Prove: Integral of arctan(x) = $\frac{\pi}{8}\log(2)$

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SUMMARY

The integral of arctan(x) over the interval from 0 to 1 is definitively proven to equal $\frac{\pi}{8} \log(2)$. The discussion emphasizes that this integral can be solved using elementary functions, indicating that advanced techniques are not necessary for this proof. Participants confirm the validity of the result through various methods, reinforcing the conclusion with mathematical rigor.

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Prove the following integral

$$\int^1_0 \frac{\mathrm{arctan}(x)}{1+x}\,dx = \frac{\pi}{8} \log(2) $$​

This is not too challenging and could be solved by elementary functions .
 
Last edited:
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ZaidAlyafey said:
Prove the following integral

$$\int^1_0 \frac{\mathrm{arctan}(x)}{1+x}\,dx = \frac{\pi}{8} \log(2) $$​

This is not too challenging and could be solved by elementary functions .

Use the substitution $x=\tan t \Rightarrow dx=\sec^2t\,dt$, the integral changes to:

$$\int_0^{\pi/4} \frac{t\sec^2t}{1+\tan t}dt$$

From integration by parts and since $\displaystyle \int \frac{\sec^2t}{1+\tan t}dt=\ln(1+\tan t)+C$, we get

$$\displaystyle \bigg(t\ln(1+\tan t)\bigg|_0^{\pi/4}-\int_0^{\pi/4}\ln(1+\tan t)\,dt \,\,\, (*)$$

Let

$$I=\int_0^{\pi/4} \ln(1+\tan t)\,dt$$
The above is equivalent to
$$I=\int_0^{\pi/4} \ln\left(1+\tan\left(\frac{\pi}{4}-t\right)\right)\,dt$$
Adding both the expressions for I and simplifying, we get
$$2I=\int_0^{\pi/4}\ln2\,dt \Rightarrow I=\frac{\pi}{8}\ln2$$

Substituting in (*), we get the final answer $\displaystyle \frac{\pi}{8}\ln2$
 
Last edited:

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