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I am trying to calculate the following integral using complex transformation;

$$\int_0^{2\pi}\frac{\cos^3\theta}{1-2a \cos\theta+a^2}d\theta$$ where $$\left\lvert a \right\rvert<1$$ I am comfortable with sine or cosine with their 1st power, but 3rd power gave me a really hard time. Any ideas?

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Notice that $1-2a\cos\theta+a^2 = (1-ae^{i\theta})(1-ae^{-i\theta})$, hence

$$\frac{1}{1-2a\cos\theta+a^2}=\sum_{j\geq 0}a^j e^{ji\theta}\sum_{k\geq 0}a^k e^{-ki\theta}\tag{1}$$ has a simple Fourier cosine series. The same holds for $\cos^3\theta$: $$ \cos^3\theta = \frac{3}{4}\cos(x)+\frac{1}{4}\cos(3x) \tag{2}$$ and since $\int_{0}^{2\pi}\cos(n\theta)\cos(m\theta)\,d\theta=\pi\,\delta(m,n) $, $$ \int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{\cos^3\theta}{1-2a\cos\theta+a^2}\,d\theta=\pi\left[\frac{3}{4}\sum_{|j-k|=1}a^{j+k}+\frac{1}{4}\sum_{|j-k|=3}a^{j+k}\right]\tag{3}$$ that simplifies to: $$ \pi\left[\frac{3}{4}\sum_{j\geq 0}a^{2j+1}+\frac{3}{4}\sum_{j\geq 1}a^{2j-1}+\frac{1}{4}\sum_{j\geq 0}a^{2j+3}+\frac{1}{4}\sum_{j\geq 3}a^{2j-3}\right]$$ then to: $$\boxed{ \int_{0}^{2\pi}\frac{\cos^3\theta}{1-2a\cos\theta+a^2}\,d\theta = \color{red}{\frac{a (3+a^2)}{1-a^2}\cdot\frac{\pi}{2}}}\tag{4}$$ This question is strictly related with the residue theorem and the Poisson kernel.

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    the equation you've given in the first line has just made it very easy! thanks for the very quick and detailed answer sir. i owe you a debt of gratitude!2017-01-24
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    @TeutonicTerror: I am just glad to be helpful, you're welcome.2017-01-24
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    by the way, can you suggest me some sources which i can find equations and identities like you have given?2017-01-24
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    @TeutonicTerror: I think any book abut basic Fourier series would do the job. *Stein, Fourier Analysis: an introduction* is an excellent choice.2017-01-24
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    another thing, 1/4 cos(x) should have been 1/4 cos(3x) right? http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/175903/prove-cos-3x-4-cos3x-3-cos-x2017-01-24
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    @TeutonicTerror: of course, now fixed.2017-01-24
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Mr. Jack D'Aurizio, S.I. Hayek's book covers this topic and suggests using the residue theorem, by transforming the f(x) function to f(z) in complex plane.

$$z=e^{i\theta}$$ $$ sin\theta=\frac{1}{2i}(z-\frac{1}{z}) $$ $$ cos\theta=\frac{1}{2 }(z+\frac{1}{z}) $$ $$ d\theta=-i\frac{dz}{z} $$ and the integral $$I=\int_0^{2\pi}F(sin\theta,cos\theta)d\theta$$ becomes $$I=\int_C{f(z)dz}$$ on a unit circle which is centered at the origin. Still, I am not sure how to transform $$cos(3\theta)$$ with this method.

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    $\cos(3\theta)=\frac{1}{2}\left(e^{3i\theta}+e^{-3i\theta}\right) = \frac{1}{2}\left(z^3+\frac{1}{z^3}\right).$2017-01-24
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    of course... thanks again, sir!2017-01-24