MHB What is the integral of x^2 over 1+x^10 from 0 to infinity?

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    2015
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The integral of x^2 over 1+x^10 from 0 to infinity is evaluated as part of the Problem of the Week (POTW). Participants are encouraged to follow the guidelines for submissions. Kiwi provided the correct solution to the integral. The discussion highlights the importance of engaging with mathematical problems collaboratively. The thread serves as a resource for those interested in advanced calculus and integration techniques.
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Evaluate $\displaystyle \int_0^{\infty}\frac{x^2}{1+x^{10}} \, dx.$

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Remember to read the http://www.mathhelpboards.com/showthread.php?772-Problem-of-the-Week-%28POTW%29-Procedure-and-Guidelines to find out how to http://www.mathhelpboards.com/forms.php?do=form&fid=2!
 
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Congratulations to kiwi for his correct answer! It is posted below:

Consider the related closed contour integral in the complex plane (with r > 1):

\oint_R \frac{z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz=\int^{(r,0)}_{(-r,0)} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz+\int _{arc} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz

where "arc" is the semi circle in the upper half plane, centred on the origin and terminating on (r,0) and (-r,0) and the first integral is in the complex plane along the real axis.

The curve R contains five simple poles, located at:
p_1=e^{\frac{\pi i}{10}}, p_2=e^{\frac{3 \pi i}{10}}, p_3=e^{5 \frac{\pi i}{10}}, p_4=e^{\frac{7 \pi i}{10}}, p_5=e^{\frac{9 \pi i}{10}}.

The residues of these poles are given by:
Res(z_i)=\frac{x^2}{\frac{d}{dz}(1+x^{10})}=\frac 1{10}z^{-7}
So
Res(z_1)=-\frac {1}{10}e^{\frac{3 \pi i}{10}}

Res(z_2)=\frac {1}{10}e^{\frac{- \pi i}{10}}

Res(z_3)=-\frac {i}{10}

Res(z_4)=-\frac {1}{10}e^{\frac{ \pi i}{10}}

Res(z_5)=\frac {1}{10}e^{\frac{-3 \pi i}{10}}

The sum of the real part of these residues is zero, so:

SumResidues=\frac {1}{10}\large(-2i \sin(\frac{3 \pi}{10})-2i \sin(\frac{\pi}{10})+i\large)

\oint_R \frac{z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz=\int^{(r,0)}_{(-r,0)} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz+\int _{arc} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz=2 \pi i \times SumResidues

\therefore \int^{(r,0)}_{(-r,0)} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz+\int _{arc} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz=\frac {2 \pi i}{10}\large(-2i \sin(\frac{3 \pi}{10})-2i \sin(\frac{\pi}{10})+i\large)

\therefore \int^{(r,0)}_{(-r,0)} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz+\int _{arc} \frac {z^2}{1+z^{10}}dz=\frac {\pi }{5}\large(2 \sin(\frac{3 \pi}{10})+2 \sin(\frac{\pi}{10})-1\large)

Now taking the limit as r goes to infinity:

\therefore \int^{\infty}_{-\infty} \frac {x^2}{1+x^{10}}dx+\int _{arc} \frac {1}{z^{8}}=\frac {\pi }{5}\large(2 \sin(\frac{3 \pi}{10})+2 \sin(\frac{\pi}{10})-1\large)

\therefore \int^{\infty}_{-\infty} \frac {x^2}{1+x^{10}}dx=\frac {\pi }{5}\large(2 \sin(\frac{3 \pi}{10})+2 \sin(\frac{\pi}{10})-1\large)

And finally using the fact that the integrand is an even function:

\therefore \int^{\infty}_{0} \frac {x^2}{1+x^{10}}dx=\frac {\pi }{10}\large(2 \sin(\frac{3 \pi}{10})+2 \sin(\frac{\pi}{10})-1\large)