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Evaluate:

$$\int_{-1}^1\frac{dx}{(e^x+1)(x^2+1)}$$

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    @Yigeng You have asked $9$ questions so far. It is time to start accepting some of the answers to your other questions.2012-10-21
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    @Marvis: I agree with that.2012-10-21

1 Answers 1

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Showing that $\int\limits_{-a}^a \frac{f(x)}{1+e^{x}} \mathrm dx = \int\limits_0^a f(x) \mathrm dx$, when $f$ is even

From the above, we get that $$\int_{-1}^{1} \dfrac{dx}{(1+e^x)(1+x^2)} = \int_{0}^{1} \dfrac{dx}{(1+x^2)} = \arctan(x) \left. \right\vert_{x=0}^{1} = \dfrac{\pi}4$$

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    @MhenniBenghorbal The existence of the integral is pretty obvious. The integrand is a nice function bounded above by $1$2012-10-21
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    @MhenniBenghorbal: What do you mean?2012-10-21
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    @Marivis: Sorry. I was looking at the wrong integral $\int_{-1}^1\frac{dx}{(e^x-1)(x^2+1)}\,.$2012-10-21
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    @Marvis: indeed; the even part of $\frac1{1+e^x}$ is $\frac12$.2012-10-21
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    @MhenniBenghorbal: Since the even part of $\frac1{e^x-1}$ is $-\frac12$, the Cauchy Principal Value of your integral would be $-\frac\pi4$.2012-10-21