# Calculating $\int_0^{\pi/2} \sqrt[n]{(\tan x)}dx=\int_0^{\infty} \frac{x^n}{1+x^{2n}}$ using contour integration

Let $$n$$ be a natural number. I want to calculate $$\int_0^{\pi/2} \sqrt[n]{(\tan x)}dx=\int_0^{\infty} \frac{x^n}{1+x^{2n}}dx$$ using contour integration.

I declare $$f(z) = \frac{z^n}{1+z^{2n}}$$. This function has $$2n$$ simple poles of the form $$exp(i\frac{-\pi}{2n} + i\frac{\pi k}{n})$$ for $$k = 0,1,2, ... , 2n-1$$.

My problem is to find which contour to use. I thought about using the following:

$$\gamma_1(t) = t$$, $$t \in [0,R]$$

$$\gamma_2(t) = Re^{it}$$, $$t \in [0,\frac{\pi}{n}]$$

$$\gamma_3(t) = te^{i\frac{\pi}{n}}$$, $$t \in [0,R]$$

This way I have only one pole in the contour and I can use the residue theorem. Is this a good approach? I somehow have problem with the calculations here.

Help would be appreciated

• $\gamma_3= t e^{\frac{i \pi}{n}}$. Yes, I believe this is a straightforward approach (surround one pole with a sector of a circle). – mjw Jun 11 '19 at 22:39
• This has already been solved on this site plenty of times. Please search "Approach0" online and see if you can find it yourself – Brevan Ellefsen Jun 11 '19 at 22:51

As you have defined $$\gamma_3$$, that line contour is beginning at $$t= R$$ and comming back to 0. We are going to need to flip the sign.

$$Res_{z=e^{\frac{\pi i }{2n}}} f(z) = \int_{\gamma_1} f(z) \ dz + \int_{\gamma_2} f(z) \ dz - \int_{\gamma_3} f(z) \ dz$$

We are hoping to solve for $$\int_{\gamma_1} f(z) \ dz$$

You will need to show that $$\lim_\limits{R\to\infty} \int_{\gamma_2} f(z) \ dz= 0.$$ I will leave that to you.

$$Res_{z=e^{\frac{\pi i }{2n}}} f(z) = \int_0^\infty f(t) \ dt - \int_0^\infty f(e^\frac{\pi i}{n} t)e^\frac{\pi i}{n} \ dt$$

$$Res_{z=e^{\frac{\pi i }{2n}}} f(z) = (1+e^\frac{\pi i}{n})\int_0^\infty f(t) \ dt\\ 2e^{\frac{\pi i}{2n}} \cos \frac{\pi}{2n}\int_0^\infty f(t) \ dt = Res_{z=e^{\frac{\pi i }{2n}}} f(z)\\ \int_0^\infty f(t) \ dt = \frac{1}{2e^{\frac{\pi i}{2n}}\cos \frac{\pi}{2n}} Res_{z=e^{\frac{\pi i }{2n}}} f(z)$$

$$Res_{z=e^{\frac{\pi i }{2n}}} f(z) = 2\pi i \frac{i}{2n e^{\frac{(2n-1)\pi i }{2n}}} = \frac{\pi e^\frac{\pi i}{2n}}{n}$$

$$\int_0^\infty f(t) \ dt = \frac{\pi}{2n\cos \frac{\pi}{2n}}$$

• You've lost a factor $2$ in the third line from the bottom. – Adam Latosiński Jun 11 '19 at 23:16
• I saw that, thanks. – Doug M Jun 11 '19 at 23:18
• Thanks, it helped me to finalise my answer – Gabi G Jun 12 '19 at 7:58

Substitute $$x^{2n} = z$$ to get $$\int_0^\infty \frac{x^{n}}{1+x^{2n}}dx = \frac{1}{2n}\int_0^\infty \frac{z^{-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n}}}{1+z} dz$$ Using the keyhole contour, you can find that for $$n>1$$: $$\oint_C \frac{z^{-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n}}}{1+z} dz = (1-e^{2\pi i(-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n})}) \int_0^\infty \frac{z^{-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n}}}{1+z} dz = (1+e^{\frac{i\pi }{n}}) \int_0^\infty \frac{z^{-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n}}}{1+z} dz$$ On the other hand $$\oint_C \frac{z^{-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n}}}{1+z} dz = 2\pi i \,{\rm Res}_{-1}\frac{z^{-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n}}}{1+z} =2\pi i e^{i\pi(-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n})} = 2\pi e^{\frac{i\pi }{2n}}$$ That means that $$\int_0^\infty \frac{z^{-\frac12+\frac{1}{2n}}}{1+z} dz = \frac{2\pi e^{\frac{i\pi }{2n}}}{1+e^{\frac{i\pi }{n}}} = \frac{\pi}{\cos\frac{\pi}{2n}}$$ $$\int_0^\infty \frac{x^{n}}{1+x^{2n}}dx = \frac{\pi}{2n \cos\frac{\pi}{2n}}$$

Your approach is equivalent, but without the initial change of variables.