# Integral $I=\int_0^\infty \frac{x^4}{(\alpha+x^2)^4}dx$

Hi I am trying to show $$\int_0^\infty \frac{x^4}{(\alpha+x^2)^4}dx=\frac{\pi}{32\alpha^{3/2}},\quad \Re(\sqrt \alpha)> 0.$$ I am looking for a solution to this NOT using contour integration, but real analysis methods. Thanks.

For the complex case, we have poles at $\pm i\sqrt\alpha$, 4th order.

• @AlexR 4th order Pole at $i\sqrt \alpha$, but I do not want to use residues. I want a real analytic method. Thanks – Jeff Faraci Apr 17 '14 at 20:12
• Check this technique. – Mhenni Benghorbal Apr 17 '14 at 20:28
• @Integrals I know this is only form of Beta function, but unfortunately I'm late Jeff. I handle another integral problem. – Tunk-Fey Apr 17 '14 at 20:28


\begin{align} \color{#c00000}{\int_{0}^{\infty}{x^{4} \over \pars{\alpha + x^{2}}^4}\,\dd x} &=\half\int_{0}^{\infty}{x^{3/2} \over \pars{\alpha + x}^4}\,\dd x ={1 \over 4}\int_{0}^{\infty}{x^{1/2} \over \pars{\alpha + x}^{3}}\,\dd x \\[3mm]&={1 \over 16}\int_{0}^{\infty}{x^{-1/2} \over \pars{\alpha + x}^{2}} \,\dd x \end{align}

With $\ds{t \equiv x^{1/2}\quad\imp\quad x = t^{2}\,,\quad \dd x = 2t\,\dd t}$: \begin{align} \color{#c00000}{\int_{0}^{\infty}{x^{4} \over \pars{\alpha + x^{2}}^4}\,\dd x} &={1 \over 8}\int_{0}^{\infty}{\dd t \over \pars{\alpha + t^{2}}^{2}} ={1 \over 8\alpha^{3/2}}\lim_{\mu \to \infty}\int_{0}^{\mu/\root{\alpha}} {\dd t \over \pars{1 + t^{2}}^{2}} \\[3mm]&={1 \over 8\alpha^{3/2}}\lim_{\mu \to \infty} \int_{0}^{\mu\pars{\root{\alpha}}^{*}} {\dd t \over \pars{1 + t^{2}}^{2}} ={1 \over 8\alpha^{3/2}}\int_{0}^{\infty}{\dd t \over \pars{1 + t^{2}}^{2}} \end{align}

We'll replace $\ds{t = \root{\alpha}\tan\pars{\theta}}$: \begin{align} \color{#c00000}{\int_{0}^{\infty}{x^{4} \over \pars{\alpha + x^{2}}^4}\,\dd x} &={1 \over 8\alpha^{3/2}}\int_{0}^{\pi/2}\cos^{2}\pars{\theta}\,\dd\theta ={1 \over 8\alpha^{3/2}}\int_{0}^{\pi/2}{1 + \cos\pars{2\theta} \over 2}\,\dd\theta \\[3mm]&={1 \over 8\alpha^{3/2}}\,\pars{\half\,{\pi \over 2}} \end{align}

$$\color{#00f}{\large\int_{0}^{\infty}{x^{4} \over \pars{\alpha + x^{2}}^4}\,\dd x ={\pi \over 32\alpha^{3/2}}}$$

• Thanks a lot. I think you just forgot the factor of $\pi$ in the final result. +1 ! – Jeff Faraci Apr 27 '14 at 19:16
• @Integrals Fine. I just fixed it. Thanks. – Felix Marin Apr 27 '14 at 21:46

Use the substitution $x=\sqrt{\alpha}\tan\theta$, to get: $$\int_0^{\pi/2} \frac{\tan^4\theta \sec^2\theta}{\alpha^{3/2} \sec^8\theta}\,d\theta=\frac{1}{\alpha^{3/2}}\int_0^{\pi/2}\sin^4\theta \cos^2\theta\,d\theta$$

It can be easily shown that: $$\int_0^{\pi/2}\sin^4\theta \cos^2\theta\,d\theta=\frac{\pi}{32}$$ Hence, $$\int_0^\infty \frac{x^4}{(\alpha+x^2)^4}dx=\frac{\pi}{32\alpha^{3/2}}$$

• This is what I was looking for also. What a nice real method. Thanks a lot – Jeff Faraci May 7 '14 at 17:32
• @Integrals Jeff, let me introduce you to Pranav. He is a friend of mine since I were an avid user on Brilliant.org. He is really good on calculus and physics problems. You can check his profile there. :) – Tunk-Fey May 9 '14 at 16:50
• I am not even remotely close to you guys in Calculus, I am still learning. :3 – Pranav Arora May 9 '14 at 17:08
• We are all still learning Pranav. Anyway, I also vote up almost all of your answers recently. Really nice answers. :) $$\\$$ I also always follow your posts Jeff. :) @Integrals – Tunk-Fey May 11 '14 at 16:26
• @Tunk-Fey English is not my native tongue either. :) Thank you for making this point clear in the discussion about writing proper English and LaTex. – Jeff Faraci May 12 '14 at 7:44

Small Hint) substituting $x=\alpha^{1/2}u$, you can pull the dependency on the parameter $\alpha$ outside the integral:

$$\int_0^\infty \frac{x^4}{(\alpha+x^2)^4}dx=\int_0^\infty \frac{\alpha^2u^4}{\alpha^4(1+u^2)^4}\alpha^{1/2}du=\frac{1}{a^{3/2}}\int_0^\infty \frac{u^4}{(1+u^2)^4}du.$$

• That is not really a hint at all. This is pretty standard, how would you handle the integral you have in terms of u? – Jeff Faraci Apr 17 '14 at 20:11
• @Integrals Substitute $t=u^2$, and use $$B(x,y)=\int_0^\infty \frac{t^{x-1}}{(1+t)^{x+y}}dx,$$ where $B(x,y)= \frac{\Gamma(x) \Gamma(y)}{\Gamma(x+y)}$ is the beta function. – Meow Apr 17 '14 at 20:14
• @Integrals Partial fractions would be my next step. I'd be curious to see if expanding in partial fractions before or after Alyosha's substitution is easier. – David H Apr 17 '14 at 20:18
• @DavidH Thanks! – Jeff Faraci Apr 17 '14 at 20:22

I am looking for a solution to this NOT using contour integration, but real analysis methods.

All integrals of the form $\displaystyle\int_0^\infty\frac{x^n}{(1+x^m)^p}$ are solved by letting $t=\dfrac1{(1+x^m)^p}$ , then recognizing the expression of the beta function in the new integral, and using Euler's reflection formula for the $\Gamma$ function. In this case, we first have to factor $\alpha$ outside of the parenthesis, and let $y^m=\dfrac{x^m}\alpha$. But you already knew this, since you said that you are familiar with many of my other answers on the same topic.

• Before reading the name, I knew who did this post because of what you wrote:)! I guess this will suffice, but really I was looking for some clever substitutions not involving special functions. But I do not mind special functions, Thanks +1 – Jeff Faraci Apr 17 '14 at 20:42
• See Felix solution above for what I was looking for. – Jeff Faraci Apr 28 '14 at 18:56
• @Integrals: See Mick Jagger's reply to mathematical expectations. :-) – Lucian Apr 28 '14 at 19:31
• If I am not mistaken, Keith Richards & Mick both wrote that song together. I do not think it was just Jagger who wrote that. :) – Jeff Faraci Apr 28 '14 at 22:11