# Evaluating $\int_0^{\infty}\frac{\ln(x^2+1)}{x^2+1}dx$

How would I go about evaluating this integral? $$\int_0^{\infty}\frac{\ln(x^2+1)}{x^2+1}dx.$$ What I've tried so far: I tried a semicircular integral in the positive imaginary part of the complex plane, excluding the negative real axis, but had trouble calculating the residue at $z=i$ (perhaps there is a way of doing this that I don't know of). After that didn't work, I tried a rectangular box integral from $\epsilon$ to $R$, from $R$ to $R+i/2$, from $R+i/2$ to $-S+i/2$, from $-S+i/2$ to $-S+i\epsilon$, from $-S+i\epsilon$ to $-\epsilon+i\epsilon$ and finally a semicircle around the origin, radius $\epsilon$.

Any help would be appreciated.

• Numerically it seems to be $\pi \ln 2$. Now, the contour method is rather usual, you should get $\pi \mathrm{Res}_i(f)$, but you'll have a problem with residue at $i$. – Jean-Claude Arbaut Mar 25 '13 at 12:27
• @arbautjc Yes, we can find math.stackexchange.com/questions/177160/… some methods (but not complex, using contour integration). – Cortizol Mar 25 '13 at 12:53
• Oh, my. I have found $\int_0^{\pi/2} \log{(1+\tan^2 x)}\mathrm{d}x$, but I just forgot that $1+\tan^2 x = \frac{1}{\cos^2 x}$. Thanks! – Jean-Claude Arbaut Mar 25 '13 at 13:03
• Note that, you have two branch points. – Mhenni Benghorbal Mar 25 '13 at 14:01
• Integrate $f(z) = \frac{\ln(z+i)}{z^{2}+1}$ around a large closed half-circle in the upper half plane. – Random Variable Apr 11 '13 at 15:12

Hints As RandomVariable suggested, use $\log(x^2+1)=\log(x+i)+\log(x-i)$, choosing the branches of the logarithm carefully. It's generally best to isolate unpleasant singular things.

Then write $$\int_0^\infty=\frac{1}{2}\int_{-\infty}^{\infty}$$ and make use of the above splitting to integrate the two parts on different contours, each time avoiding enclosing the singularity of the logarithm. The part on the semicircle vanishes.

Answer The UHP pole gives $\log(i+i)/2i\times2\pi i$. The LHP pole gives $\log(-i-i)/(-2i)\times-2\pi i$. Summing and halving gives the answer $$\frac{\pi}{2}\left(\log(2i)+\log(-2i)\right)$$ so all that remains is choosing the right logarithm. This is easy enough, actually, and the answer is what you expect: $$\pi\ln 2$$

• No, I'm sorry, but you're still wrong! It is $\pi \ln 2$ just like I said, and just like I verified by checking it in Mathematica. – Sharkos Apr 11 '13 at 17:07
• Mathematica gives: Integrate[Log[x^2 + 1]/(1 + x^2), {x, 0, Infinity}] = [Pi] Log[2] – Sharkos Apr 11 '13 at 17:10
• -2 Integrate[Log[Cos[t]], {t, 0, Pi/2}] = [Pi] Log[2] also holds. – Sharkos Apr 11 '13 at 17:11
• If I may ask, what attracted the downvote, whoever did so? If this answer is wrong somehow I and the OP would probably like to know! If you just prefer the other answer, upvote that, don't downvote me... – Sharkos Apr 16 '13 at 16:37
• BTW I did not give you the downvote. – Ron Gordon Apr 24 '13 at 12:58

Use $x\to tan\theta$ and $dx=sec^2\theta d\theta$ Integral becomes $$\int_0^{\pi/2} 2\ln (sec \theta) d\theta$$

Which is $$-2\int_0^{\pi/2} \ln (cos\theta) d\theta$$ And can be solved.

Let $$I= \displaystyle \int_0^{\pi/2} \ln \left( \sin \theta \right) \cdot d\theta$$ $$I= \displaystyle \int_0^{\pi/2} \ln \left( \cos \theta \right) \cdot d\theta$$ Adding both. $$2I=\displaystyle \int_0^{\pi/2} \ln \left( \sin \theta \times \cos \theta\right) \cdot d\theta$$ $$2I= \displaystyle \int_0^{\pi/2} \ln \left(2 \sin \theta\times \cos \theta \right) -\ln2 \cdot d\theta$$ $$2I=\int_0^{\pi/2}\ln(\sin{2\theta})-\ln2 \cdot d\theta$$ $$\int_0^{\pi/2}\ln(\sin{2\theta})\cdot d\theta=I$$ So, $$I=-\int_0^{\pi/2}\ln2\cdot d\theta$$ $$I=-\dfrac{\pi\ln2}2$$

And your integral comes out to be

## $${\pi \ln2}$$

• This is tagged as complex analysis, and I believe OP wants to use contour integration. (Nice approach,though, so +1). – Aryabhata Apr 11 '13 at 14:42
• It is not a perception. This is based on the tags (which now include contour-integration tag) and the question description. – Aryabhata Apr 11 '13 at 14:56
• This answer is incorrect. – Sharkos Apr 11 '13 at 16:26
• There's a mistake but I think it is a rather minor one and the approach indeed is nice:$$\int\limits_0^{\pi/2}\log\sin 2\theta\,d\theta=\frac{1}{2}\int\limits_0^\pi\log\sin u\,du=\int\limits_0^{\pi/2}\log\sin u\,du\implies$$in the second line from the bottom in the blue zone of the answer it must be $$I=-\int\limits_0^{\pi/2}\log 2\,d\theta\ldots$$ – DonAntonio Apr 11 '13 at 18:34
• @DonAntonio Thanx for pointing out. – ABC Apr 12 '13 at 2:49

Maybe this is going to seem a lot more involved than it needs to be, but it is likely that complex methods are not the best way to attack an integral like this. Nonetheless, it is possible.

We consider the integral in the complex plane

$$\oint_C dz \frac{\log{(1+z^2)}}{1+z^2}$$

where $C$ is some contour to be determined. Our first instinct is to make $C$ a simple semicircle in the upper half plane. The problem is that the branch point singularity at $z=i$ is extremely problematic, as it coincides with an ostensible pole. Nonetheless, the corresponding integral over the real line is finite (and twice the originally specified integral), so there must be a way to treat this.

The way to go with branch points like this is to avoid them. We thus have to draw $C$ so as to do that, and then use Cauchy's theorem to state that the above complex integral about $C$ is zero. Such a contour $C$ is illustrated below.

The contour integral is then taken along six different segments. I will state without proof that the integral about the two outer arcs vanishes as the radius of those arcs $R \to \infty$. We are then left with four integrals:

$$\int_{-R}^R dx \frac{\log{(1+x^2)}}{1+x^2} + \left [\int_{C_-}+\int_{C_+}+\int_{C_{\epsilon}} \right ] dz \frac{\log{(1+z^2)}}{1+z^2} = 0$$

$C_-$ is the segment to the right of the imaginary axis, down from the arc to the branch point, $C_+$ is the segment to the left of the imaginary axis, up from the branch point to the arc, and $C_{\epsilon}$ is the circle about the branch point of radius $\epsilon$.

It is crucial that we get the arguments of the log correct along each path. I note that the segment $C_-$ is "below" the imaginary axis and I assign the phase of this segment to be $2 \pi$, while I assign the phase of the segment $C_+$ to be $0$.

For the segment $C_-$, set $z=i(1+y e^{i 2 \pi})$:

$$\int_{C_-} dz \frac{\log{(1+z^2)}}{1+z^2} = i\int_R^{\epsilon} dy \frac{\log{[-y (2+y)]}+ i 2 \pi}{-y (2+y)}$$

For the segment $C_+$, set $z=i(1+y)$:

$$\int_{C_-} dz \frac{\log{(1+z^2)}}{1+z^2} = i\int_{\epsilon}^R dy \frac{\log{[-y (2+y)]}}{-y (2+y)}$$

I note that the sum of the integrals along $C_-$ and $C_+$ is

$$-2 \pi \int_{\epsilon}^R \frac{dy}{y (2+y)} = -\pi \left [ \log{R} - \log{(2 + R)} - \log{\epsilon} + \log{(2 + \epsilon)}\right]$$

For the segment $C_{\epsilon}$, set $z=i (1+\epsilon e^{-i \phi})$. The integral along this segment is

\begin{align}\int_{C_{\epsilon}} dz \frac{\log{(1+z^2)}}{1+z^2} &= \epsilon \int_{-2 \pi}^0 d\phi e^{-i \phi} \frac{\log{\left [ -2 \epsilon e^{-i \phi} \right]}}{-2 \epsilon e^{-i \phi}}\end{align}

Here we use $\log{(-1)}=-i \pi$ and the above integral becomes

\begin{align}\int_{C_{\epsilon}} dz \frac{\log{(1+z^2)}}{1+z^2} &= -\frac12 (-i \pi)(2 \pi) - \frac12 \log{2} (2 \pi) - \frac12 \log{\epsilon} (2 \pi) -\frac12 (-i) \frac12 (0-4 \pi^2) \\ &= -\pi \log{2} - \pi \log{\epsilon} \end{align}

Adding the above integrals, we have

\begin{align}\int_{-R}^R dx \frac{\log{(1+x^2)}}{1+x^2} -\pi \log{R} + \pi \log{(2 + R)} + \pi \log{\epsilon} - \pi \log{(2 + \epsilon)} -\pi \log{2} - \pi \log{\epsilon} &= 0\\ \implies \int_{-R}^R dx \frac{\log{(1+x^2)}}{1+x^2} -\pi \log{R} + \pi \log{(2 + R)} - \pi \log{(2 + \epsilon)} -\pi \log{2} &=0\end{align}

Now we take the limit as $R \to \infty$ and $\epsilon \to 0$ and we get

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dx \frac{\log{(1+x^2)}}{1+x^2} -2 \pi \log{2} = 0$$

Therefore

$$\int_{0}^{\infty} dx \frac{\log{(1+x^2)}}{1+x^2} = \pi \log{2}$$

• @EricNaslund: many thanks. – Ron Gordon Apr 24 '13 at 14:42
• (+1) Finally solution with contuor integration, like OP wanted (I suppose). – Cortizol Apr 27 '13 at 8:26
• @Ron You directed me to your post, so I hope you're willing to answer some of my questions. I don't think the branch of $\log(1+z^{2})$ you used coincides with that cut. I'm pretty sure that cut is the result of using the principal branch of $\log(1+z^{2})$. And when I parametrized the contour around the branch point at $z=i$, I assumed I could replace $(i+\epsilon e^{it})^{2}$ with $-1 + 2i\epsilon e^{it}$ since we're only interested in small values of $\epsilon$. You seem to have done something similar but without stating what you did. Could you elaborate? – Random Variable Aug 27 '13 at 15:05
• The branch of the log doesn't coincide with what cut? And I did exactly what you said, see the integral about $C_{\epsilon}$. It is certainly there - we are just making sure we are picking up the contribution from the branch point. – Ron Gordon Aug 27 '13 at 15:13
• I assume we want the branch cuts on the imaginary axis from $i$ to $i \infty$ and from $-i$ to $-i \infty$. Along those cuts $1+z^{2}$ is negative and real. So those cuts come about by choosing the principal branch of $\log(1+z^{2})$. So the argument of $\ln(1+z^{2})$ just to the right of the cut on $[i, i \infty)$ is $\pi$, while just to the left of the cut the argument is $- \pi$. – Random Variable Aug 27 '13 at 15:27

One way to solve this problem is to use parametric integrals. Let $$I(\alpha)=\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{\ln(\alpha x^2+1)}{x^2+1}dx.$$ Then \begin{eqnarray*} I'(\alpha)&=&\int_{0}^{\infty}\frac{x^2}{(\alpha x^2+1)(x^2+1)}dx\\ &=&\int_{0}^{\infty}\left(-\frac{1}{\alpha-1}\frac{1}{\alpha x^2+1}+\frac{1}{\alpha-1}\frac{1}{x^2+1}\right)dx\\ &=&-\frac{1}{\alpha-1}\frac{1}{\sqrt{\alpha}}\frac{\pi}{2}+\frac{1}{\alpha-1}\frac{\pi}{2}\\ &=&\frac{\pi}{2}\frac{\sqrt{\alpha}-1}{\sqrt{\alpha}(\alpha-1)}\\ &=&\frac{\pi}{2}\left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{\alpha}}-\frac{1}{\sqrt{\alpha}+1}\right). \end{eqnarray*} Thus $$I(\alpha)=\pi\ln(\sqrt{\alpha}+1)+C.$$ But $I(0)=0$ implies $C=0$. So $I(1)=\pi\ln 2$.

• I'd appreciate if you could address the following doubts. Thanks. (1) How do you relate your $\,I(\alpha)\,$ with the original integral? That has logarithm in the numerator, yours doesn't ; (2) you're apparently differentiating under the integral sign, but if so how do get what you write in $\,I'(\alpha)\,$? – DonAntonio Apr 12 '13 at 3:01
• There should be a log applied to the numerator, then it works fine. – Sharkos Apr 12 '13 at 9:38
• It looks like a neat approach, but something is wrong. Want to fix it? – nbubis Apr 12 '13 at 10:33
• @nbubis, tell me which place is wrong so that I can fix. – xpaul Apr 12 '13 at 12:56
• @DonAntonio, for this type of integrals which the numerators have $\ln(x+1),\ln(x^2+1)$ or $e^{x}$, the general idea is to change the numerators as $\ln(\alpha x+1),\ln(\alpha x^2+1)$ or $e^{\alpha x}$ and then to differentiate and integrate. Then the key is that if $\alpha=0$, the integrals become 0. – xpaul Apr 12 '13 at 13:02

We can also use contour integration to show that

$$I(a,b,\theta) = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\log \left(a^{2}+2ax \cos \theta + x^{2}\right)}{x^{2}+b^{2}} \, dx = \frac{\pi}{b} \, \log \left(a^{2}+2ab \sin \theta +b^{2} \right),$$ where $a, b >0$ and $0 < \theta < \pi$.

Your integral is $\frac{1}{2} \, I\left(1,1,\frac{\pi}{2} \right)$.

Consider the complex function $$f(z) = \frac{\log \left(z+ae^{i \theta}\right)}{z^{2}+b^{2}},$$

which has a branch point in the lower half-plane at $z=-ae^{i \theta}$.

If we use the principal branch of the logarithm, then $f(z)$ is meromorphic in the upper half-plane.

So by integrating around a closed semicircular contour in the upper half-plane (and using the fact that $\lim_{|z| \to \infty} z f(z) =0$ ), we get

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\log \left(x+ae^{i \theta} \right)}{x^{2}+b^{2}} \, dx = 2 \pi i \ \text{Res}[f(z),ib] = \frac{\pi}{b} \, \log \left( ib +ae^{i \theta} \right).$$

And equating the real parts on both sides of the equation, we get

$$\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\log(a^{2}+2ax \cos \theta +x^2)}{x^{2}+b^{2}} \, dx = \frac{\pi}{b} \, \log \left(a^{2}+2ab \sin \theta +b^{2} \right).$$

Here is a way by using contour integration and easy to understand:

Convention:

The branch of the logarithm is principal branch cut.

The argument is using under principal value.

$$\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\log(1+x^2)}{1+x^2}~dx = \\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\log(x^2+1)}{1+x^2}~dx = \\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\log((x+i)(x-i))}{1+x^2}~dx = \\\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\log(|x+i|) + Arg(x+i) + log(|x-i|)+ Arg(x-i) }{1+x^2}~dx = \\ \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\log(|x+i|) + log(|x-i|)+ Arg(2x) }{1+x^2}~dx = \\$$$$\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\log(|x+i|) + log(|x-i|)}{1+x^2}~dx \tag{1}$$

Doing contour integration with respect to function: $f(x) = log(x+i)/(x^2+1)$

Define contour:

$\Gamma_1:= x \text{ from } 0 \text{ to } \infty$

$\Gamma_2:= x \text{ from } \infty \text{ to } -\infty \text{ along the upper semicircle}$

$\Gamma_3:= x \text{ from } -\infty \text{ to } 0$

Easy to see: $\int_{\Gamma_2} |f(x)| \leq 2 \pi \max_{\Gamma_2} {\frac{|\log(x+i)|}{|1+x^2|}} \leq \frac{log(\sqrt{x^2+1})}{x^2+1}+\frac{\pi^2}{x^2+1} = 0$

So $\int_{\Gamma_2} f(x) = 0$

The residue for $f(x)$ at $x = i$ is $\frac{\log(2)+ \frac{\pi}{2}}{2i}$

By residue theorem: $\int_{\Gamma_1} f(x) + \int_{\Gamma_3} f(x) = 2\pi Res(f,i) = \pi \log(2) + \frac{\pi^2 i}{2}$

$$\int_0^\infty \frac{log(x+i)}{(x^2+1)} + \int_{-\infty}^0 \frac{log(x+i)}{(x^2+1)} = \pi \log(2) + \frac{\pi^2 i}{2} \implies\\\int_0^\infty \frac{log|x+i|}{(x^2+1)} + \int_{-\infty}^0 \frac{log(|x+i|)+ \pi i}{(x^2+1)} = \pi \log(2) + \frac{\pi^2 i}{2} \implies\\\int_0^\infty \frac{log|x+i|}{(x^2+1)} + \int_{-\infty}^0 \frac{log(|x+i|)}{(x^2+1)}+ \int_{-\infty}^0 \frac{ \pi i}{(x^2+1)} = \pi \log(2) + \frac{\pi^2 i}{2} \\$$

Recall: $\int \frac{1}{x^2+1} = arctan(x)+c$

$$\implies \int_0^\infty \frac{log|x+i|}{(x^2+1)} + \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{log(|x-i|)}{(x^2+1)}+ \frac{i\pi^2}{2} = \pi \log(2) + \frac{i\pi^2}{2}\\\\\implies \int_0^\infty \frac{log|x+i| + log|x-i|}{(x^2+1)} = \pi \log(2)$$

Substitute into $(1)$,$\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{\log(|x+i|) + log(|x-i|)}{1+x^2}~dx = \pi \log(2)$