Solving integral in complex analysis

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around solving an integral using the Residue Theorem in the context of complex analysis. The integral in question involves the function (cos(2t)) / (5-4*cos(t)) over the interval from t=0 to t=2π.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts a variable substitution to transform the integral into a contour integral in the complex plane. They express concern over their residue calculations and the identification of singularities. Other participants suggest re-evaluating the residue calculations and point out a potential error in the factorization of the denominator.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the original poster's approach, offering corrections and suggestions for re-evaluating the residue calculations. There is a recognition of a mistake in the factorization, and some guidance has been provided regarding the correct formulation of the integral.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of the original integral needing to be evaluated along the unit circle, and the discussion highlights the importance of correctly applying the quadratic formula in the context of the problem.

FreySmint
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Hi! I'm new here, been a fan of this site for years, but only now I felt the need of registering.

Homework Statement



Use the Residue Theorem to solve the integral:

∫[(cos(2t)) / (5-4*cos(t)) ] dt from t=0 to t=2pi2. The attempt at a solution

I did a variable change z=eit. With that:

(1/(2i))*∫[ (z2 + z-2) / (-2z2 +5z -2)]

Only taking the integral, I came up with:

∫[ (z4 +1) / (z2 * (z-1/2) * (z-2))]

Which has 3 singularaties: 1/2 , 2 and 0
Only 2 is not in the path considered.

The residue in 1/2 is -17/6 and in 0 is 5/2 as they are poles of order 1 and 2 respectively.

And with that, I have:

1/(2i) * 2*pi*i * (-17/6 + 5/2) = - Pi/3

Which is wrong, as the answer is actually Pi/6

Where did I go wrong?

Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited:
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FreySmint said:
Hi! I'm new here, been a fan of this site for years, but only now I felt the need of registering.

Homework Statement



Use the Residue Theorem to solve the integral:

∫[(cos(2t)) / (5-4*cos(t)) ] dt from t=0 to t=2pi


2. The attempt at a solution

I did a variable change z=eit. With that:

(1/(2i))*∫[ (z2 + z-2) / (-2z2 +5z -2)]

Only taking the integral, I came up with:

∫[ (z4 +1) / (z2 * (z-1/2) * (z-2))]

Which has 3 singularaties: 1/2 , 2 and 0
Only 2 is not in the path considered.

The residue in 1/2 is -17/6 and in 0 is 5/2 as they are poles of order 1 and 2 respectively.

And with that, I have:

1/(2i) * 2*pi*i * (-17/6 + 5/2) = - Pi/3

Which is wrong, as the answer is actually Pi/6

Where did I go wrong?

Thanks in advance!

Re-do the residue calculations
 
jackmell said:
Re-do the residue calculations

And notice that (z-1/2)*(z-2) is not equal to (-2z^2+5z-2).
 
Dick said:
And notice that (z-1/2)*(z-2) is not equal to (-2z^2+5z-2).

ouch. Would have failed that test. Thanks for pointing that out Dick. Hope the op didn't spend a lot of time re-doing the residue calculations with the wrong factor.
 
Note that to get your original integral you have to integrate
f(z)=\frac{1}{\mathrm{i} z} \cdot \frac{z+z^{-2}}{2(5-2(z+1/z))}=\frac{\mathrm{i}(1+z^4)}{z^2(2z^2-5z+2)}
along the unit circle z=\exp(\mathrm{i} t) with t \in \{0,2 \pi\}.

Now you can use the residue theorem, which gives you immediately \pi/6. To be honest, I've been lazy and did this with help of Mathematica :-).
 
Thanks everyone! I feel really stupid right now, my mistake was quite dumb... I had forgotten that when you use quadratic formula, if the quadratic coefficient (a) is not 1, you'll have a*(x-z1)(x-z2). I often forget the most basic stuff.
Thank you!
 

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