What is the Integral of Sin(x)/(x^2+1) from -1 to 1?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the evaluation of the integral of the function \(\frac{\sin(x)}{x^2+1}\) from -1 to 1. Participants explore the nature of the function, its properties, and the implications for the integral's value, touching on concepts of odd and even functions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant claims that the integral evaluates to zero, citing the function as odd and suggesting that the values cancel each other out.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty, stating that the integral is likely non-elementary and refers to a complex result provided by an online calculator.
  • A different participant mentions confusion regarding the integral's evaluation and reiterates the odd function property, suggesting that demonstrating the function's oddness suffices to conclude the integral is zero.
  • Another participant discusses the relationship between even and odd functions, stating that the anti-derivative of an odd function is even, which leads to the conclusion that the integral over symmetric limits is zero.
  • One participant notes the significance of the limits from -1 to 1 as a hint towards the function's properties.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is a general agreement among some participants that the integral evaluates to zero based on the odd function property. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the method of evaluation and the complexity of the integral, indicating that multiple views exist on the approach to the problem.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express confusion over the step-by-step evaluation of the integral, and there are references to complex results from online tools, suggesting that the discussion may involve unresolved mathematical steps or assumptions about the function's behavior.

karush
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$\text{S6.7.r.12}$

$$\displaystyle
\int_{-1}^{1}\frac{\sin\left({x}\right)}{1+x^2} \,dx =0 $$

graphing this, it shows an odd function with the values canceling each other out resulting in zero.
but step wise not sure how to take the integral of this.

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I'm pretty sure the integral is non-elementary. Wolfram Alpha gives a nasty result.
 
yeah I don't know its an even problem # so no bk answer the TI said it was zero.

online Integral Calculator gave this
$$\dfrac{\mathrm{i}\cosh\left(1\right)\left(\operatorname{Si}\left(x+\mathrm{i}\right)
-\operatorname{Si}\left(x-\mathrm{i}\right)\right)+\sinh\left(1\right)\left(\operatorname{Ci}\left(x+\mathrm{i}\right)+\operatorname{Ci}\left(x-\mathrm{i}\right)\right)}{2}$$

I was clueless
 
karush said:
$\text{S6.7.r.12}$

$$\displaystyle
\int_{-1}^{1}\frac{\sin\left({x}\right)}{1+x^2} \,dx =0 $$

graphing this, it shows an odd function with the values canceling each other out resulting in zero.
but step wise not sure how to take the integral of this.

Theorem: If your function f(x) is an odd function (i.e. f(x) = f(-x) for all x) then $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \int_{-a}^a{f(x)\,\mathrm{d}x} = 0 \end{align*}$.

So all you need to do is show that $\displaystyle \begin{align*} \frac{\sin{ \left( -x \right) }}{1 + \left( -x \right) ^2} = -\left[ \frac{\sin{(x)}}{1 + x^2} \right] \end{align*}$...
 
Suppose we have an even function $F$:

$$F(x)=F(-x)$$

and we differentiate w.r.t $x$:

$$\frac{d}{dx}F(x)=\frac{d}{dx}F(-x)$$

$$f(x)=-f(-x)$$

We see then that $f$ (the derivative of $F$) must be an odd function, therefore we know the anti-derivative of an odd function is an even function, and thus we may state:

$$\int_{-a}^{a}f(x)\,dx=F(a)-F(-a)=F(a)-F(a)=0$$

This is the odd-function rule for integration.
 
I guess the hint was -1 to 1
 

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