Computing improper integrals, are we?
Why yes, in my free time today!
Just add a dash of Residue Theory,
Be sure to find all the singularities,
Don't let them run away!
Form a semi-circle surrounding those points
That live above the x-axis
Then let the radius go to infinity
Show that the integral of the top half goes to zero, what a trip!
Complex Analysis is so nice to me!
The remaining value is the answer, you know
As I'm working it for students to see
But, the book says the answer is pi/6
And I keep getting pi/3! *cries*
Awesome. Just awesome.
ReplyDeletesharing your distress
ReplyDeleteerrata are worth reading
it might not be you
The advantage of working in a field where there are no solid answers.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem, though!
I'm very glad the mathematicians are around to answer the other mathematicians, as I was completely lost.
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether Greta's metaphors seem equally impenetrable to some readers?
No need to cry, pi/6=pi/3!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the missing punctuation mark at the end.
DeleteAll of the good integrals in complex analysis are zero, if you write them correctly.
ReplyDeleteMmmmmmmm . . . pi.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the contour integral of western europe zero? All the poles are in eastern europe.
ReplyDeleteWe used to keep a jar around the office. Kick in a buck to the coffee fund, get a free minus sign or factor of two.
ReplyDelete