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"With hands", what is the reason why $\pi$ appears in this result :

$\lim_{\epsilon\to 0}\frac{\epsilon}{\epsilon^2+x^2}=\pi\delta(x)$

2 Answers2

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Because the left hand side is the derivative of $\text{arctan}$ (by rescaling), so it has to do with trigonometry and $\pi$.

Didier
  • 19,132
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Suppose you know that $$ \frac{\epsilon}{\epsilon^2+x^2}\to C\delta, $$ and you want to compute $C$. Taking integrals termwise, $$ \int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{\epsilon}{\epsilon^2+x^2}\, dx\to C, $$ and the change of variable $y=\epsilon x$ shows that the left-hand side equals $$ \int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{dy}{1+y^2}=\pi.$$