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Challenging Integral:

\begin{align} I=\int_0^1\frac{\ln^3(1-x)\ln(1+x)}{x}dx&=6\operatorname{Li}_5\left(\frac12\right)+6\ln2\operatorname{Li}_4\left(\frac12\right)-\frac{81}{16}\zeta(5)-\frac{21}{8}\zeta(2)\zeta(3)\\&\quad+\frac{21}8\ln^22\zeta(3)-\ln^32\zeta(2)+\frac15\ln^52 \end{align}


I came across this integral while i was trying to calculate $\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{H_n^{(4)}}{n2^n}$, proposed by Cornel on his FB page here, but he has not revealed his solution yet.

The integral is related to the sum through the identity ( see here): $$\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^a(1-x)\ln(1+x)}{x}dx=(-1)^a a! \sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{H_n^{(a+1)}}{n2^n}$$

With $a=3$, We get $\quad\displaystyle I=-6\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{H_n^{(4)}}{n2^n}\quad$.

The way I computed this integral is really long as it's based on values of tough alternating Euler sums which themselves long to calculate. I hope we can find other approaches that save us such tedious calculations. Any way, here is my approach:

Using the identity from this solution: $\displaystyle\int_0^1 x^{n-1}\ln^3(1-x)\ dx=-\frac{H_n^3+3H_nH_n^{(2)}+2H_n^{(3)}}{n}$

Multiplying both sides by $\frac{(-1)^{n-1}}{n}$ then summing both sides from $n=1$ to $n=\infty$, gives: \begin{align} I&=\int_0^1\frac{\ln^3(1-x)}{x}\sum_{n=1}^\infty-\frac{(-x)^{n}}{n}dx=\int_0^1\frac{\ln^3(1-x)\ln(1+x)}{x}dx\\ &=\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_n^3}{n^2}+3\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_nH_n^{(2)}}{n^2}+2\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_n^{(3)}}{n^2} \end{align}

We have: \begin{align} \sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_n^3}{n^2}&=-6\operatorname{Li}_5\left(\frac12\right)-6\ln2\operatorname{Li}_4\left(\frac12\right)+\ln^32\zeta(2)-\frac{21}{8}\ln^22\zeta(3)\\&\quad+\frac{27}{16}\zeta(2)\zeta(3)+\frac94\zeta(5)-\frac15\ln^52 \end{align}

\begin{align} \sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_nH_n^{(2)}}{n^2}&=4\operatorname{Li}_5\left(\frac12\right)+4\ln2\operatorname{Li}_4\left(\frac12\right)-\frac23\ln^32\zeta(2)+\frac74\ln^22\zeta(3)\\&\quad-\frac{15}{16}\zeta(2)\zeta(3)-\frac{23}8\zeta(5)+\frac2{15}\ln^52 \end{align}

$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^nH_n^{(3)}}{n^2}=\frac{21}{32}\zeta(5)-\frac34\zeta(2)\zeta(3)$$

The proof of the first and second sum can be found here and the third sum can be found here.

By substituting these three sums,we get the closed form of $I$.

Thanks.

Ali Shadhar
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    Do you have any idea on how to compute $\int_0^\frac12 \frac{\operatorname{Li}^2_2(x)}{x}dx$? It's the last piece that I need in order to solve the integral in another way. The case where the upper bound is $1$ instead of $\frac12$ is quite easy:https://math.stackexchange.com/a/3233489/515527, however this causes me some problems. – Zacky Jul 15 '19 at 07:50
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    Anyway, it looks like this: $$I=-6\ln 2 \operatorname{Li}_4\left(\frac12\right)+6\operatorname{Li}_2\left(\frac12\right)\operatorname{Li}_3\left(\frac12\right)-6\operatorname{Li}_5\left(\frac12\right)-6\int_0^\frac12 \frac{\operatorname{Li}^2_2(x)}{x}dx$$ Hope I copied it right from my notebook. Of course the values for the dilogarithm and trilogarithm are known, and can be further reduced. – Zacky Jul 15 '19 at 07:52
  • @Zacky the integral you mentioned was proposed by Cornel before he proposed the sum I linked. They are much related and I think Cornel evaluated the integral first then the sum . He has not revealed the solution of both yet and still standing as a challenge. I tried a lot for that integral but kept going in circles. – Ali Shadhar Jul 15 '19 at 08:05
  • I see, thanks for the input. – Zacky Jul 15 '19 at 09:03
  • Your super hard to crack Euler sum can be expressed as $$\sum_{n = 1}^\infty \frac{H^{(4)}_n}{n 2^n} = \operatorname{Li}_5 \left (\frac{1}{2} \right ) + \int_0^{\frac{1}{2}} \frac{\operatorname{Li}_4 (x)}{1 - x} , dx.$$ Expressing the polylog appearing in the integral as a series, followed by integrating by parts 3 times leads me down the garden path to the following term: $$\int_0^{\frac{1}{2}} x^{n - 1} \ln (1 - x) , dx.$$ But what is to be done with this term? – omegadot Jul 15 '19 at 09:50
  • @Zacky check this link https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1600245036738955&set=pob.100002604219021&type=3&theater – Ali Shadhar Jul 15 '19 at 20:20
  • @omegadot yes and that integral is tough. – Ali Shadhar Jul 15 '19 at 20:23
  • When I first saw this question a couple months ago, I remember thinking I'd be shocked if no one's ever asked about this integral before. What I just realized this morning is that apparently I asked about this integral. Palm $\rightarrow$ face. – David H Dec 04 '19 at 13:24

1 Answers1

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This integral was solved by @Song here along with a related integral using a magical algebraic identity

$$2a^3b = -{b^4 \over 2} -{b^4 + 6a^2b^2\over 2} + 3(a^3b+ab^3) - (a-b)^3b$$

with $a=\ln(1-x)$ and $b=\ln(1+x)$

Ali Shadhar
  • 25,498