Can the integral of tan(logx) be simplified for real values of x?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the integral of tan(log(x)), exploring whether it can be simplified for real values of x. Participants examine the expressibility of the integral in terms of elementary functions and discuss various mathematical tools and functions that may be involved in its evaluation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the integral of tan(log(x)) is not expressible in elementary functions and may involve special functions like the Euler Beta function.
  • One participant mentions that Maple expresses the integral in terms of the Lerch Φ function.
  • Another participant provides a complex expression from Mathematica that involves Hypergeometric functions, indicating the complexity of the integral.
  • There are suggestions to use FullSimplify in Mathematica with the assumption that x is real to potentially arrive at a more manageable form involving Euler B's.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the non-elementary functions that arise and the difficulty in understanding them without computational tools.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the integral is complex and likely not expressible in elementary terms, but there is no consensus on the exact nature of the functions involved or the best approach to simplify it.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on the assumption that x is real and the unresolved nature of the mathematical expressions provided, which may not lead to a straightforward evaluation.

hsostwal
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What is integral of tan(logx)? I couldn't find it on internet.
 
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It doesn't seem to be expressible in elementary functions, at best you will get Euler Beta functions.
 
Were you just wondering, or do you need to find it for an assignment? Because you should be aware that if you just come up with an integral with elementary functions, there's a good chance that it won't be expressible in terms of elementary functions.
 
hsostwal said:
What is integral of tan(logx)? I couldn't find it on internet.

Maple does it in terms of the Lerch [tex]\Phi[/tex] function.
 
Mathematica:

[itex]-i \left(\left(\frac{1}{5}-\frac{2 i}{5}\right) x^{1+2 i} \text{Hypergeometric2F1}\left[1-\frac{i}{2},1,2-\frac{i}{2},-x^{2 i}\right]-x \text{Hypergeometric2F1}\left[-\frac{i}{2},1,1-\frac{i}{2},-x^{2 i}\right]\right)[/itex]
 
A wonderful case of the mathematics required to understand the problem far-exceeding that required to solve it O_O.
 
Gregg said:
Mathematica:

[itex]-i \left(\left(\frac{1}{5}-\frac{2 i}{5}\right) x^{1+2 i} \text{Hypergeometric2F1}\left[1-\frac{i}{2},1,2-\frac{i}{2},-x^{2 i}\right]-x \text{Hypergeometric2F1}\left[-\frac{i}{2},1,1-\frac{i}{2},-x^{2 i}\right]\right)[/itex]

You might want to use FullSimplify (possibly with the additional assumption that x is real) and arrive at something with Euler B's, as I said.
 
CompuChip said:
You might want to use FullSimplify (possibly with the additional assumption that x is real) and arrive at something with Euler B's, as I said.

[itex]\text{FullSimplify}[\text{Assuming}[x\in \text{Reals},\int \text{Tan}[\text{Log}[x]] \, dx]][/itex]

[itex] i x \text{Hypergeometric2F1}\left[-\frac{i}{2},1,1-\frac{i}{2},-x^{2 i}\right]-\left(\frac{2}{5}+\frac{i}{5}\right) x^{1+2 i} \text{Hypergeometric2F1}\left[1,1-\frac{i}{2},2-\frac{i}{2},-x^{2 i}\right][/itex]

I'm just copying what it says. I have no idea about all the non elementary functions that pop out or how to see them without resorting to mathematica. e.g. integrating gaussian distribution thing. A source for this information would be good.
 
  • #10
You might want to simplify with the assumption that x is real:

[tex]\text{Assuming}[x \in \text{Reals}, \text{FullSimplify}[\int \tan[\log[x]], x]][/tex]

gives
[tex] \frac{1}{2} \left(-x^{2 i}\right)^{\frac{i}{2}} x \left(B_{-x^{2<br /> i}}\left(-\frac{i}{2},0\right)+B_{-x^{2<br /> i}}\left(1-\frac{i}{2},0\right)\right)[/tex]

which for evaluation purposes doesn't help you, it's just prettier (or less ugly, if you like) to look at.
 

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