# A generalization for Serret's integral $\int_0^a \frac{\ln(1+ax)}{1+x^2}dx$

The integral specified in the title appears in Gradshteyn & Ryzhik 4.291.18, also followed by its sister integral: $$\int_0^a \frac{\ln(1+ax)}{1+x^2}dx=\int_0^a \frac{a\arctan x}{1+ax}dx=\frac12 \arctan a\ln(1+a^2) \tag 1$$

Some application of the above gives us some nice results, such as: $$\int_0^1\frac{\arctan x}x\ln\left(\frac{(1+x^2)^3}{(1+x)^2}\right)dx=0$$ Above follows by converting $$\int_0^1 \frac{\arctan x\ln(1+x^2)}{x}dx$$ to a double integral using $$(1)$$ and then swapping the order of the integrals.

Or another one: $$\int_0^1 \frac{\arctan x\ln(1+x^2)}{x(1+x)}dx=\frac{\pi^3}{96}-\frac{\pi}{8}\ln^2 2$$

But the question here would be how to prove the result given in $$(1)$$?

I tried to differentiate under the integral sign with respect to $$a$$, but something nasty appeared. Are there any other ideas?

• Please try to place the integral in your question, and show some working. – Hyperkähler Feb 9 '17 at 9:41
• Do you have integrate that function for fixed $a$? Or do you have to study the integral function? – user8469759 Feb 9 '17 at 9:46
• it will get ugly: wolframalpha.com/input/… maybe the functional equation for DiLogs simplify this a bit further, but that's it – tired Feb 9 '17 at 9:51

Well, we know that:

$$1+x^2=\left(x-i\right)\left(x+i\right)\tag1$$

So, perform partial fraction decomposition:

$$\mathcal{I}\left(x\right):=\int\frac{\ln\left(1+\text{a}\cdot x\right)}{1+x^2}\space\text{d}x=\frac{i}{2}\cdot\left\{\int\frac{\ln\left(1+\text{a}\cdot x\right)}{x+i}\space\text{d}x-\int\frac{\ln\left(1+\text{a}\cdot x\right)}{x-i}\space\text{d}x\right\}\tag2$$

Now, substitute $\text{u}=x+i$ for the left integral:

$$\int\frac{\ln\left(1+\text{a}\cdot x\right)}{x+i}\space\text{d}x=\int\frac{\ln\left(1+\frac{\text{a}\cdot\text{u}}{1-\text{a}i}\right)}{\text{u}}\space\text{d}\text{u}+\ln\left(1-\text{a}i\right)\int\frac{1}{\text{u}}\space\text{d}\text{u}\tag3$$

Now, substitute $\text{v}=\frac{\text{a}\cdot\text{u}}{\text{a}i-1}$ for the left integral:

$$\int\frac{\ln\left(1+\frac{\text{a}\cdot\text{u}}{1-\text{a}i}\right)}{\text{u}}\space\text{d}\text{u}=-\int-\frac{\ln\left(1-\text{v}\right)}{\text{v}}\space\text{d}\text{v}:=\text{C}_1-\text{Li}_2\left(\text{v}\right)\tag4$$

And for the right integral:

$$\ln\left(1-\text{a}i\right)\int\frac{1}{\text{u}}\space\text{d}\text{u}=\ln\left(1-\text{a}i\right)\ln\left|\text{u}\right|+\text{C}_2\tag5$$

Now, for $\int\frac{\ln\left(1+\text{a}\cdot x\right)}{x-i}\space\text{d}x$ it is the same way of proceeding.

\begin{align}I=\int_0^a\frac{\ln(1+ax)}{1+x^2}dx&=\int_0^a\frac{\ln\frac{1+a^2}{1+at}}{1+t^2}dt\text{ (transform x=\frac{a-t}{1+at})}\\ &=\arctan a\ln(1+a^2)-\int_0^a\frac{\ln(1+at)}{1+t^2}dt\\ &=\arctan a\ln(1+a^2)-I\\ &=\frac12\arctan a\ln(1+a^2)\end{align} The key point is the mobius transformation.

How do I discover this transformation? By observing the similar technique OP mentioned. We may let $$x=\frac{b_1+b_2t}{c_1+c_2t}$$ and add some restrictions to $$b_1,b_2,c_1,c_2$$. We hope this transformation preserves the bounds of integral, hence $$0=\frac{b_1+b_2a}{c_1+c_2a}$$ and $$a=\frac{b_1}{c_1}.$$ Also, we can cancel out $$b_2$$. Three relations are found, then just try to substitute it into the original integral and hope it works. The result is that it really works.

Claim: for any $a>0$, $$\boxed{ I(a)=\int_{0}^{a}\frac{\log(1+ax)}{1+x^2}\,dx = \color{red}{\arctan(a)\log\sqrt{a^2+1}}.} \tag{0}$$ Proof: $$I(a) = \int_{0}^{1}\frac{a\log(1+a^2 x)}{1+a^2 x^2}\,dx,$$ $$I'(a) = \color{blue}{\int_{0}^{1}\frac{2a^2 x}{(1+a^2 x)(1+a^2 x^2)}\,dx} - \color{purple}{ \int_{0}^{1}\frac{(1-a^2 x^2)}{(1+a^2 x^2)^2}\log(1+a^2 x)\,dx }\tag{1}$$ The blue integral is elementary and the purple integral turns into an elementary integral by integration by parts. In particular, the derivatives of both sides of $(0)$ match. To finish the proof, we just have to show that $(0)$ holds at $a=1$. But that is equivalent to $$\int_{0}^{\pi/4}\log(1+\tan\theta)\,d\theta = \frac{\pi}{8}\log(2) \tag{2}$$ that is well-known. Another possible approach is to read the LHS of $(0)$ as $$\int_{0}^{a}\frac{\log(1+ax)}{x}\cdot\frac{x}{x^2+1}\,dx$$ and exploit the dilogarithm reflection formulas.

• (+1) Nice. (0) labeling, are a computer scientist ? – Zaid Alyafeai Feb 10 '17 at 11:42
• @ZaidAlyafeai: usually I put the final outcome at the end of the answer, and label it accordingly. Since this time I moved the final outcome at the beginning of my answer, I have decided to label it as $(0)$ :D – Jack D'Aurizio Feb 10 '17 at 11:45
• I am really impressed by your vast knwledge in integrals and special functions. I am learning from you. – Zaid Alyafeai Feb 10 '17 at 12:02