Revision as of 14:27, 19 August 2015

For $x \in (0,\infty)$, the logarithm is defined by the formula $$\log(x) = \displaystyle\int_1^x \dfrac{1}{t} dt.$$ The logarithm is the inverse function of $e^x$.

Properties

Relation to other special functions

Theorem

The following formula holds: $$\log(1+z)=z{}_2F_1(1,1;2;-z),$$ where $\log$ denotes the logarithm and ${}_2F_1$ denotes the hypergeometric pFq.

Proof

Calculate $$\begin{array}{ll} z{}_2F_1(1,1;2;-z) &= z\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{1^{\overline{k}}1^{\overline{k}}}{2^{\overline{k}}k!} (-z)^k \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\left( \frac{\Gamma(k+1)}{\Gamma(1)} \right)^2}{\left( \frac{\Gamma(2+k)}{\Gamma(2)} \right)k!}(-1)^k z^{k+1} \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(k!)^2(-1)^k}{(k+1)!k!} z^{k+1} \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(-1)^k}{k+1} z^{k+1} \\ &= -\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{(-1)^k z^k}{k} \\ &= \log(1+z), \end{array}$$ by the Taylor series of $\log(1+z)$. █

References

Theorem

The following formula holds for $x>0$: $$\mathrm{Ei}(x) = \gamma + \log x + \displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{x^k}{kk!},$$ where $\mathrm{Ei}$ denotes the exponential integral Ei, $\log$ denotes the logarithm, and $\gamma$ denotes the Euler-Mascheroni constant.

Proof

References

• James Whitbread Lee Glaisher: On certain definite integrals involving the exponential-integral (1881)... (previous)... (next) (note: expresses the logarithm term as $\frac{1}{4}\log(x^4)$)

Theorem

The following formula holds: $$P(z)=\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{\mu(k)}{k} \log \zeta(kz),$$ where $P$ denotes the Prime zeta function, $\mu$ denotes the Möbius function, $\log$ denotes the logarithm, and $\zeta$ denotes the Riemann zeta function.

Proof

References

Major theorems involving the logarithm

The prime number theorem