# Evaluating $\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{1-2t\cos\theta +t^2}d\theta$

I need solve this integral, and I tried various methods of solving and did not get it. The integral is:

$$\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{1-2t\cos\theta +t^2}d\theta,$$

where $t$ is a positive integer.

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An integral of a rational function of sine and cosine can always be transformed to an integral of a rational function by the substitution $u=\tan(\theta/2)$. –  Gerry Myerson Oct 11 '12 at 12:21
$2t\pi/(t^2-1)^{3/2}$ –  i. m. soloveichik Oct 11 '12 at 19:29

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$$\frac{1}{1-2t\cos \theta +t^2}=\frac 1{1+t^2-2t\frac{(1-\tan^2\frac{\theta}2)}{(1+\tan^2\frac{\theta}2)}}$$

$$=\frac{\sec^2\frac{\theta}2}{(1+t^2)(1+\tan^2\frac{\theta}2)-2t(1-\tan^2\frac{\theta}2)}=\frac{\sec^2\frac{\theta}2}{(1-t)^2+\tan^2\frac{\theta}2(1+t)^2}$$

$$=\frac1{(1+t)^2}\frac{\sec^2\frac{\theta}2}{(\frac{1-t}{1+t})^2+\tan^2\frac{\theta}2}$$

If $f(\theta)=\frac{1}{1-2t\cos \theta +t^2}, f(2\pi-\theta)=f(\theta)$,

So, $\int_{0}^{2\pi}f(\theta)d\theta=2\int_{0}^{\pi}f(\theta)d\theta$

$$I=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{1}{1-2t\cos\theta +t^2}d\theta =\frac{1}{\pi}\int_{0}^{\pi}\frac{1}{1-2t\cos\theta +t^2}d\theta,$$

$$=\frac{1}{\pi(1+t)^2}\int_{0}^{\pi}\frac{\sec^2\frac{\theta}2}{(\frac{1-t}{1+t})^2+\tan^2\frac{\theta}2}d\theta$$

Now we can put $z=\tan \frac{\theta}2$ in the given problem, if $\theta=0,z=0$ and if $\theta=\pi,z=∞$ and $dz=\frac{\sec^2\frac{\theta}{2}d\theta}{2}$

So, $$I=\frac{1}{\pi(1+t)^2}\int_{0}^{∞}\frac{2dz}{(\frac{1-t}{1+t})^2+z^2}$$

$$=\frac{2}{\pi(1-t^2)} \tan^{-1}{\frac{(1+t)z}{1-t}} \mid_{0}^{∞}$$

At $z=0, \tan^{-1}{\frac{(1+t)z}{1-t}}=0$ if $t \ne 1$

At $z=∞, \tan^{-1}{\frac{(1+t)z}{1-t}}=\frac{\pi}2$ if $\frac{1+t}{1-t}>0$ or if $\frac{(1+t)(1-t)}{(1-t)^2}>0$ or if $1-t^2>0$ or if $-1< t< 1$

At $z=∞, \tan^{-1}{\frac{(1+t)z}{1-t}}=-\frac{\pi}2$ if $t>1$ or $t<-1$

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How is this any better than just doing that substitution in the first place, as in my comment to the question? –  Gerry Myerson Oct 11 '12 at 12:33
@GerryMyerson, I've just showed to simplify the given expression to tangent ratio. –  lab bhattacharjee Oct 11 '12 at 12:36
@GerryMyerson, I thought, manipulation with fractional angle is less clear and error-inducing. –  lab bhattacharjee Oct 11 '12 at 12:41

It is easier to use techniques from complex variables (residue theorem), substitute $\cos(\theta) = \frac{z+\frac{1}{z}}{2} \,$ where $z=\exp{(i\theta)}$ and integrate

$$\frac{1}{2\pi}\oint_{|z|=1}\frac{1}{1-2t\frac{z+\frac{1}{z}}{2} +t^2}d\theta = \dots$$

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@Patricia thanks –  Patrícia Tempesta Oct 11 '12 at 17:44
@PatríciaTempesta: You are welcome. –  Mhenni Benghorbal Oct 11 '12 at 20:45
Nice and simple (+1) –  Chris's sis the artist Feb 26 '13 at 22:35

This is the famous Poisson kernel (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisson_kernel). For example, ${\displaystyle \frac{1}{1 - 2t\cos\theta + t^2} = {1 \over 1 - t^2}Re\bigg(\frac{1 + te^{i\theta}}{1 - te^{i\theta}}\bigg)}$, so you're looking for the real part of $${1 \over 2\pi(1 - t^2)}\int_0^{2\pi}{\frac{1 + te^{i\theta}}{1 - te^{i\theta}}}d\theta$$ As a complex integral this is $${1 \over 2\pi i(1 - t^2)}\int_{|z| = 1}\frac{1 + tz}{z(1 - tz)}\,dz$$ By the Cauchy integral formula this evaluates to $${1 \over 1 - t^2}$$ This is already real, so this is also the real part which is your answer.

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+1 for the Poisson kernel. –  Jack Oct 12 '12 at 3:08