(Hopefully easy) integration question

In summary, the conversation is about a user struggling to understand an expression involving a Fourier Transform and a Gaussian function. They ask for clarification and the other person provides a simplified explanation and suggests using a substitution to solve it.
  • #1
lotm
7
0
Heyo,

I'm having difficulty seeing how these two lines follow. I'm fairly sure I'm being an eejit and the answer's straightforward, but would appreciate a quick explanation of what's going on.

[tex]\frac{1}{2\pi}\int d^3p e^{-i(\emph{p}^2/2m)t} \\ \times e^{i\emph{p.(x-x_0)}} \\
= (\frac{m}{2 \pi it})^{3/2}e^{\frac{im(\emph{x-x_0}^2}{2t}}[/tex]

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
Which two lines do you mean exactly?
I only see a single expression.
 
  • #3
Yeah, I'm struggling a bit to get the tex code right. Screw it, I'll come back once I've figured out how to ask the question properly.
 
  • #4
Do you mean:

[tex]
\frac{1}{2\pi}\int d^3p e^{-i(\vec{p}^2/2m)t}
e^{i\vec{p}\cdot(\vec{x}-\vec{x_0})}
= \left (\frac{m}{2 \pi it}\right )^{3/2}e^{\frac{im(\vec{x-x_0})^2}{2t}}
[/tex]
 
  • #5
If that's the case then you can click on the equation to see the markup.

What you've got here, is a Fourier Transform of a Gaussian returning a Gaussian. It is easy though it might look daunting. Complete the square and use a little substitution and you'll be all set.
 

FAQ: (Hopefully easy) integration question

What is integration?

Integration is a mathematical process that involves finding the area under a curve or the total value of a function. It is used to solve a variety of problems in fields such as physics, engineering, and economics.

How is integration different from differentiation?

Integration and differentiation are inverse operations of each other. While differentiation finds the rate of change of a function, integration finds the original function from its rate of change.

What are the different types of integration?

The two main types of integration are indefinite integration and definite integration. Indefinite integration finds the general solution to an integral, while definite integration finds the specific value of an integral within a given range.

What are the common techniques used to solve integrals?

Some common techniques for solving integrals include substitution, integration by parts, partial fractions, and trigonometric substitution. These techniques can be used alone or in combination to solve more complex integrals.

How is integration used in real-world applications?

Integration is used in various real-world applications such as calculating the area under a curve to find the distance traveled by an object, determining the work done by a force, and finding the total revenue or cost in economics. It is also used in physics to calculate the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of an object.

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