Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/paper-2/4/b/ii/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 2 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2016 Paper 2 4 b ii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-18
Use the branch from part (i) and close the real-axis path with a large upper semicircle, indenting clockwise around and . On the segment between them, take the upper-bank value of the branch cut. This is an instance of square-root endpoint integrals by an upper-half-plane contour.
Upper-half-plane contour, clockwise endpoint indentations, and the two enclosed poles; indentation sizes are exaggerated
. Details. The contributions can be controlled separately. Since , the large arc contributes . Near either branch point, , so an arc of length contributes . On the upper bank of ,which is odd in , so its integral is zero. On the exterior real intervals , while the rational numerator is odd. Hence and the two exterior contributions sum to .
New to topics? Read the docs here!
