See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/349580673

Another Proof of Basel Problem

Preprint · February 2021

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/uf3pb

CITATIONS READS
0 386

1 author:

Sourangshu Ghosh
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
102 PUBLICATIONS   59 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Stochastic Flow Networks View project

Elliptic Curves View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Sourangshu Ghosh on 13 March 2021.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 π2
P∞ 1
Another Proof of n=1 n2 = 6

Sourangshu Ghosh∗1
1
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: 11M06.

Keywords: Zeta Function, Pi, Basel Problem.

Abstract
In this paper we present a new solution to the Basel problem using a complex line
integral of log(1+z)
z .

1 Introduction
The Basel problem is a famous problem in number theory, first posed by Pietro Mengoli
in 1644, and solved by Leonhard Euler in 1735. The Problem remained open for 90 years,
2
until Euler found the exact sum to be π6 , in 1734. HePwould eventually propose three
separate solutions to the problem during his lifetime for ∞ 1
n=1 n2 .

The Basel problem asks for the sum of the series:

∞
X 1 1 1 1
2
= 2 + 2 + 2 + ..
n=1
n 1 2 3

The first proof which was given by Euler used the Weierstrass factorization theorem to rep-
resent the sine function as an infinite product of linear factors given by its roots [13]. This
same approach can be used to find out values of zeta function at even values using formulas
obtained from elementary symmetric polynomials [22]. A solution in similar lines was given
by Kortram [19]. Many solutions of the Basel problem use double integral representations
of ζ(2) [8][24][25]. Proofs using this method are presented in [3][4][1][12][14]. Choe [9] used
the power series expansion of the inverse sine function to find a solution to the problem.
Many solutions to the problem use extensive trigonometric inequalities and identities, as
presented in [6][2][20][15]. Many other textbook methods using Fourier analysis, complex
analysis, and multivariable calculus for this problem are listed in [7][10][11].

A very strange solution was given by Pace [21]. They used probabilistic methods using
random variables that are independent and have Cauchy Distribution to give a solution to
the Basel Problem. This inspired the study of relationship between independent Cauchy
∗
sourangshug123@gmail.com

1
variables and ζ(2k), which is still an active area of research. This method was later ex-
tended by [18] to other harmonic sums. Another solution to the Basel Problem was given
by [23] which utilizes well-known identities of the Fejer kernel. [5] gave another solution to
(−1)n
the Basel Problem by squaring the well known Gregory formula ∞ π
P
n=0 2n+1 = 4

Another solution coming from an unexpected direction was stated by [16]. He used the
Sum of Squares Function formula to find the number of representations of a positive integer
as a sum of four squares, all of which are themselves integer. This Sum of Squares Function
formula for sum of eight, sixteen, and higher no of squares can be similarly be used to find
values of ζ(2k).A good survey of such solution to the Basel Problem as mentioned above
that mathematicians have discovered can be found in [7][10][11]. In this paper we present
a simple solution to the Basel problem using the Cauchy integral theorem applied to the
complex line integral of log(1+z)
z
.

2 Proof
We first take a note of the Taylor series expansion of log(1 + x) which is as follows:

x2 x3 x4
log(1 + x) = x − + − + ...
2 3 4
The series converges for |x| < 1. Now if we divide the expression by x we get

log(1 + x) x x2 x3
=1− + − + ... (2.1)
x 2 3 4
The domain of convergence is 0 < |x| < 1.Integrating both sides of (1) from −1 to 1, we
get the following equality:
1 1 ∞
x x2 x3
Z Z
log(1 + x) X 1
dx = (1 − + − + ...) = 2 ∗ (2.2)
−1 x −1 2 3 4 n=0
(2n + 1)2

The integrand above has a removable discontinuity at 0 and the radius of convergence of
the series in (2.1) is 1. Therefore it converges uniformly on compact subintervals of [−1, 1]
and hence can be integrated term-wise, as in (2.2). Further note that
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
X 1 X 1 X 1 1 X 1 3X 1
= − = (1 − ) = (2.3)
n=0
(2n + 1)2 n=1
n2 n=1 (2n)2 4 n=1 n2 4 n=1 n2
R 1 log(1+x)
Therefore we can get the sum of ∞ 1
P
n=1 n2 by knowing the definite integral −1 x
. Let
us solve this integral by using complex variables. For our convenience we change the variable
of integration as z. Therefore our only task remaining is to compute the integral
Z 1
log(1 + x)
dx (2.4)
−1 x

Notice that the integrand in (2.4) has a removable singularity at 0 as we have discussed
earlier.

2
 Figure 1: Contour Integral Path

Consider the contour C1 + C2 + C3 , as in the above figure.. Here C2 is a straight line

from -1 +  to 1, C1 and C3 are portions of circles of radii 1 and , centered at 0 and -1,
respectively.
Z Z Z Z
log(1 + z) log(1 + z) log(1 + z) log(1 + z)
dz = dz + dz + dz (2.5)
C z C1 z C2 z C3 z
Here the direction of the integration in the arc is anticlockwise. Now we shall use the
Cauchy integral theorem. Before using that let us first state the theorem.
Theorem 1. Let U ⊆ C be an open set, and let f : U → C be a holomorphic function. Let
γ : [a, b] → U be a smooth closed curve. If γ is homotopic to a constant curve, Then we
have Z
f (z)dz = 0
γ

Let us put f (z) = log(1 + z)/z . Using the Cauchy integral theorem we hence write
Z
log(1 + z)
dz (2.6)
C z
We can then write using equation (2.5) and (2.6) that
Z 1 Z Z Z
log(1 + z) log(1 + z) log(1 + z) log(1 + z)
= lim dz = − lim dz − lim dz
−1 z →0 C
2
z →0 C
1
z →0 C
3
z
(2.7)
it
Parameterizing C3 as −1 + e : 0 ≥ t ≥ t0 , for some t0 , we obtain
Z t0 Z t0
log(eit ) it
Z
log(1 + z) log() + it it
dz = i it
e dt = i e dt
C3 z 0 −1 + e 0 −1 + eit
Z t0 Z t0
eit teit
= i log() dt −  dt
0 −1 + eit 0 −1 + eit
Both the integrals are bounded on upper because we know by ML-inequality
Z t0 Z t0 Z t0 Z t0
eit 1 t0 teit t0 t0 2
| dt| ≤ dt = , dt ≤ dt =
0 −1 + eit 0 1− 1 −  0 −1 + eit 0 1− 1−
The first integral is multiplied with log() and the second one is multiplied with . Both of
them have tends to zero as tends to zero. Hence C3 log(1+z)
R
z
dz also tends to zeros as tends
to zero.

3
Also note that C1 tends to the complete outer circle, as  → 0. Therefore
Z π Z π
log(1 + eiθ ) iθ
Z
log(1 + z)
lim dz = iθ
ie dθ = i log(1 + eiθ )dθ
→0 C
1
z 0 e 0
Z π Z π
θ θ θ θ
=i log(2 cos ei 2 )dθ = i (i + log(2 cos ))dθ
0 2 0 2 2
π
−π 2 −π 2
Z
θ
= +i log(2 cos )dθ = + iI (say) (2.8)
4 0 2 4
Note that
Z π Z π Z π
θ 2 2
I= log(2 cos )dθ = 2 log(2 cos u)du = 2 log(2 sin u)du
0 2 0 0

Further we obtain
Z π Z π
2 2
2I = 2 [log(2 sin v) + log(2 cos v)]dv = 2 log(2 sin 2u)du
0 0
π
Z π Z
2
= log(2 sin v)dv = 2 log(2 sin v)dv = I
0 0
This concludes that I = 0. Hence from (2.7) and (2.8) we obtain
Z 1
log(1 + x) −π 2 π2
dx = −( + iI) =
−1 x 4 4

Applying (2.3) and (2.2), we conclude that

∞ ∞
2 1 log(1 + x) π2
Z
X 1 4X 1
= = dx =
n=1
n2 3 n=1 (2n + 1)2 3 −1 x 6

References
[1] T. Apostol , A proof that Euler missed: Evaluating ζ(2) the easy way, Math. Intelli-
gencer, 5 (1983) 59–60.

[2] T. Apostol, Mathematical Analysis , Addison-Wesley (1974).

[3] F. Beukers; E. Calabi; J.A.C. Kolk, Sums of generalized harmonic series and volumes,
Nieuw Arch. Wisk., 11 (1993) 217-224.

[4] F. Beukers, A note on the irrationality of ζ(2) and ζ(3), Bull. London Math. Soc., 1
(1979) 268–272.

[5] J. M. Borwein and P. B. Borwein, Pi and the AGM , Canadian Mathematical Society
Series of Monographs and Advanced Texts, No. 4 , John Wiley Sons, New York (1998).

[6] A.L. Cauchy , Cours d’Analyse, Note VIII (1821)

[7] R. Chapman, Evaluating ζ(2), Preprint, http://www.maths.ex.ac.uk/rjc/etc/zeta2.pdf,

(2003).

4
 [8] D. F. Connon, Some series and integrals involving the Riemann zeta function, binomial
coefficients and the harmonic numbers (Volume I), arXiv:0710.4028 [math.HO], (2008).

[9] B.R. Choe, An Elementary Proof of ∞ 1 π2

P
n=1 n2 = 6 , Amer. Math. Monthly, 94 No. 1,
(1987) 662-663.

[10] S. Ghosh, The Basel Problem, arXiv:2010.03953 [math.GM] (2020).

[11] Ghosh, Sourangshu. (2020). The Basel Problem. 10.13140/RG.2.2.20220.56964/7.

1 1 1 π2
[12] J.D. Harper, Another simple proof 12
+ 22
+ 32
+ ... = 6
, Amer. Math. Monthly, 110
(2003) 540–541.

[13] J. Havil, Gamma: Exploring Euler’s Constant, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton
University Press, (2003).
π2
[14] M.D. Hirschhon, A simple proof that ζ(2) = 6
, Math. Intelligencer, 22 (2011) 81–82.
π2
[15] J. Hofbauer, “A simple proof of 112 + 212 + 312 + ... = 6
and related identities”, Amer.
Math. Monthly, 109 No.2, (2002) 196–200.

[16] L.K. Hua, “Introduction to Number Theory”, Springer (1982).

[17] M. Ivan ,“A simple solution to Basel problem”, General Mathematics, 16 No. 4, (2008)
111–113.

[18] V. Kaushik and D. Ritelli, Evaluation of harmonic sums with integrals, Quart. Appl.
Math. , 76 (2018) 577-600

[19] R. A. Kortram, Simple proof for ∞ π2

1 2
k(1 − kx2 π2 ) , Mathe-
P Q
k=1 k2 = 6 and n(x) = x
matics Magazine, 69 (1996) 122-125.

[20] Y. Matsuoka, An elementary proof of the formula ∞ 1 π2

P
k=1 k2 = 6 ,Amer. Math. Monthly,
68 (1961) 485– 487.
π2
[21] L. Pace, Probabilistically Proving that ζ(2) = 6
, Amer. Math Monthly, 118 (2011)
641-643.

[22] M.D. Schmidt, Combinatorial Identities for Generalized Stirling Numbers Expanding
f-Factorial Functions and the f-Harmonic Numbers, J. Integer Sequences, 21 ( 2018)

[23] E. L. Stark, Another Proof of the Formula ∞ 1 π2

P
k=1 k2 = 6 , Amer. Math. Monthly, 76
(1969) 552-553.

[24] E.W. Weisstein, Double Integral, From MathWorld–A Wolfram Web Resource,
https://mathworld.wolfram.com/DoubleIntegral.html.

[25] E.W. Weisstein, Hadjicostas’s Formula ,From MathWorld–A Wolfram Web Resource,
https://mathworld.wolfram.com/HadjicostassFormula.html

View publication stats

5