# How to show that $\int_{-\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}{6}} \ln\left(\tan(x)+\tan\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right)\right)\tan(x)\space dx=\frac{\zeta(2)}{6}$

I was trying to prove the well known result: $$\sum_{k=1}^\infty \frac{1}{\binom{2k}kk^2}=\frac{\zeta(2)}{3}$$ and it came down to prove the following equation: $$\int_{-\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}{6}} \ln\left(\tan(x)+\tan\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right)\right)\tan(x)\space dx=\frac{\zeta(2)}{6}$$ Can this integral be used to prove the above result; in other words can it be proven without using the above mentionend sum? I tried applying the angle sum and difference identities but I didn't get something helpful, so any help is highly appreciated!

Edit:

Can it be shown directly, in other words without knowing $\zeta(2)=\frac{\pi^2}{6}$, that $$\sum_{k=1}^\infty \frac{1}{\binom{2k}kk^2}=\frac{\zeta(2)}{3}$$

• Just to get this right, you want us to prove the integral and we can use the sum if we want? – user111187 Jan 20 '15 at 8:50
• See the edits; I fixed it now. – Redundant Aunt Jan 20 '15 at 9:46

Here I used formula 5.16 from Lewin's book (polylogs and associated functions) to calculate the real part of the polylogarithm. The antiderivative can be straightforwardly calculated by writing $$\frac{1}{1+t^2} = \frac 1 2 \lbb \frac{1}{1 - i t} + \frac{1}{1+ i t} \rbb = \Re \lbb \frac{1}{1 - i t} \rbb.$$
I am not sure if this helps to focus on the sum itself. If it does, then start with $\displaystyle f(x)=2\arcsin(\frac{x}{2})^2$. Write a Taylor's expansion for $\displaystyle f(x)$ (this is rather painful but fun):$$2\arcsin(\frac{x}{2})^2=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{x^{2n}}{\binom{2n}n n^2}.$$ Now observe that $$2\arcsin(\frac{1}{2})^2=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{\binom{2n}n n^2},$$or that$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{\binom{2n}n n^2}=2 \times (\frac{\pi}{6})^2.$$