1. ## Residue Theorem

Hi. I have this problem.

a) Use the Residue Theorem to calculate
$\int_C{\frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}$
where $C$ is the unit circle { $z:|z|=1$} and $a$ is real with $a>1$.

Okay, this is my attempt. I found the roots of $z^2-2az+1$ and came up with $a \pm \sqrt{a^2-1}$, and noticed that we can only use $a-\sqrt{a^2-1}$, and i denote this as $\beta=a-\sqrt{a^2-1}$ (and $\alpha =a+\sqrt{a^2-1}$)

Thus by the residue theorem
$\int_C{\frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}=2\pi i Res[\frac{1}{z^2-2az+1}, a-\sqrt{a^2-1}]$
$=lim_{z \to \beta}(z-\beta) \frac{1}{(z-\alpha)(z-\beta)} = lim_{z\to\beta}\frac{1}{z-\alpha}$
$=\frac{1}{\beta-\alpha}=\frac{1}{-2\sqrt{a^2-1}}$
$\int_C{\frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}=2\pi i \frac{1}{-2\sqrt{a^2-1}} = -\frac{\pi i}{2\sqrt{a^2-1}}$

b) Use this to calculate
$\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{dx}{a-cos(x)}$
So I write the integral by letting $z=e^{ix}$ and $cos(x)=\frac{1}{2}(z+z^{-1})...$
and yields $\frac{-2}{i}\int_C \frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}$
and i use the previous answer, and I get $\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{a^2-1}}$

The main problem is...

c) What happens to your argument (and the values of the integrals) when $a<-1$?
I'm not entirely sure about this one. My guess is $\alpha$ will now be the simple pole, but when i rework it all out again, it comes to the same conclusion of $\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{a^2-1}}$.. so i'm not sure please help.

2. Originally Posted by lpd
Hi. I have this problem.

a) Use the Residue Theorem to calculate
$\int_C{\frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}$
where $C$ is the unit circle { $z:|z|=1$} and $a$ is real with $a>1$.

Okay, this is my attempt. I found the roots of $z^2-2az+1$ and came up with $a \pm \sqrt{a^2-1}$, and noticed that we can only use $a-\sqrt{a^2-1}$, and i denote this as $\beta=a-\sqrt{a^2-1}$ (and $\alpha =a+\sqrt{a^2-1}$)

Thus by the residue theorem
$\int_C{\frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}=2\pi i Res[\frac{1}{z^2-2az+1}, a-\sqrt{a^2-1}]$
$=lim_{z \to \beta}(z-\beta) \frac{1}{(z-\alpha)(z-\beta)} = lim_{z\to\beta}\frac{1}{z-\alpha}$
$=\frac{1}{\beta-\alpha}=\frac{1}{-2\sqrt{a^2-1}}$
$\int_C{\frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}=2\pi i \frac{1}{-2\sqrt{a^2-1}} = -\frac{\pi i}{2\sqrt{a^2-1}}$

b) Use this to calculate
$\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{dx}{a-cos(x)}$
So I write the integral by letting $z=e^{ix}$ and $cos(x)=\frac{1}{2}(z+z^{-1})...$
and yields $\frac{-2}{i}\int_C \frac{dz}{z^2-2az+1}$
and i use the previous answer, and I get $\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{a^2-1}}$

The main problem is...

c) What happens to your argument (and the values of the integrals) when $a<-1$?

What did you just write here above?? Is it $a<-1$ ? If so then you'll have to take $a+\sqrt{a^2-1}$ , since the other

root is out of the zone bounded by the path of integration...

Tonio

I'm not entirely sure about this one. My guess is $\alpha$ will now be the simple pole, but when i rework it all out again, it comes to the same conclusion of $\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{a^2-1}}$.. so i'm not sure please help.
.

3. Yeh. I noticed that. But when I take $a+\sqrt{a^2-1}$ and rework my question. I arrive and the same conclusion in the end. So do I just say, I use the alternative root, but the value of the integral is the same?]

Edit: or does it take the negative value of $\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{a^2-1}}$

4. Originally Posted by lpd
Yeh. I noticed that. But when I take $a+\sqrt{a^2-1}$ and rework my question. I arrive and the same conclusion in the end. So do I just say, I use the alternative root, but the value of the integral is the same?]

Edit: or does it take the negative value of $\frac{2\pi}{\sqrt{a^2-1}}$

This time I think you get the opposite sign in $\lim\limits_{z \to \beta}(z-\beta) \frac{1}{(z-\alpha)(z-\beta)} = lim\limits_{z\to\beta}\frac{1}{z-\alpha}$.

Take, for example, $a=-2\Longrightarrow z^2+4z+1=(z-(-2+\sqrt{3}))(z-(-2-\sqrt{3}))$ ...

Tonio

5. Originally Posted by tonio
This time I think you get the opposite sign in $\lim\limits_{z \to \beta}(z-\beta) \frac{1}{(z-\alpha)(z-\beta)} = lim\limits_{z\to\beta}\frac{1}{z-\alpha}$.

Take, for example, $a=-2\Longrightarrow z^2+4z+1=(z-(-2+\sqrt{3}))(z-(-2-\sqrt{3}))$ ...

Tonio
Yes. I do in fact get a negative sign in $lim\limits_{z\to\beta}\frac{1}{z-\alpha}$

So I think I will end up with $\frac{-2 \pi}{\sqrt{a^2-1}}$, so does that mean I'll get the negative answer when $
a<-1$
. whereas when a>1, i will get a postive answer?

Howcome, when I compute the integral on the calculator for both cases, I get the same answer?