Evaluate $ \int_{0}^{1} \ln(x)\ln(1-x)\,dx $

Question

Evaluate the integral,

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

I solved this problem, by writing power series and then calculating the series and found the answer to be $ 2 -\zeta(2) $, but I don't think that it is best solution to this problem. I want to know if it can be solved by any other nice/elegant method.

Answer 1

Integrating by parts,

$$ \int \ln(x) \ln(1-x) \, dx = x \ln(x) \ln(1-x) - x \ln(1-x)+ \int \frac{x \ln (x)}{1-x} \, dx - \int \frac{x}{1-x} \, dx$$

where

$$ \int \frac{x}{1-x} \, dx = - \int \ dx + \int \frac{1}{1-x} \, dx = -x - \ln(1-x) + C_{1}$$

and $$ \begin{align} \int \frac{x \ln (x)}{1-x} \, dx &= -x \ln (x) - \ln(x) \ln(1-x) + \int dx + \int \frac{\ln (1-x)}{x} \, dx \\ &= -x \ln (x) - \ln(x) \ln(1-x) + x - \text{Li}_{2}(x) + C_{2}. \end{align}$$

$\text{Li}_{2}(x)$ is the dilogarithm function.

So we have $$ \begin{align} \int \ln(x) \ln(1-x) \, dx &= x \ln(x) \ln(1-x) - x \ln(1-x) - x \ln(x) - \ln(x) \ln(1-x) + 2x \\ &- \text{Li}_{2}(x) + \ln(1-x) + C . \end{align} $$

Therefore,

$$ \int_{0}^{1} \ln(x) \ln(1-x) \ dx = \lim_{x \to 1} \left[-x \ln(1-x)+\ln(1-x) \right] + 2 - \text{Li}_{2}(1) = 2 - \zeta(2) .$$

Answer 2

You could start from the Beta function $$ B(p+1,r+1) = \int_0^1 x^p (1-x)^r\; dx = \dfrac{\Gamma(p+1) \Gamma(r+1)}{\Gamma(p+r+2)}$$ take the derivatives with respect to $p$ and $r$, and evaluate at $p=r=0$.

Answer 3

You could expand $\ln(1-x) =-\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^n}{n} $ and evaluate $\int_0^1 x^n \ln x\,dx$, probably by an induction via integration by parts.

From your description, you may have already done this.

It sure is easier to write this than to do it.

Answer 4

\begin{align} \int_0^1\ln(1-x)\ln x\ dx&=\int_0^1\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{x^n}n\ln x\ dx\\ &=\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{1}n\int_0^1 x^n\ln x\ dx\\ &=-\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{1}n\cdot\frac1{(n+1)^2}\\ &=\sum_{n=1}^\infty\left[\frac{1}n-\frac1{n+1}-\frac1{(n+1)^2}\right]\\ &=1-\left[\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac1{n^2}-1\right]\\ &=\large\color{blue}{2-\zeta(2)=2-\frac{\pi^2}6}. \end{align}

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Note :

$\displaystyle\ \ \int_0^1 x^\alpha \ln^n x\ dx=\frac{(-1)^n n!}{(\alpha+1)^{n+1}}, \qquad\text{for }\ n=0,1,2,\ldots$

Answer 5

I've found a solution that is interesting, but probably not elegant, and definitely not short.

$I = \displaystyle\int_0^1 \ln(x)\ln(1 - x) dx$

Basic results:

• $\lim\limits_{n \to 0} \dfrac{x^n - 1}{n} = \log x$, or $\lim\limits_{n \to 1}\dfrac{x^{n-1} - 1}{n - 1} = \log x$.
• $\dfrac{d}{dn}\beta(n, n) = 2\beta(n, n)(\psi_0(n) - \psi_0(2n))$ where $\psi_0(n)$ is the digamma function.
• $\dfrac{d^2}{dn^2}\beta(n, n) = 4\beta(n, n)(\psi_0(n) - \psi_0(2n))^2 + 2\beta(n, n)(\psi_1(n) - 2\psi_1(2n))$, where $\psi(1)(n)$ is the polygamma function.
• $\psi_0(1) - \psi_0(2) = -1$ according to the recurrence relation.
• $\psi_1(2) = \psi_1(1) - 1$ according to the recurrence relation.
• $\psi_1(1) = \zeta(2)$.

Solution:
$\begin{align} I & = \lim\limits_{n \to 1} \displaystyle\int_0^1 \dfrac{(x^{n - 1} - 1)((1 - x)^{n - 1} - 1)}{(n - 1)^2} dx\\ & = \lim\limits_{n \to 1}\displaystyle\int_0^1 \dfrac{x^{n-1}(1-x)^{n-1} - x^{n - 1} - (1-x)^{n-1} + 1}{(n-1)^2} dx\\ & = \lim\limits_{n \to 1} \dfrac{\beta(n,n) - \frac{1}{n} - \frac{1}{n} + 1}{(n-1)^2}\\ & = \lim\limits_{n \to 1} \dfrac{\beta(n,n)(\psi_0(n)-\psi_0(2n)) + \frac{2}{n^2}}{2(n-1)} \quad [\text{l'Hospital's rule}]\\ & = \lim\limits_{n \to 1} \dfrac{4\beta(n,n)(\psi_0(n)-\psi_0(2n))^2 + 2\beta(n,n)(\psi_1(n)-2\psi_1(2n))- \frac{4}{n^3}}{2}\quad [\text{l'Hospital's rule}]\\ & = 2\beta(1, 1)(\psi_0(1) - \psi_0(2))^2 + \beta(1, 1)(\psi_1(1) - 2\psi_1(2)) - 2\\ & = 2(-1)^2 + 1(\psi_1(1) - 2\psi_1(1) + 2) - 2\\ & = 2 - \psi_1(1)\\ & = 2-\zeta(2) \end{align}$

Answer 6

Using the reflection formula

$$\log(x)\log(1-x) =\zeta(2)-\mathrm{Li}_2(x)-\mathrm{Li}_2(1-x) $$

\begin{align} \int^1_0\log(x)\log(1-x) &=\zeta(2)-\int^1_0\mathrm{Li}_2(x)\,dx-\int^1_0\mathrm{Li}_2(1-x)\,dx\\ &=\zeta(2)-2\int^1_0\mathrm{Li}_2(x)\,dx\\ &=\zeta(2)-2\zeta(2)-2\int^1_0\log(1-x)\,dx\\ &=2-\zeta(2) \end{align}

Answer 7

Noting $$ \frac{d}{dx}[x(1-\ln(1-x))+\ln(1-x)]=-\ln(1-x) $$ we have \begin{eqnarray} \int_0^1\ln x\ln(1-x)dx&=&-\int_0^1\ln xd[x(1-\ln(1-x))+\ln(1-x)]\\ &=&-[x(1-\ln(1-x))+\ln(1-x)]\ln x\bigg|_0^1+\int_0^1\frac{x(1-\ln(1-x))+\ln(1-x)}{x}dx\\ &=&\int_0^1(1-\ln(1-x)+\frac{\ln(1-x)}{x})dx\\ &=&\int_0^1(1-\ln(1-x))dx+\int_0^1\frac{\ln(1-x)}{x}dx\\ &=&2-\zeta(2). \end{eqnarray} Here we used the well-known result $$ \int_0^1\frac{\ln(1-x)}{x}dx=-\zeta(2). $$

Answer 8

$\newcommand{\angles}[1]{\left\langle\, #1 \,\right\rangle} \newcommand{\braces}[1]{\left\lbrace\, #1 \,\right\rbrace} \newcommand{\bracks}[1]{\left\lbrack\, #1 \,\right\rbrack} \newcommand{\ceil}[1]{\,\left\lceil\, #1 \,\right\rceil\,} \newcommand{\dd}{{\rm d}} \newcommand{\ds}[1]{\displaystyle{#1}} \newcommand{\expo}[1]{\,{\rm e}^{#1}\,} \newcommand{\fermi}{\,{\rm f}} \newcommand{\floor}[1]{\,\left\lfloor #1 \right\rfloor\,} \newcommand{\half}{{1 \over 2}} \newcommand{\ic}{{\rm i}} \newcommand{\iff}{\Longleftrightarrow} \newcommand{\imp}{\Longrightarrow} \newcommand{\pars}[1]{\left(\, #1 \,\right)} \newcommand{\partiald}[3][]{\frac{\partial^{#1} #2}{\partial #3^{#1}}} \newcommand{\pp}{{\cal P}} \newcommand{\root}[2][]{\,\sqrt[#1]{\vphantom{\large A}\,#2\,}\,} \newcommand{\sech}{\,{\rm sech}} \newcommand{\sgn}{\,{\rm sgn}} \newcommand{\totald}[3][]{\frac{{\rm d}^{#1} #2}{{\rm d} #3^{#1}}} \newcommand{\verts}[1]{\left\vert\, #1 \,\right\vert}$ $\ds{\int_{0}^{1}\ln\pars{x}\ln\pars{1 - x}\,\dd x:\ {\large ?}}$.

\begin{align} &\color{#66f}{\large\int_{0}^{1}\ln\pars{x}\ln\pars{1 - x}\,\dd x} =\int_{x\ =\ 0}^{x\ =\ 1}\ln\pars{1 - x}\dd\bracks{x\ln\pars{x} - x + 1} \\[3mm]&=\left.\bracks{x\ln\pars{x} - x + 1}\ln\pars{1 - x}\right\vert_{0}^{1} -\int_{0}^{1}\bracks{x\ln\pars{x} - x + 1}\,{-1 \over 1 - x}\,\dd x =\int_{0}^{1}{x\ln\pars{x} \over 1 - x}\,\dd x + 1 \\[3mm]&=-\lim_{\mu\ \to\ 1}\partiald{}{\mu} \int_{0}^{1}{1 - x^{\mu} \over 1 - x}\,\dd x + 1 =-\lim_{\mu\ \to\ 1}\partiald{\Psi\pars{\mu + 1}}{\mu} + 1 \end{align} where $\ds{\Psi\pars{z}}$ is the Digamma Function $\ds{\bf 6.3.1}$ and we used the identity $\ds{\bf 6.3.22}$.

$$ \color{#66f}{\large\int_{0}^{1}\ln\pars{x}\ln\pars{1 - x}\,\dd x} =-\Psi'\pars{2} + 1=-\Psi'\pars{1} + 2=-\zeta\pars{2} + 2 $$ Here we used the identities: $$ \Psi'\pars{z + 1} = \Psi'\pars{z} - {1 \over z^{2}}\,,\qquad \Psi^{\rm\pars{n}}\pars{1}=\pars{-1}^{n + 1}\,n!\,\zeta\pars{n + 1}\,,\quad n = 1,2,3,\ldots $$

Since $\ds{\zeta\pars{2} = {\pi^{2} \over 6}}$: $$ \color{#66f}{\large\int_{0}^{1}\ln\pars{x}\ln\pars{1 - x}\,\dd x} =\color{#66f}{\large 2 - {\pi^{2} \over 6}} \approx {\tt 0.3551} $$

Answer 9

Integrate by parts

\begin{align} \int_{0}^{1} \ln x\ln(1-x)\,dx = -2\int_0^1 \ln xdx +\int_0^1\frac{\ln x}{1-x}dx =2-\zeta(2) \end{align}