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          and so we have the set of (approximate) roots








          A few examples  of other equations with  complex roots  (some of which may be real,
          of course) are set as exercises in Q2.5.

          2.2 INTEGRATION OF FUNCTIONS REPRESENTED
             BY ASYMPTOTIC EXPANSIONS
          Our second  direct, and  rather routine  application of these  ideas  is to  the  evaluation
          of integrals.  In particular,  we consider integrals of functions  that are represented by
          asymptotic expansions in a small parameter; this may involve one or more expansions,
          but if it is  the latter—and it often is—then the expansions will satisfy the matching
          principle.
            The procedure  that we  adopt  calls  upon two  general properties: the  first is  the
          existence of an intermediate variable  (valid in the  overlap  region; see  §1.7), and the
          second is the familiar device of splitting the range of integration,  as appropriate. We
          then express the integral as a sum of integrals over each of the asymptotic expansions
          of the  integrand,  the  switch  from one  to  the  next being at  a point which  is in the
          overlap region. The expansions are then valid for each integration range selected and,
          furthermore, the value of the original integral (assuming that it exists) is independent
          of how  we split the  integral. Thus  the particular  choice  of intermediate  variable is
          unimportant; indeed, it may be quite general, satisfying only the necessary conditions
          for such a variable; see  (1.56), for example.  Let us apply this technique to a simple
          example.


          E2.5  An elementary integral
          We are given






          and we require the value, as   of the integral





          (Note that the integral here is elementary, to the extent that it may be evaluated directly,
          although we will integrate only the relevant asymptotic expansions;  this example has
          been selected so that the interested reader may check the results against the expansion
          of the exact value.)
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