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How would you evaluate the following indefinite integral? In fact, I did evaluate $\int \frac{\cos{t}}{t} dt$ by parametric integration and then I thought of this variant. $\int \frac{t}{\cos{t}} dt$

Here you may find the result given by W|A.

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    @enzotib: In fact, I did try it.2012-08-14

2 Answers 2

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Let's start with $\ \displaystyle f(x):=\log(\tan(x/2))\ $ then : $f'(x)=\frac{\tan(x/2)^2+1}{2\tan(x/2)}=\frac{\sin(x/2)^2+\cos(x/2)^2}{2\cos(x/2)^2\tan(x/2)}=\frac 1{\sin(x)}$

so that $\ f'\left(t+\frac {\pi}2\right)=\dfrac 1{\cos(t)}$.

We want (ignoring integration constants up to the end) : $\int \dfrac t{\cos(t)}\,dt=\int tf'\left(t+\frac {\pi}2\right) dt=\left[tf\left(t+\frac {\pi}2\right)\right]-\int f\left(t+\frac {\pi}2\right)\,dt$ Setting $\ u:=\tan\bigl(\frac x2\bigr)\ $ so that $\ dx=\dfrac {2\;du}{1+u^2}$ we rewrite the integral of $f$ as : $\int f(x)\;dx=\int \log\left(\tan\left(\frac x2\right)\right)\;dx=2\int \frac{\log(u)}{1+u^2}\;du$ $=\left[2\log(u)\arctan(u)\right]-2\int \frac {\arctan(u)}u\,du=2\left[\log(u)\arctan(u)-\rm{Ti}_2(u)\right]$ with $\rm{Ti}_2$ the inverse tangent integral proposed by J.M. (see Lewin 1981 "Polylogarithms and associated functions" ch. 2 for more information). $\rm{Ti}_2$ may be rewritten as Clausen functions or as complex polylogarithms.

We want $\ \int f\bigl(t+\frac {\pi}2\bigr)\,dt\ $ so that $\ u:=\tan\bigl(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\bigr)\ $ and $\int f\left(t+\frac {\pi}2\right)\,dt=2\left[\log\left(\tan\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)\right)\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)-\rm{Ti}_2\left(\tan\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)\right)\right]$

getting : $\int \dfrac t{\cos(t)}\,dt=t\left[\log\left(\tan\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)\right)\right]-2\left[\log\left(\tan\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)\right)\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)-\rm{Ti}_2\left(\tan\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)\right)\right]$

and finally : $\int_0^t \dfrac x{\cos(x)}\,dx=-\frac {\pi}2\log\left(\tan\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)\right)+2\rm{Ti}_2\left(\tan\left(\frac t2+\frac {\pi}4\right)\right)+C$ where the additional constant $\ C=-2\;\rm{Ti}_2(1)=-2K\quad$ ($K$ is the Catalan constant).

To rewrite this with Clausen functions we may use (4.31) of Lewin's reference : $\rm{Ti}_2(\tan \theta)=\theta\log(\tan\theta)+\frac 12\left(\rm{Cl}_2(2\theta)-\rm{Cl}_2(\pi-2\theta)\right)$

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    @Raymond Manzoni: anytime you have a solution and you're willing to share it I'm there glad to receive it.2012-08-14
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Note that $ \frac{1}{\cos t}= \frac{2}{e^{it}+e^{-it}}= \frac{2e^{it}}{1+e^{2it}} $ so integration by parts gives $ \int\frac{t}{\cos t}dt= \int 2t\frac{e^{it}}{1+e^{2it}}dt= \int 2t\frac{(-i)d(e^{it})}{1+e^{2it}}= \int -2itd(\arctan(e^{it}))= $ $ -2it\arctan(e^{it})-\int\arctan(e^{it})d(-2it)= -2it\arctan(e^{it})+2i\int\arctan(e^{it})dt $ It is remains to compute the last integral $ \int\arctan(e^{it})dt= \int\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^k(e^{it})^{2k+1}}{2k+1}dt= \int\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty \frac{(ie^{it})^{2k+1}}{i(2k+1)}dt= \int\frac{1}{2i}\left(\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty\frac{(ie^{it})^k}{k}- \sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty\frac{(-ie^{it})^k}{k}\right)dt= \frac{1}{2i}\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty\int\frac{(ie^{it})^k}{k}dt- \frac{1}{2i}\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty\int\frac{(-ie^{it})^k}{k}dt= $ $ \frac{1}{2i}\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty\frac{(ie^{it})^k}{ik^2}- \frac{1}{2i}\sum\limits_{k=1}^\infty\frac{(-ie^{it})^k}{ik^2}= \frac{1}{2}\left(\mathrm{Li}_2(-ie^{it})-\mathrm{Li}_2(ie^{it})\right) $ The final result is $ \int\frac{t}{\cos t}=-2it\arctan(e^{it})+i(\mathrm{Li}_2(-ie^{it})-\mathrm{Li}_2(ie^{it})) $

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    Thanks @Chris'sister, glad to see nice questions2012-08-14