# Looks Simple Integral But it is fake

• Jun 12th 2010, 10:35 AM
parkhid
Looks Simple Integral But it is fake
HI , can anyone give me a way to solve :

$
\int \frac{x^2}{1+x^4}dx
$
• Jun 12th 2010, 11:03 AM
wonderboy1953
Thought
I'm considering multiply both top and bottom by $x^{-2}$, then let $x = e^u$ which I believe converts to a familiar function (but you may also have to integrate by parts).
• Jun 12th 2010, 11:41 AM
chiph588@
Quote:

Originally Posted by parkhid
HI , can anyone give me a way to solve :

$
\int \frac{x^2}{1+x^4}dx
$

Another way is to expand the integrand using partial fractions.

$\frac{x^2}{1+x^4}=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{2}}\cdot\frac{x} {x^2-\sqrt{2}x+1}-\frac{1}{2\sqrt{2}}\cdot\frac{x}{x^2+\sqrt{2}x+1}$
• Jun 12th 2010, 01:10 PM
Ackbeet
You can also use complex line integration. See here for a very similar sort of integral.
• Jun 12th 2010, 01:18 PM
chisigma
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ackbeet
You can also use complex line integration. See here for a very similar sort of integral.

There is only a minor detail: the integral proposed by parkhid is indefinite and its solution is a family of functions... the integral of Your example is definite and its solution [if it exists...] is a real [or complex] number...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
• Jun 12th 2010, 01:26 PM
Ackbeet