Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-2-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/paper-2/4/b/solution

Factor the polynomial denominator as . The numerator has values and at the two roots, so neither cancels. Therefore
The factor gives a branch point at zero, with local behaviour . Infinity is also a branch point, since in the coordinate the leading behaviour is . A single-valued branch requires a branch cut joining these points. Away from that cut and the two poles, the selected branch is holomorphic. For the integral below, use , putting the cut along the positive real axis.

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