2}e^{-x}+\frac{\pi}{2}$. From the integral we observe that $I(0) = 0$, thus we have $ 0 = \mathcal{C}_{1}+\mathcal{C}_{2}+\frac{\pi}{2}$ so $\mathcal{C}_{1}+\mathcal{C}_{2} = -\frac{\pi}{2}$ (1). But also by differentiating we get $I'(\lambda) = \mathcal{C}_{1}e^x-\mathcal{C}_{2}e^{-x}$. From our integral we observe that $I'(0) = \frac{\pi}{2}$, and thus we have $ \mathcal{C}_{1}-\mathcal{C}_{2} = \frac{\pi}{2}$ (2). Adding (1) and (2) we have $\mathcal{C}_{1} = 0$ and/so $\mathcal{C}_{2} = -\frac{\pi}{2}$. Hence $\displaystyle I'(\lambda) = \frac{\pi}{2e^{\lambda}}$, thus:

$$\displaystyle \int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(x) }{1+x^2} = \frac{\pi}{2e}. $$
 
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Sherlock said:
Let $\displaystyle I(\lambda) = \int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\sin(\lambda x)}{x(1+x^2)}\;{dx} ~~ (\lambda > 0). $. Differentiating this w.r.t. $\lambda$ we have $\displaystyle I'(\lambda) = \int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(\lambda x) }{1+x^2}\;{dx}.$

Also $\displaystyle I''(\lambda) = -\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{x\sin(\lambda x)}{1+x^2}\;{dx}$ thus $\displaystyle I(\lambda)-I''(\lambda) =\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{(1+x^2) \sin( \lambda x)}{x(1+x^2)}\;{dx} = \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin(\lambda x)}{x}\;{dx}.$

Letting $\displaystyle t = \lambda x$ we have $\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin(\lambda x)}{x}\;{dx} = \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\sin{t}}{t}\;{dt} = \frac{\pi}{2}$ (well-known). Hence $\displaystyle I(\lambda)-I''(\lambda) = \frac{\pi}{2}$.
Solving $ I''(\lambda)-I(\lambda)+\frac{\pi}{2} =0$ we get $ I(\lambda) = \mathcal{C}_{1}e^x+\mathcal{C}_{2}e^{-x}+\frac{\pi}{2}$. From the integral we observe that $I(0) = 0$, thus we have $ 0 = \mathcal{C}_{1}+\mathcal{C}_{2}+\frac{\pi}{2}$ so $\mathcal{C}_{1}+\mathcal{C}_{2} = -\frac{\pi}{2}$ (1). But also by differentiating we get $I'(\lambda) = \mathcal{C}_{1}e^x-\mathcal{C}_{2}e^{-x}$. From our integral we observe that $I'(0) = \frac{\pi}{2}$, and thus we have $ \mathcal{C}_{1}-\mathcal{C}_{2} = \frac{\pi}{2}$ (2). Adding (1) and (2) we have $\mathcal{C}_{1} = 0$ and/so $\mathcal{C}_{2} = -\frac{\pi}{2}$. Hence $\displaystyle I'(\lambda) = \frac{\pi}{2e^{\lambda}}$, thus:

$$\displaystyle \int^{\infty}_{0} \frac{\cos(x) }{1+x^2} = \frac{\pi}{2e}. $$


Feynman would be proud - differentiating under the integral sign!
 
ZaidAlyafey said:
I don't get what you mean ?
Well, I like Sherlock's method better, but here's a bit more on the integration by parts.

Obviously
\int_a^b p~dq = pq |_a^b - \int_a^b q~dp

There will be two limits cos(x)atan(x)|_0^{\infty} and sin(x)atan(x)|_0^{\infty}

I didn't check these limits to see if they actually cancel out. (I still didn't. Lazy again.)

-Dan

Ach-choo: You say that like it's a bad thing...
 
Ok , I will show the other two methods .

First : By residues :

\int^{\infty}_0 \frac{\cos(x) }{x^2+1}=\frac{1}{2}\int^{\infty}_{-\infty} \frac{\cos(x) }{x^2+1}=\mathcal{Re}( \frac{1}{2}\int^{\infty}_{-\infty} \frac{e^{iz} }{z^2+1})

By drawing a sermi-circle in the upper half plane we get the following :

\frac{1}{2}\int^{\infty}_{-\infty} \frac{e^{ix} }{x^2+1}= \pi i \mathcal{Rez}(f(z) ,i )

\pi i (\frac{e^{iz}}{2z}|_{z=i})= \pi i \frac{e^{-1}}{2i}= \frac{\pi}{2e}
 
I'm looking forward to the Fourier transform method (unless you meant Laplace (Giggle)).
 
Second by the Fourier integral :

f(x)= \int^{\infty}_0 A(\lambda) \cos(\lambda x)d\lambda +\int^{\infty}_0 B(\lambda) \sin(\lambda x)d\lambda -----(1)

f(x) = \begin{cases}e^{-x} &; \mbox{if } x > 0 \\e^{x} &; \mbox{if } x<0 \\1 &; \mbox{if } x=0\end{cases}

A(\lambda)= \frac{1}{\pi}\int^{\infty}_{-\infty}\, f(x)\, \cos(\lambda x)dx

Now since f(x) is an even function :

A(\lambda)= \frac{2}{\pi}\int^{\infty}_{0}\, e^{-x}\, \cos(\lambda x)dx =\frac{ 2\mathcal{L}(\cos(\lambda x))}{\pi}= \frac{2}{\pi(x^2+\lambda^2)}

B(\lambda)=\int^{\infty}_{-\infty} f(x) \sin(\lambda x)dx=0

By evenness the upper integral is zero .

substituting in ---(1) we get the following : e^{-x}= \int^{\infty}_0 \frac{2\cos(\lambda x)}{\pi(x^2+\lambda^2)}d\lambda \,\, \, x>0

Now putting x =1 we get the following :

e^{-1}= \frac{2}{\pi}\int^{\infty}_0 \frac{\cos(\lambda)}{(1+\lambda^2)}d\lambda

\int^{\infty}_0 \frac{\cos(x)}{(1+x^2)}dx= \frac{\pi}{2e}
 
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  • #10
Sherlock said:
I'm looking forward to the Fourier transform method (unless you meant Laplace (Giggle)).

I always think that Laplace transform is a special case of the general Fourier transform .
 

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