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While I was looking for various methods to evaluate an indefinite integral, I met the strange equality below: $$\int_{-1}^0x\ln(1+x)dx=3\int_{0}^1x\ln(1+x)dx$$ which is equal to $\frac34$. We can verify the equality by evaluating the definite integrals in the equation by directly finding the antiderivative of the integrand or by series method, or some other way.

My question is maybe not as interesting as this equality: Can we show this equality without evaluating the two indefinite integrals, for example by a transformation from one side to the other side? I don't have any idea.

All ideas are greatly appreciated.

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    $\begingroup$ Rephrasing the question, without explicit evaluation, you want to show that$$\int_0^1x\log\left[(1-x)(1+x)^3\right]\,dx=0$$Maybe there's an argument to be made that leverages symmetry of the integrand about the real root of $(1-x)(1+x)^3-1$... $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2024 at 16:02
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    $\begingroup$ From here, there's also: $$\int_0^1 \frac{\ln\left(\frac{1-x}{1+x}\right) \ln\left((1-x)(1+x)^3\right)}{x}dx=0$$ $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2024 at 18:52

3 Answers 3

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It sounds like the only rule is that we must avoid explicitly integrating $x\log(1+x)$. If we're equipped with

$$\frac d{dx}\log(1\pm x)=\frac1{x\pm1}$$

then we can convert the logs to definite integrals and apply Fubini's theorem:

$$\begin{align*} I_1 &= \int_{-1}^0 x \log(1+x) \, dx \\ &= - \int_0^1 x \log(1-x) \, dx & x\to-x \\ &= \int_0^1 \int_0^x \cdots \, dy \, dx = \int_0^1 \int_y^1 \frac x{1-y} \, dx \, dy \\ &= \frac12 \int_0^1 (1+y) \, dy \\[2ex] I_2 &= 3 \int_0^1 x \log(1+x) \, dx \\ &= \int_0^1 \int_0^x \cdots \, dy \, dx = \int_0^1 \int_y^1 \frac{3x}{1+y} \, dx \, dy \\ &= \frac32 \int_0^1 (1-y) \, dy \end{align*}$$

By symmetry about $y=\dfrac12$,

$$I_2 - I_1 = \int_0^1 (1-2y)\,dy = 0$$

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  • $\begingroup$ Nice solution. I was expecting double integrals. +1 $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2024 at 17:55
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    $\begingroup$ The same expression for $I_1$ and $I_2$ can also be obtained with integration by parts, if you choose $(x^2-1)/2$ as the antiderivative of $x$. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2024 at 18:33
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Note that the following integral vanishes

\begin{align} \int_{0}^1x\ln[(1+x)^3(1-x)]dx=& \ \frac12\int_{0}^1\ln[(1+x)^3(1-x)]d(x^2-1)\\ \overset{ibp}=&\int_0^1 (2x-1)dx=0 \end{align}

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We can show that

$$\int_{-1}^{0}x\ln(1+x)dx = -\int_{0}^{1}x\ln(1-x)dx$$

So the limits on the RHS and LHS match the limits in your question. The hard part is finding how

$$-\int_{0}^{1}x\ln(1-x)dx = 3\int_{0}^{1}x\ln(1+x)dx$$

I don't know if this is possible without some sort of evaluation of the integral.

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  • $\begingroup$ I did not downvote you. But, perhaps, you should had written your idea as a comment. I am sorry that you got a downvote. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 11, 2024 at 18:24

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