I was wondering about the signs convention while evaulating complex contour integrals.
I have an integral: $I = \int _{0}^{\infty} \frac {1}{1-x^3} dx$
and my textbook encourages me to use following contour:
If I could parametrize the curve by myself, I would choose for that two semicircles negative signs and for that big one with the diameter $R$ plus sign, because I would choose the counter-clockwise direction. But why are $\varphi _2$, $\varphi_3$ and $\varphi_5$ all negative curves?
Does anyone know some good source concerning the parametrization for such curves?
EDIT: I can circle the semicircle in the opposite direction, so I have the same signs for them all.
