Calculate the definite integral of x/(cosh(x))^n from 0 to infinity.

Published on December 5, 2024

Calculus

The integral \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{x}{(\cosh x)^2} dx evaluates to ln(2).

Question

Integration from zero to infinity of x/(coshx)^n

Answer

Here’s how to solve the integral:
1. Understanding the Problem
We want to evaluate
2. Rewriting cosh(x)
Recall the definition of the hyperbolic cosine:
So,
3. Expanding the denominator for the case n=2
Let’s consider the case when for simplicity.
4. Substitution
Let . Then , so . Also, . When , . When , . The integral becomes:
5. Integration by parts
Let so . Let , so .
The first term evaluates to 0 as by L’Hopital’s rule.
6. Partial Fractions
Therefore, for , the integral evaluates to .
7. General Case
For general , the integral is difficult to evaluate in closed form. It can be expressed in terms of special functions, but a simple elementary solution isn’t available. The integral can be evaluated numerically for specific values of .
Final Answer: The answer is when .