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− | + | = Worked Solution 1= | |
− | + | A simple example would be an integral such as: | |
+ | <center><math> \int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(2x)) dx</math></center> | ||
As we can see, there isn't any particular place that we can use u-substitution or integration by parts to produce a solution easily, but Feynman shows us how we can parameterize the integral as a function, focusing on the cosine factor of the integrand. By writing the integral as a function, we can change the expression to: | As we can see, there isn't any particular place that we can use u-substitution or integration by parts to produce a solution easily, but Feynman shows us how we can parameterize the integral as a function, focusing on the cosine factor of the integrand. By writing the integral as a function, we can change the expression to: | ||
+ | <center><math> F(a) = \int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(a*x)) dx</math> (where a = 2)</center> | ||
+ | This allows us to extract an x from the cosine segment of the integrand by differentiating with respect to a, making the left portion of the integrand <math>x*e^{-x^2}</math>, which is much easier to deal with than just <math>e^{-x^2}</math> | ||
− | F(a)= | + | From here, our differentiated equation is <math> F'(a) = \int_{0}^{\infty}(-x*e^{-x^2}*sin{(a*x)}) dx</math>, which we can then integrate using integration by parts. |
− | + | Doing so, however, would only get us: | |
+ | <center><math> \frac{sin{(a*x)}}{2e^{x^2}}\Big|_{0}^{\infty} - \frac{a}{2}\int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(a*x)) dx</math></center> | ||
+ | With this, we can see that the left side of the subtraction operation evaluates to 0, while the right side is just <math>-\frac{a}{2}F(a)</math> | ||
− | + | Thus, our result is <math>F'(a) = -\frac{a}{2}F(a)</math> | |
− | + | Now, to proceed with the rest of the calculation, we need to express this equation in terms of differential fractions. By that, I mean writing it in the form <math> \frac{dF}{da} = (-\frac{a}{2})F</math> (source: blackpenredpen's explanation). With this, we can manipulate the equation to show <math>\frac{dF}{F} = -\frac{a}{2}da</math> | |
− | With this, we can | + | |
− | + | After integrating both sides, we are left with <math>\ln{F} = -\frac{a^2}{4} + C</math>. By then considering ln as a logarithmic function of base "e", we can conclude that <math>F = e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*C_1</math> | |
− | + | Finally, to solve for <math>C_1</math>, we substitute the original equation <math> F(a) = \int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(a*x)) dx</math> back into or new equation to get: | |
+ | <center><math>\int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(a*x)) dx = e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*C_1</math></center> | ||
+ | Since the function works for any number "a", we can choose the variable to be set as 0, giving us <math>\int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}) dx = e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*C_1</math> | ||
− | + | Although we haven't covered it, this is the Gaussian integral, which, for the sake of this explanation, we will just take the value as <math>\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}</math>(if you would like to know how this is calculated, there are probably solutions on YouTube or Google). | |
− | + | Because of this, we now know that the value of <math>C_1</math> is the Gaussian integral, which gives us our last equation which we set equal to our original F(a): | |
+ | <center><math>F(a) = \int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(a*x)) dx = e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}</math></center> | ||
+ | Since our initial equation began with a value of a = 2, we can just plug in 2 for a into <math>e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}</math> | ||
− | + | This gives us the answer to the integral, which is <math>\int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(2x)) dx = \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2e}</math> | |
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− | + | [[ Walther MA271 Fall2020 topic14 | Back to Feynman Integrals]] | |
− | + | [[Category:MA271Fall2020Walther]] | |
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Latest revision as of 00:34, 2 December 2020
Worked Solution 1
A simple example would be an integral such as:
As we can see, there isn't any particular place that we can use u-substitution or integration by parts to produce a solution easily, but Feynman shows us how we can parameterize the integral as a function, focusing on the cosine factor of the integrand. By writing the integral as a function, we can change the expression to:
This allows us to extract an x from the cosine segment of the integrand by differentiating with respect to a, making the left portion of the integrand $ x*e^{-x^2} $, which is much easier to deal with than just $ e^{-x^2} $
From here, our differentiated equation is $ F'(a) = \int_{0}^{\infty}(-x*e^{-x^2}*sin{(a*x)}) dx $, which we can then integrate using integration by parts. Doing so, however, would only get us:
With this, we can see that the left side of the subtraction operation evaluates to 0, while the right side is just $ -\frac{a}{2}F(a) $
Thus, our result is $ F'(a) = -\frac{a}{2}F(a) $
Now, to proceed with the rest of the calculation, we need to express this equation in terms of differential fractions. By that, I mean writing it in the form $ \frac{dF}{da} = (-\frac{a}{2})F $ (source: blackpenredpen's explanation). With this, we can manipulate the equation to show $ \frac{dF}{F} = -\frac{a}{2}da $
After integrating both sides, we are left with $ \ln{F} = -\frac{a^2}{4} + C $. By then considering ln as a logarithmic function of base "e", we can conclude that $ F = e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*C_1 $
Finally, to solve for $ C_1 $, we substitute the original equation $ F(a) = \int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(a*x)) dx $ back into or new equation to get:
Since the function works for any number "a", we can choose the variable to be set as 0, giving us $ \int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}) dx = e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*C_1 $
Although we haven't covered it, this is the Gaussian integral, which, for the sake of this explanation, we will just take the value as $ \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2} $(if you would like to know how this is calculated, there are probably solutions on YouTube or Google).
Because of this, we now know that the value of $ C_1 $ is the Gaussian integral, which gives us our last equation which we set equal to our original F(a):
Since our initial equation began with a value of a = 2, we can just plug in 2 for a into $ e^{-\frac{a^2}{4}}*\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2} $
This gives us the answer to the integral, which is $ \int_{0}^{\infty}(e^{-x^2}*cos(2x)) dx = \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2e} $