Solution Using Beta and Gamma Functions

Goal: Evaluate Z 1  
2+x dx
I = ln √ .
0 2 − x x 1 − x2

Step 1. Trigonometric Substitution

Set √
x = sin θ, dx = cos θ dθ, 1 − x2 = cos θ.
Then x = 0 =⇒ θ = 0, and x = 1 =⇒ θ = π2 . Hence
dx cos θ dθ dθ
√ = = .
x 1 − x2 sin θ cos θ sin θ
Also,    
ln 2+x
2−x
= ln 2+sin θ
2−sin θ
.
Thus the integral becomes
Z 1 Z π 

2+x
 dx 2
 dθ
I = ln 2−x √ = ln 2+sin θ
2−sin θ
.
0 x 1 − x2 0 sin θ

Step 2. Rewrite the Logarithm in Terms of artanh

We use the identity  
1+y
ln 1−y = 2 artanh(y), |y| < 1.
In our integral,
   2(1+ sin θ )   1+ sin θ   
2+sin θ 2 2 sin θ
ln 2−sin θ = ln sin θ = ln sin θ = 2 artanh 2 .
2(1− ) 1−
2 2

Hence π π
2 artanh( sin2 θ ) artanh( sin2 θ )
Z Z
2 2
I = dθ = 2 dθ.
0 sin θ 0 sin θ
Define π
artanh( sin2 θ )
Z
2
J = dθ,
0 sin θ
so
I = 2 J.

1
Step 3. Convert artanh to Its Power Series
Recall the power series for artanh(z), valid for |z| < 1:
∞
X z 2n+1
artanh(z) = .
n=0
2n + 1

Thus ∞ ∞

sin θ
 X 1  sin θ 2n+1 X sin2n+1 (θ)
artanh 2 = = .
n=0
2n + 1 2 n=0
22n+1 (2n + 1)

Substitute back into J:

Z π "∞
X sin2n+1 (θ)
# ∞ Z π
2 1 X 1 2
J = 2n+1
dθ = 2n+1
sin2n (θ) dθ,
0 sin θ n=0 2 (2n + 1) n=0
2 (2n + 1) 0

where we swapped the sum and the integral (justified by uniform convergence on [0, π2 ]).

R π2
Step 4. Evaluate 0 sin2n(θ) dθ via Beta & Gamma
A standard Beta/Gamma identity is:
π
Z
2 1   1 Γ n + 1
Γ 1

2n 2
1 1
sin (θ) dθ = B n + 2 , 2 =
2 ,
0 2 2 Γ n+1
Z 1
Γ(x)Γ(y)
where B(x, y) = tx−1 (1 − t)y−1 dt = .
0 Γ(x + y)
Alternatively, one can use a well-known closed form:
Z π
2 π (2n)!
sin2n (θ) dθ = .
0 2 22n (n!)2
Both are equivalent.
For brevity, let’s use the latter expression:
Z π
2 π (2n)!
sin2n (θ) dθ = .
0 2 22n (n!)2
Hence,
∞   ∞
X 1 π (2n)! π X (2n)! 1
J= = .
n=0
22n+1 (2n + 1) 2 22n (n!)2 2 n=0 (n!)2 22n+1 (2n + 1) 22n

Combine the powers of 2:

∞ ∞
π X (2n)! 1 πX (2n)!
J= 2 4n+1
= .
2 n=0 (n!) (2n + 1) 2 4 n=0 (n!) 24n (2n + 1)
2

2
Step 5. Recognize the Series and Summation Result
It is a known fact (which can also be shown by Beta/Gamma identities or a particular
generating function) that
∞
X (2n)! π
2 n
= .
n=0
(n!) (2n + 1) 16 3
Since 24n = (16)n , our series is exactly of this form, implying

π π π2
J= · = .
4 3 12
Finally, recall I = 2J. Thus
π2 π2
I =2× = .
12 6

Final Answer
1
π2
Z  
2+x dx
ln √ = .
0 2 − x x 1 − x2 6

Remark: This derivation relies purely on

∞ π
z 2n+1
Z
X 2
2n 1  1 1

artanh(z) = , sin (θ) dθ = B n + 2 , 2 ,
n=0
2n + 1 0 2

and known facts about Beta, Gamma, and factorial expansions. No other special functions
beyond Beta and Gamma are used.