# Evaluating$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^6}{(4+x^4)^2} dx$using residues

I need help to solve the next improper integral using complex analysis:

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^6}{(4+x^4)^2} dx$$

I have problems when I try to find residues for the function $f = \displaystyle \frac{1}{(z^4+4)^2}$.

This is what I tried.

$$\displaystyle \text{res}(f,\sqrt{2}e^{i\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+k\frac{\pi}{2} \right)}) = \lim_{z\to \sqrt{2}e^{i\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+k\frac{\pi}{2} \right)}} \left( \frac{\left(z-\sqrt{2}e^{i\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+k\frac{\pi}{2} \right)}\right)^2}{(z^4-4)^2}\right)'$$

with $k\in\{0,1,2,3\}$. What do you think about it?

I know there is a little more general problem involving this integral; for all $a>0$

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^6}{(a^4+x^4)^2} dx= \frac{3\pi\sqrt{2}}{8a}$$

Edit.

I've had an idea: from the integration by parts $$\int u dv = uv - \int vdu$$

and if we let $$dv = \frac{4x^3 }{(4+x^4)^2}, \, u = \frac{x^3}{4}$$

with

$$dv = -\frac{d}{dx} \frac{1}{4+x^4} = \frac{4x^3 }{(4+x^4)^2}$$

we get finally

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^6}{(4+x^4)^2} dx = 0 + \frac{3}{4} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^2}{1+x^4} dx$$

which I think is more easy to solve.

Anyway, if you know another idea or how to complete my first try will be welcome.

• What do you have so far? – user2345215 Dec 31 '14 at 9:30
• I tried to find the residues of $\frac{1}{(z^4+4)^2}$ using $\text{res}(f,\sqrt{2}e^{i\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+k\frac{\pi}{2} \right)}) = \lim_{z\to \sqrt{2}e^{i\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+k\frac{\pi}{2} \right)}} \left( \frac{\left(z-\sqrt{2}e^{i\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+k\frac{\pi}{2} \right)}\right)^2}{(z^4-4)^2}\right)'$ – Slash_ Dec 31 '14 at 10:50
• I don't understand why my question is [on hold]. Sorry, I'm new in this forum and I don't know what I'm doing bad. – Slash_ Dec 31 '14 at 19:14
• Because you just stated an easy, but time consuming problem without showing any effort yourself. This has changed a bit now, so it might get reopened. – user2345215 Dec 31 '14 at 19:24
• Okay, thanks you for the advices! – Slash_ Dec 31 '14 at 22:01

If you are right, then $\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^2}{1+x^4} dx$ can be easily done by a semi-circle contour, computing the residues at $(1+i)/\sqrt{2}$ and $(-1+i)/\sqrt{2}$. It is easy to check that the integral of $\frac{z^2}{1+z^4}$ on the arc of the semi-circle goes to 0.

$\frac{z^2}{1+z^4}=\frac{z^2}{(z-e^{i\pi/4})(z-e^{i3\pi/4})(z-e^{i5\pi/4})(z-e^{i7\pi/4})}$ shows that it is a simple pole at those residues.

$\text{ Res}(\frac{z^2}{1+z^4},e^{i\pi/4})=\lim_{z\to e^{i\pi/4}}\frac{z^2(z-e^{i\pi/4})}{1+z^4}=\lim_{z\to e^{i\pi/4}}\frac{3z^2-2ze^{i\pi/4}}{4z^3}=(\frac{3}{4}-\frac{1}{2})e^{-i\pi/4}$.

$\text{ Res}(\frac{z^2}{1+z^4},e^{i3\pi/4})=\lim_{z\to e^{i3\pi/4}}\frac{z^2(z-e^{i3\pi/4})}{1+z^4}=\lim_{z\to e^{i3\pi/4}}\frac{3z^2-2ze^{i3\pi/4}}{4z^3}=(\frac{3}{4}-\frac{1}{2})e^{-i3\pi/4}$.

I used L'Hospital's rule above because it seems simpler.

So the answer is $\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^2}{1+x^4} dx=2\pi i\frac{1}{4}\left(\frac{1-i}{\sqrt{2}}+\frac{-1-i}{\sqrt{2}}\right)=\frac{\sqrt{2}}2\pi$.

Edit: Something's wrong with the integration by parts; we do not seem to get the right answer. It is a 4 in the bottom and not 1. But we can do a further substitution to get it right.

$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^2}{4+x^4} dx=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\frac{(\frac{x}{\sqrt{2}})^2}{1+(\frac{x}{\sqrt{2}})^4} dx=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^2}{1+x^4} dx$.

So the final answer is $\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^6}{(4+x^4)^2} dx=\frac{3}{4}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{x^2}{4+x^4} dx=\frac{3}{8}\pi$. You also have to argue that you are limiting $r\to\infty$ in $\left[\frac{x^3}{4(4+x^4)}\right]_{-r}^r$ which is why it is 0.