Question: Evaluate the following definite integral: $$ I= \int_{0}^{\pi/2} \ln\left(1 + a\cos\left(x\right) \over 1 - a\cos\left(x\right)\right)\, {{\rm d}x \over \cos\left(x\right)}\qquad \mbox{where}\qquad\left\vert\,a\,\right\vert < 1 $$
This is left as an exercise in my textbook. The book says that I should use the method of "differentiating parameters" by using the provided Leibniz Formula (?):
Prerequisite: Function $f(x,y)$ and its partial derivative $f_x(x,y)$ are both continuous on region $R=[a,b]\times[c,d]$. Function $\alpha(x)$ and $\beta(x)$ are both differentiable on intervl $[a,b]$ while $$ c \le \alpha(x) \le d,\quad c \le \beta(x) \le d \quad (a\le x\le b),$$
Conclusion: The Function $\displaystyle\Phi(x)=\int_{\alpha(x)}^{\beta(x)} f(x,y) \,\mathrm d y$ is differentiable on interval $[a,b]$, and $$\begin{align} \Phi^\prime(x) &= \frac{\mathrm d}{\mathrm d x} \int_{\alpha(x)}^{\beta(x)} f(x,y) \,\mathrm d y \\ &= \int_{\alpha(x)}^{\beta(x)} f_x(x,y) \,\mathrm d y + f\left[x,\beta(x)\right]\beta^\prime(x)-f\left[x,\alpha(x)\right]\alpha^\prime(x). \end{align}$$
First, I'd like to ask: What is the correct name of this theorem?
Next, here's my (failed?) attempts at solving the question.
Following one of the textbook examples on the same topic, I tried:
$$ \begin{align} I&=\int_0^\frac{\pi}{2} \left[\ln(1+y)\right]_{-a \cos x}^{a \cos x} \frac{\mathrm d x}{\cos x} \\ \\ &= \int_0^\frac{\pi}{2} \int_{-a \cos x}^{a \cos x} \frac{\mathrm d y}{1+y} \frac{\mathrm d x}{\cos x}. \\ &=\int_{-a}^{a} \frac{1}{1+y} \int_{0}^{\arccos\left|y/a\right|}\,\mathrm d x \mathrm d y \\ &=\int_{-a}^{a} \left.\left[\ln\left|\tan x + \sec x\right|\right]\right|_0^{\arccos(y/a)} \end{align} $$
And I don't know what to do next.
Also I tried to substitute $u=a \cos x$ but I don't know how to proceed.
Please help me with this (non-homework) problem by giving hints or solution, It's been a week since I first tried this problem. Thanks for helping!
P.S.: My MathJax doesn't render (or it may need hours of time), and I don't get preview for writing questions/answers. I'm relying on LaTeX now. How can I fix this problem? It used to work. I'm using IE 9.
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. $\endgroup$ – Frenzy Li Oct 8 '12 at 19:20