# A challenging logarithmic integral $\int_0^1 \frac{\log(1+x)\log(1-x)}{1+x}dx$

While playing around with Mathematica, I found that

$$\int_0^1 \frac{\log(1+x)\log(1-x)}{1+x}dx = \frac{1}{3}\log^3(2)-\frac{\pi^2}{12}\log(2)+\frac{\zeta(3)}{8}$$

• Let $u=\log(1+x)$, $du=1/(1+x)\,dx$ and $1-x=2-e^u$ transforms our integral into $$\int_0^{\log2}u\log(2-e^u)\,\mathrm{d}u$$... not sure what to do from there, however. – oldrinb Jun 1 '13 at 7:36
• you can see:math.stackexchange.com/questions/405356/… – math110 Jun 1 '13 at 7:47
• @math110: I think I just understood what you are trying to say. We can relate it to the Euler Sum in your link. $$\int_0^1 \frac{\log(1+x)\log(1-x)}{1+x}dx=\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{n+1}}{n}(H_n)^2$$ – Shobhit Bhatnagar Jun 1 '13 at 8:16
• For a more generalized form of this integral, where the integral is over the range 0 to z rather than 0 to 1, see here -->> [mathhelpboards.com/questions-other-sites-52/… – user98087 Oct 1 '13 at 19:32

Use your favorite program to compute the indefinite integral in terms of polylogarithms $$\int\frac{\ln(1+x)\ln(1-x)\,dx}{1+x}=\frac{\ln2}{2}\ln^2(1+x)-\ln(1+x)\,\mathrm{Li}_2\left(\frac{1+x}{2}\right)+\mathrm{Li}_3\left(\frac{1+x}{2}\right).$$ [This can be verified by straightforward differentiation].

To compute the definite integral, it suffices to know $\mathrm{Li}_{2,3}\left(\frac12\right)$ and $\mathrm{Li}_{2,3}(1)$. However, the definition of polylogarithm immediately implies $\mathrm{Li}_s(1)=\zeta(s)$. Also, the values $\mathrm{Li}_{2,3}\left(\frac12\right)$ can be found here (formulas (16), (17)).

• I can verify that the anti-derivative can be computed through some tedious integration by parts. – Potato Jun 1 '13 at 8:46
• @Potato It is maybe not easy to guess the form of the antiderivative. But once you have a correct guess, to check it is a one-line calculation using that $\mathrm{Li}_2'(z)=-\ln(1-z)/z$ and $\mathrm{Li}_3'(z)=\mathrm{Li}_2(z)/z$. – Start wearing purple Jun 1 '13 at 8:50
• @Potato: I think I understood what you mean. One integration by parts gives roughly $\mathrm{Li}_2(smth)$ instead of $\frac{\ln(1-z)}{1+z}$ and $1/(1+z)$ instead of $\ln(1+z)$. Subsequent integration gives $\mathrm{Li}_3$. – Start wearing purple Jun 1 '13 at 8:56
• Thank O.L.! I did not realize that the indefinite integral would be so easy. – Shobhit Bhatnagar Jun 1 '13 at 9:40
• It's clear that the OP likes an analytically derivation. Otherwise, the OP can use a symbolic software to get the solution. – Felix Marin Aug 13 '14 at 19:45


With $\ds{0 < \mu < 1}$: \begin{align}&\color{#c00000}{\int_{0}^{\mu}% {\ln\pars{1 + x}\ln\pars{1 - x} \over 1+x}\,\dd x} \\[3mm]&=\half\,\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu}\ln\pars{1 - \mu} +\color{#00f}{\half\int_{0}^{\mu}{\ln^{2}\pars{1 + x} \over 1 - x}\,\dd x} \tag{1} \end{align}

\begin{align}&\color{#00f}{\half\int_{0}^{\mu}% {\ln^{2}\pars{1 + x} \over 1 - x}\,\dd x} =\half\int_{1}^{1 + \mu}{\ln^{2}\pars{x} \over 2 - x}\,\dd x =\half\int_{1/2}^{\pars{1 + \mu}/2}{\ln^{2}\pars{2x} \over 1 - x}\,\dd x \\[3mm]&=-\,\half\ln\pars{1 - {1 + \mu \over 2}}\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu} +\half\int_{1/2}^{\pars{1 + \mu}/2}\ln\pars{1 - x}\,{2\ln\pars{2x} \over x}\,\dd x \\[3mm]&=-\,\half\ln\pars{1 - \mu \over 2}\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu} -\int_{1/2}^{\pars{1 + \mu}/2}{\rm Li}_{2}'\pars{x}\ln\pars{2x}\,\dd x \\[3mm]&=-\,\half\,\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu}\ln\pars{1 - \mu} +\half\,\ln\pars{2}\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu} -{\rm Li}_{2}\pars{1 + \mu \over 2}\ln\pars{1 + \mu} \\[3mm]&+\int_{1/2}^{\pars{1 + \mu}/2}{\rm Li}_{2}\pars{x}\,{1 \over x}\,\dd x \\[3mm]&=-\,\half\,\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu}\ln\pars{1 - \mu} +\half\,\ln\pars{2}\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu} - {\rm Li}_{2}\pars{1 + \mu \over 2}\ln\pars{1 + \mu} \\[3mm]&+\int_{1/2}^{\pars{1 + \mu}/2}{\rm Li}_{3}'\pars{x}\,\dd x \end{align}

\begin{align} &\color{#00f}{\half\int_{0}^{\mu}% {\ln^{2}\pars{1 + x} \over 1 - x}\,\dd x} \\[3mm]&=-\,\half\,\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu}\ln\pars{1 - \mu} +\half\,\ln\pars{2}\ln^{2}\pars{1 + \mu} -{\rm Li}_{2}\pars{1 + \mu \over 2}\ln\pars{1 + \mu} \\[3mm]&+{\rm Li}_{3}\pars{1 + \mu \over 2} - {\rm Li}_{3}\pars{\half} \end{align}

Replacing in $\pars{1}$ and taking the limit $\ds{\mu \to 1^{-}}$: \begin{align}&\color{#c00000}{\int_{0}^{1}% {\ln\pars{1 + x}\ln\pars{1 - x} \over 1+x}\,\dd x} = \half\,\ln^{3}\pars{2} - {\rm Li}_{2}\pars{1}\ln\pars{2} +{\rm Li}_{3}\pars{1} - {\rm Li}_{3}\pars{\half} \end{align}

With the values: $${\rm Li}_{2}\pars{1} = {\pi^{2} \over 6}\,,\quad {\rm Li}_{3}\pars{1} = \zeta\pars{3}\,,\quad {\rm Li}_{3}\pars{\half} = {\ln^{3}\pars{2} \over 6} -{\ln\pars{2} \over 12}\,\pi^{2} + {7 \over 8}\,\zeta\pars{3}$$ we find

$$\color{#66f}{\large\int_{0}^{1}% {\ln\pars{1 + x}\ln\pars{1 - x} \over 1+x}\,\dd x = {\ln^{3}\pars{2} \over 3} - {\ln\pars{2} \over 12}\,\pi^{2} +{1 \over 8}\,\zeta\pars{3}} \approx {\tt -0.3088}$$

• This is a nice answer! – Olivier Oloa Aug 13 '14 at 21:42
• @OlivierOloa Thanks. It's nice to rely on PolyLogarithms... – Felix Marin Aug 16 '14 at 21:18

Ms. Chris's sis asked me exactly same question a few days ago in chatroom & I could answer it.

Here is my answer. Let $I$ be the integral. Using magic substitution $2t=1+x$ we get \begin{align} I&=\int_{\frac{1}{2}}^1 \frac{\log(2t)\log(2-2t)}{t}dt\\ &=\int_{\frac{1}{2}}^1 \frac{\log t\log(1-t)}{t}dt+\ln2\int_{\frac{1}{2}}^1 \frac{\log(1-t)}{t}dt+\ln2\int_{\frac{1}{2}}^1 \frac{\log t}{t}dt+\ln^22\int_{\frac{1}{2}}^1\frac{1}{t}dt\\ &=I_1+I_2+I_3+I_4 \end{align} All of the above integrals are trivial. For instance, $I_1$ & $I_2$ can be solved by using elementary way: using series expansion for $$\frac{\log(1-t)}{t}=\sum_{k=1}^\infty\frac{t^{k-1}}{k}$$ We can also use the reflection formula for dilog function $$\text{Li}_2(x)+\text{Li}_2(1-x)=\frac{\pi^2}{6}-\ln x\ln(1-x)$$for solving $I_1$ and the integral representation of dilog function $$\text{Li}_2(x)=\int_0^x \frac{\log(1-t)}{t}dt$$for solving $I_2$. And for $I_3$ & $I_4$, of course an high school student can easily solved it. So $$I=\frac{1}{3}\ln^3(2)-\frac{\pi^2}{12}\ln(2)+\frac{\zeta(3)}{8}$$ Done! (>‿◠)✌

• Yuhuu @Chris'ssis! This is how I answer your question in chatroom. (ô‿ô) – Anastasiya-Romanova 秀 Sep 19 '14 at 17:43
• Good job there, nice solution! (+1) Also keep in mind I didn't use any special function in my solution like polylogarithm (more specifically, dilogarithm). :-) – user 1357113 Sep 19 '14 at 18:25
• @Anastasiya-Romanova This is a nice answer :)! – Olivier Oloa Sep 19 '14 at 19:08

Following Shobhit's comment, some preliminary lemma.
Lemma 1. $$\sum_{n\geq 1} H_n x^n = \frac{\log(1-x)}{1-x}.$$ Lemma 2. By Lemma $1$, $$\sum_{n\geq 1}\frac{H_n}{n+1} x^{n+1} = \frac{1}{2}\log^2(1-x),\qquad \sum_{n\geq 1}\frac{H_n+H_{n+1}}{n+1}x^{n}=\frac{-x+\log^2(1-x)+\text{Li}_2(x)}{x}.$$ Lemma 3. Since $H_{n+1}^2-H_n^2 = \frac{H_n+H_{n+1}}{n+1}$, $$\sum_{n\geq 1}H_{n}^2 x^n = \frac{\log^2(1-x)+\text{Li}_2(x)}{1-x}.$$ Lemma 4. By Lemma 3, $$\sum_{n\geq 1}\frac{(-1)^{n+1} H_{n}^2}{n+1} = -\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log^2(1+x)+\text{Li}_2(-x)}{1+x}\,dx=-\frac{\log^3(2)}{3}-\color{red}{\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\text{Li}_{2}(-x)}{1+x}\,dx}.$$ The problem boils down to the evaluation of the last integral. By integration by parts, it is: $$\color{red}{\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\text{Li}_{2}(-x)}{1+x}\,dx}=-\frac{\pi^2}{12}\log(2)+\color{blue}{\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log^2(1+x)}{x}\,dx}\tag{1}$$ but: $$\color{blue}{\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log^2(1+x)}{x}\,dx} = -2\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log(1+x)\log(x)}{1+x}\,dx=\color{blue}{\frac{\zeta(3)}{4}}\tag{2}$$ and the proof is complete. $(2)$ ultimately depends on a reflection formula for $\text{Li}_3$. In our case:

Lemma 5. $$\sum_{n\geq 1}\frac{H_n^2}{n+1}\,x^{n+1} = -\frac{\log(1-x)}{3}\left[\frac{\pi^2}{2}+\log^2(1-x)+3\text{Li}_2(1-x)\right]+2\left[\text{Li}_3(1-x)-\zeta(3)\right]$$

is straightforward to prove through differentiation, leading back to Lemma 3.

\begin{align} I&=\int_0^1\frac{\ln(1-x)\ln(1+x)}{1+x}\ dx=\int_0^1\frac{\ln x\ln(2-x)}{2-x}\ dx\\ &=\frac12\int_0^1\frac{\ln x(\ln2+\ln(1-x/2)}{1-x/2}\ dx\\ &=\frac12\ln2\int_0^1\frac{\ln x}{1-x/2}\ dx+\frac12\int_0^1\frac{\ln x\ln(1-x/2)}{1-x/2}\ dx\\ &=\ln2\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{1}{2^n}\int_0^1x^{n-1}\ln x\ dx-\frac12\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{H_n}{2^n}\int_0^1x^n\ln x\ dx\\ &=-\ln2\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{1}{2^nn^2}+\frac12\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{H_n}{2^n(n+1)^2}\\ &=-\ln2\operatorname{Li}_2\left(\frac12\right)+\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{H_n-1/n}{2^nn^2}\\ &=-\ln2\operatorname{Li}_2\left(\frac12\right)+\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{H_n}{2^nn^2}-\operatorname{Li}_3\left(\frac12\right)\\ &=-\ln2\left(\frac12\zeta(2)-\frac12\ln^22\right)+\left(\zeta(3)-\frac12\ln2\zeta(2)\right)-\left(\frac78\zeta(3)-\frac12\ln2\zeta(2)+\frac16\ln^32\right)\\ &=\frac18\zeta(3)-\frac12\ln2\zeta(2)+\frac13\ln^32 \end{align}

different approach. \begin{align} I&=\int_0^1\frac{\ln(1+x)\ln(1-x)}{1+x}\ dx=-\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^nH_n\int_0^1x^n\ln(1-x)\ dx\\ &=\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^n\frac{H_nH_{n+1}}{n+1}=-\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^n\frac{H_{n-1}H_n}{n}\\ &=-\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_n^2}{n}+\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_n}{n^2} \end{align} I was able here to prove $$\displaystyle\sum\frac{(-1)^n H_n^2}{n}=\frac12\ln2\zeta(2)-\frac34\zeta(3)-\frac13\ln^32$$

then \begin{align} I&=-\left(\frac12\ln2\zeta(2)-\frac34\zeta(3)-\frac13\ln^32\right)+\left(-\frac58\zeta(3)\right)\\ &=\frac18\zeta(3)-\frac12\ln2\zeta(2)+\frac13\ln^32 \end{align}