Doesn't this integral equal zero?

In summary, an integral is a mathematical concept used to calculate the area under a curve in a graph. To solve an integral, integration techniques such as substitution, integration by parts, or partial fractions can be used. An integral can equal zero if the function being integrated is symmetric about the x-axis, even if it has negative values. However, an integral can also be undefined if the function has a vertical asymptote within the bounds of integration.
  • #1
s0ft
83
0
[itex]\displaystyle\int_0^\pi\dfrac{x dx}{a^2sin^2(x)+b^2cos^2(x)}[/itex]
I have to prove this to be equal to [itex]\dfrac{\pi^2}{2ab}[/itex] but with my attempt at it this problem boils down to:
[itex]\dfrac{\pi}{2ab}\bigg[\arctan\Big(\dfrac{atan(x)}{b}\Big)\bigg]_0^\pi[/itex] which equals zero.
 
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  • #2
Show some work. It's hard to tell where you went wrong when all you show is your final result.

It should be obvious that that integral is not zero because the integrand is positive for all x in (0,pi).
 

FAQ: Doesn't this integral equal zero?

What is an integral?

An integral is a mathematical concept that represents the area under a curve in a graph. It is used to calculate quantities such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration in calculus.

How do you solve an integral?

To solve an integral, you need to use integration techniques such as substitution, integration by parts, or partial fractions. These techniques help to rewrite the integral in a more manageable form that can be solved using basic integration rules.

Why does an integral sometimes equal zero?

An integral can equal zero if the function being integrated is symmetric about the x-axis. This means that the area above the x-axis is equal to the area below the x-axis, resulting in a net area of zero.

Can an integral equal zero if the function has negative values?

Yes, an integral can still equal zero if the function has negative values. As long as the area above the x-axis is equal to the area below the x-axis, the integral will result in a value of zero.

Can an integral ever be undefined?

Yes, an integral can be undefined if the function being integrated has a vertical asymptote within the bounds of integration. This means that the function approaches infinity at a certain point, making it impossible to calculate the area under the curve.

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