Undergrad Using recurrence formula to solve Legendre polynomial integral

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The discussion focuses on proving the integral of Legendre polynomials, specifically the expression for the integral from 0 to 1 of the polynomial \( p_l(x) \). The user attempts to apply a recurrence relation and integration by parts but encounters difficulties with the integration process and the limits. Suggestions are made to verify the formulas against reliable sources, with a reference provided to a paper that clarifies the correct form of the integral. It is noted that \( P_l(1) = 1 \) for all \( l \), simplifying the numerator in the expression. The conversation emphasizes careful application of integration techniques to achieve the desired result.
TheGreatDeadOne
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Using recurrence formula to solve Legendre polynomial integral
I am trying to prove the following expression below:

$$ \int _{0}^{1}p_{l}(x)dx=\frac{p_{l-1}(0)}{l+1} \quad \text{for }l \geq 1 $$

The first thing I did was use the following relation:

$$lp_l(x)+p'_{l-1}-xp_l(x)=0$$

Substituting in integral I get:

$$\frac{1}{l}\left[ \int_0^1 xp'_l(x)dx \quad- \quad \int_0^1 p'_{l-1}(x)dx\right]$$

For the first integral (from the left), I use integration by parts, making u = x and v'= p′l(x) ( I also tried to apply $p_1(x) = x$), and for the second I just integrate. But I end up getting stuck in that part, because I kind of don't know the best way to solve it. I don't know how to make the uv part disappear. I'm a little confused by the integral of $p′_{l−1}$ (My doubt is in relation to the term with upper limit, also I don't know how to disappear with it)
I'm stuck here(I think it's wrong):

$$ Il= p_l(x) - p_{l-1}(1) + p_{l-1}(0) - \int_0^1 p_l(x)dx \quad \rightarrow \frac{I(1+l)}{l}=p_l(x) - p_{l-1}(1) + p_{l-1}(0)$$
 
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doesn't look like you did the substitution correctly, try again.
 
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See http://physicspages.com/pdf/Mathematics/Legendre%20polynomials%20-%20recurrence.pdf
It might be worth checking your formulas with another source.
 
Using (25) in the above paper, I get ## \int\limits_{0}^{1}P_l(x) \, dx=(P_l(1)+P_{l-1}(0)-P_{l-1}(1))/(l+1) ##.
Edit: I also see somewhere in the literature that ##P_l(1)= 1## for all ## l ##, so only the middle term is needed in the numerator.
(25) shows the ## x P_l(x) ## term you have should be ## x P_l'(x) ##. I see that appears to be just a typo on your part. Do it carefully, you should get the correct result, with the numerator as described above.
 
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Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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