I have no idea how to find this reduction formula

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• February 23rd 2010, 09:56 AM
s3a
I have no idea how to find this reduction formula
The integral is in the attached file (as #35) and the book wants me to prove that that equality is correct. First of all, is "a" a constant or a variable? Furthermore, I assume that n is a constant as well.

What am I doing wrong? (My work is attached along with the question)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
• February 25th 2010, 08:52 AM
ione
Quote:

Originally Posted by s3a
The integral is in the attached file (as #35) and the book wants me to prove that that equality is correct. First of all, is "a" a constant or a variable? Furthermore, I assume that n is a constant as well.

What am I doing wrong? (My work is attached along with the question)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!

Try $(x^2+a^2)^n=(x^2+a^2)](x^2+a^2)^{n-1}$

$=x^2(x^2+a^2)^{n-1}+a^2(x^2+a^2)^{n-1}$

Then use integration by parts.