# Integral $\int_{1}^{\infty}\frac{-4}{(2 \cos{x} - 2) x^3}\ \mathrm dx.$

I'm not sure how to proceed with the following integral: $$I=\int_{1}^{\infty}\frac{-4}{(2 \cos{x} - 2) x^3}\ \mathrm dx.$$

Mathematica could not find a closed form solution for it and I really have no idea how to go about computing it.

• It's divergent, $\cos x - 1$ has zeros (of order $2$) at $2k\pi$, $k \in \mathbb{N}$. Since the integrand is non-negative, we could say $I = +\infty$. – Daniel Fischer May 31 '16 at 15:16
• @DanielFischer Ah, of course. Thank you. – TreFox May 31 '16 at 15:18
• Where did this integral arise? As @DanielFischer points out, as written it is not converging, since it is a multiple of $\int_1^\infty \frac{dx}{(\cos x-1)x^3}$ which diverges (due to $\cos x- 1$). Is there a chance you made a mistake writing it? – Clement C. May 31 '16 at 15:18
• @ClementC. It just arose with me playing with some numbers and trying to teach myself limits and infinite series. The integrand is equal to $\frac{1}{n^3 \sin{n}^2}$. I didn't really except a closed form, although I can't believe I didn't realize why the integral was divergent. I'm new to all this :P – TreFox May 31 '16 at 16:21

$$I=\int_{1}^{\infty}\frac{-4}{(2 \cos{x} - 2) x^3}\ \mathrm dx$$
In the denominator, $\cos x -1 = 0$ has zeroes at $x=2n\pi, \,\,\,\, n=0,1,2,..$
So the integrand has singularities at $x=2n\pi, \,\,\,\, n=0,1,2,..$ in the given interval and quite obviously $I \to \infty$.