Possible integration by parts?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the integration of a specific integral involving logarithmic and rational functions, specifically $$\int_0^1 dw \frac{w^{\epsilon+1} \ln((r+1-w)/r)}{1+r(1+w)}$$ where ##\epsilon## is a positive parameter and r is negative. Participants are exploring methods to approach this integral, particularly focusing on integration by parts and the potential connection to hypergeometric functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the possibility of using integration by parts and the implications of rewriting the logarithm in terms of a derivative. There is uncertainty about how these transformations aid in solving the integral. Some participants question the correctness of the integrals being discussed and whether the rewriting of the logarithm is beneficial for the original integral.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing with various approaches being considered. Some participants have suggested methods such as Feynman parametrization, while others express confusion about the utility of certain transformations. There is no explicit consensus on the best approach, and multiple interpretations of the problem are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the original integral involves a logarithm and rational functions, with specific constraints on the parameters involved. The discussion includes references to previous similar integrals and the challenges faced in integrating them.

CAF123
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Homework Statement


Integrate $$\int_0^1 dw \frac{w^{\epsilon+1} \ln((r+1-w)/r)}{1+r(1+w)}$$ for ##\epsilon## not necessarily an integer but positive and r is negative (<-1). The argument of the log is positive.

Homework Equations


Integration by parts

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
I can only think of integration by parts, differentiating the log to bring back the rational but I wouldn't be able to integrate the remaining piece of the integrand. I suspect the result will be a hypergeometric function but I can't seem to get there. I had a similar integral with ##\ln (w)## instead and my prof suggested I write this as $$\ln w = \frac{d}{d\beta} w^{\beta}|_{\beta=0} = \frac{d}{d\beta} e^{\beta \ln w}|_{\beta=0}$$ but I am not sure why this helps.

Thanks for any help!
 
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CAF123 said:
but I am not sure why this helps
Did you test it?
It gets rid of the logarithm. You have to integrate with respect to β later, but usually this is an easy integral.
 
Hi mfb,
mfb said:
Did you test it?
It gets rid of the logarithm. You have to integrate with respect to β later, but usually this is an easy integral.
The integral was $$\int_0^1 dw \frac{w^{\epsilon+1}}{(1+w)(1+r(1+w))} \ln w = \int_0^1 dw \frac{w^{\epsilon+1}}{(1+w)(1+r(1+w))} \frac{d}{d \beta} w^{\beta}|_{\beta=0}$$ Since there is only one instance of a beta dependence I can write $$\frac{d}{d \beta}|_{\beta=0} \int_0^1 dw \frac{w^{\epsilon+1+\beta}}{(1+w)(1+r(1+w))}$$ This is where I didn't see how the rewriting of the log helped. The integrand nearly has a hypergeometric structure but, even if I identified it as a hypergeometric, I still have a derivative wrt beta outside. I could proceed with integration by parts more easily now, but the integral I get from doing so is again just as complicated so I would hit a dead end again. Any thoughts?
 
The first integral in the first post was different than the one in your second post. Which one is right?
 
mfb said:
The first integral in the first post was different than the one in your second post. Which one is right?
There are two integrals I am trying to solve: $$\int_0^1 dw \frac{w^{\epsilon+1}}{1+r(1+w)} \ln\left(\frac{r+1-w}{r}\right),$$ (as in the OP) and $$\int_0^1 dw \frac{w^{\epsilon+1}}{(w+1)(1+r(w+1))} \ln w$$ It was for this latter integral that my prof suggested I use the rewriting of the log but, while I see that it leaves us with just rational factors, I don't see why it leads to a solution of the integral and if such a rewriting is of help for the integral I posted in the OP. Thanks!
 

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