INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS

BRUCE C. BERNDT

A BSTRACT. We evaluate in closed form certain classes of infinite integrals containing trigono-
metric and hyperbolic trigonometric functions in their integrands. Although not apparent,
the integrals are related to Jacobian elliptic functions, in particular, to theorems found in Ra-
manujan’s notebooks. One of our evaluations answers a question first posed by M. E. H. Is-
mail.

1. I NTRODUCTION
The motivation for this paper arises from three integrals of Ramanaujan and one of M. E.
H. Ismail and G. Valent [11], [10]. The integrals are similar, although in some cases only in
appearance. We begin with two entries from Ramanujan’s lost notebook [16].
On page 9 in his lost notebook [16], Ramanujan offers eight identities for tenth order mock
theta functions. We offer two of these identities. First, recall the notation
(a; q)n := (1 − a)(1 − aq) · · · (1 − aq n−1 ), n ≥ 1, (a; q)0 := 1.
Second, define
∞ ∞
X q n(n+1)/2 X q (n+1)(n+2)/2
φ(q) := , ψ(q) := .
n=0
(q; q 2 )n+1 n=0
(q; q 2 )n+1
Then, for n > 0,
∞ 2
e−πnx
Z
1
√ dx + √ eπ/(5n) ψ(−e−π/n )
0 2πx 1 + 5 n
cosh √ +
5 4
s √ √
5 + 5 −πn/5 5+1
= e −πn
φ(−e ) − √ e−π/(5n) φ(−e−π/n ) (1.1)
2 2 n
and
∞ 2
e−πnx
Z
1
√ dx + √ eπ/(5n) ψ(−e−π/n )
0 2πx 1 − 5 n
cosh √ +
5 4
s √ √
5 − 5 πn/5 5−1
=− e ψ(−e ) + √ e−π/(5n) φ(−e−π/n ).
−πn
(1.2)
2 2 n

2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 33D05.

Key words and phrases. definite integrals, Jacobian elliptic functions, Ramanujan’s notebooks.
1
2 BRUCE C. BERNDT

The remarkable identities (1.1) and (1.2) were proved by Y.–S. Choi [6]. Choi’s proofs are
long and difficult, and rely on ideas with which Ramanujan would not have been familiar.
No further proofs exist, and so the present author was motivated to find simpler, more natural
proofs; he has failed to do so. The integrals above are similar in appearance to certain other
integrals that have arisen in connection with work of Ramanujan but are more tractable. We
examine some of these integrals.
Our second motivation has its origin in lectures by Ismail and Dennis Stanton in con-
junction with a theorem in Ismail’s book [10, p. 567]), where he asked for a direct proof of
Theorem 1.1 below. First, recall the definition of the complete elliptic integral of the first
kind
Z π/2
dϕ
K(k) := p ,
0 1 − k 2 sin2 ϕ
where√k, 0 < k < 1, is called the modulus. The complementary modulus is defined by
0
k := 1 − k 2 .
0
Theorem 1.1. Let K = K(k) be the complete elliptic integral of the first kind, and let K =
0
K(k ) be the complete elliptic integral of the first kind associated with the complementary
0
modulus k . Then Z ∞
dx
√ 0√ = 2. (1.3)
−∞ cos(K x) + cosh(K x)
The integrand in (1.3) is the weight function for a sequence of polynomials arising in the
Hamburger moment problem. According to Stanton [17], in research that he has conducted
with Jang Soo Kim, the nth moment is the generating function for certain k-colored up-down
permutations. In answer to Ismail and Stanton’s challenge, we provide a direct proof of The-
orem 1.1 in this paper. A direct proof was partially supplied much earlier by S. Chowla [7]
in 1928. Stanton has informed the author that A. Kuznetsov has also found an independent
proof.
Our third motivation is the integral
Z ∞
sin (nx) π
dx = , (1.4)
0 x(cos x + cosh x) 4
which was first submitted by Ramanujan as a problem to the Journal of the Indian Mathe-
matical Society [12], [14, pp. 325–326]. Here n is any odd positive integer. Four years after
submission, A. C. L. Wilkinson [20] supplied a proof. We draw attention to a beautiful proof
of (1.4) found in handwritten notes by V. R. Thiruvenkatachar and K. Venkatachaliengar,
who, in their retirement years, over a period of several years, combined to develop proofs of
some of Ramanujan’s most intriguing formulas. Their notes have recently been edited and
are being brought to the public [18]. We provide another proof of (1.4) here.
The purpose of this paper is to provide direct evaluations of (1.3), (1.4), and further inte-
grals of this type. Some of our integrals contain sinh x ± i sin x in their integrands instead
of cosh x ± cos x. An interesting feature of our proofs is that at times we employ series
evaluations in terms of elliptic parameters from Chapter 17 in Ramanujan’s second notebook
[15], [2] and further results from the classical theory of elliptic functions. Thus, the integral
(1.3) is indeed prescient.
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 3

2. T HE I NTEGRAL OF I SMAIL AND VALENT

We first establish the following theorem, from which, as we shall see, the more general
result (1.3) follows.
Theorem 2.1. We have
∞
π Γ2 ( 14 )
Z
dx
√ √ = . (2.1)
−∞ cos x + cosh x 4 Γ2 ( 34 )
Proof. We first note that replacing x by −x in the integrand of (2.1) does not alter the inte-
grand, since cos it = cosh t, i.e.,
Z ∞ Z ∞
dx dx
√ √ =2 √ √ .
−∞ cos x + cosh x 0 cos x + cosh x
Setting x = u2 in the latter integral, we then find that
Z ∞ Z ∞
dx u du
√ √ =4 . (2.2)
−∞ cos x + cosh x 0 cos u + cosh u
We use contour integration to evaluate the integral on the right side above.
Consider Z
z dz
,
CR cos z + cosh z
where CR denotes the positively oriented quarter-circular contour consisting of the interval
[0, R]; the quarter-circle ΓR with |z| = R and 0 ≤ arg z ≤ 21 π; and the segment [iR, 0] on
the imaginary axis. We assume throughout this proof and subsequent proofs that R tends
to infinity on a sequence of values that remain at a bounded distance from the poles of the
integrand. In the present case, there exist simple poles when
cos z + cosh z = 2 cosh{ 21 (z + iz)} cosh{ 12 (z − iz)} = 0.
Hence, there exist one set of poles at
(2m + 1)πi (2m + 1)(1 + i)π
zm := = , −∞ < m < ∞, (2.3)
1+i 2
and another set of poles at
(2n + 1)πi (2n + 1)(−1 + i)π
zn := = , −∞ < n < ∞. (2.4)
1−i 2
The only poles lying inside CR are zm , m ≥ 0, |zm | < R. The residue Rzm at each such pole
is given by
1
2
(2m
+ 1)(1 + i)π
R zm = . (2.5)
− sin zm + sinh zm
Using the addition formula for sin(x + y), we readily find that
sin zm = (−1)m cosh{ 21 (2m + 1)π}, m ≥ 0,
from which it follows that
sinh zm = (−1)m i cosh{ 21 (2m + 1)π}, m ≥ 0.
4 BRUCE C. BERNDT

Employing these calculations in (2.5), we deduce that

1
2
(2m
+ 1)(1 + i)π (−1)m i(2m + 1)π
Rzm = = − . (2.6)
(−1)m (−1 + i) cosh 21 (2m + 1)π 2 cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
For the integral over [iR, 0], we let z = ir. Hence,
Z 0 Z 0 Z R
z dz −r dr r dr
= = . (2.7)
iR cos z + cosh z R cos(ir) + cosh(ir) 0 cosh r + cos r

It is easy to show that, as R → ∞,

Z
z dz
= o(1). (2.8)
ΓR cos z + cosh z
Applying the residue theorem, letting R → ∞, and collecting together (2.6)–(2.8), we
conclude that
Z ∞ ∞
x dx 2
X (−1)m (2m + 1)
2 =π . (2.9)
0 cos x + cosh x m=0
cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Putting (2.9) in (2.2), we arrive at
Z ∞ ∞
dx 2
X (−1)m (2m + 1)
√ √ = 2π 1 . (2.10)
−∞ cos x + cosh x m=0
cosh{ 2
(2m + 1)π}
We now appeal to a result from Ramanujan’s second notebook [15], namely Entry 16(i)
in Chapter 17 [3, p. 134]. Let 2 F1 (a, b; c; x) denote the ordinary or Gaussian hypergeometric
function. If
0
K (x) 2
y := π , x := k 2 , and z := z(x) := K(x) = 2 F1 ( 12 , 12 ; 1; x), (2.11)
K(x) π
then
∞
X (−1)m (2m + 1) 1 p
1 = z 2 x(1 − x). (2.12)
m=0
cosh{ 2 (2m + 1)y} 2
0
We apply (2.12) with y = π, i.e., K(x) = K (x) and x = 12 . Since [3, p. 103]
√
1 1 1 1 π
z( 2 ) = 2 F1 ( 2 , 2 ; 1; 2 ) = 2 3 , (2.13)
Γ (4)
we see that if we set y = π and x = 21 in (2.12), then we can deduce from (2.10) that
Z ∞  √ 2 q
dx 2 1 π 1 1
√ √ = 2π · 2 3 ·
2 2
−∞ cos x + cosh x 2 Γ (4)
π3 π3 Γ2 ( 41 ) π Γ2 ( 14 )
= = · = , (2.14)
2Γ4 ( 34 ) 2Γ2 ( 34 ) 2π 2 4 Γ2 ( 34 )
where we applied the reflection formula for the gamma function. 
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 5

Theorem 2.1 was also established by Chowla [7], [8, p. 156, eq. (3.1)], except his evalu-
ation contains an extra factor 4 in the denominator. Chowla’s proof is only sketched, but it
also relies on the theory of elliptic functions, in particular, the Fourier series of the product
of the elliptic functions sn u, dn u.
We now show that Theorem 2.1 is a special case of Theorem 1.1. Afterward, we prove
0
Theorem 1.1. We write K and K in the forms [3, p. 102, eq. (6.9)]
π
K = 2 F1 ( 12 , 12 ; 1; cos2 21 θ), (2.15)
2
0 π
K = 2 F1 ( 12 , 12 ; 1; sin2 12 θ). (2.16)
2
0
Thus, if θ = 12 π, then K = K . If u = K 2 x, then
Z ∞ Z ∞
dx 1 du
√ 0√ = 2 √ √ .
−∞ cos(K x) + cosh(K x) K −∞ cos( u) + cosh( u)
Therefore, by (1.3), (2.11), and (2.13),
Z ∞  √ 2
du 2 π π π Γ2 ( 14 )
√ √ = 2K = 2 = ,
−∞ cos( u) + cosh( u) 2 Γ2 ( 34 ) 4 Γ2 ( 34 )
by (2.14). Hence, we have shown that Theorem 2.1 is indeed a special case of Theorem 1.1.
We now establish Theorem 1.1. First, set
Z ∞
0 dx
I(K, K ) := √ 0√ . (2.17)
−∞ cos(K x) + cosh(K x)
If we replace x by −x in the integral above, we readily see that
0 0
I(K, K ) = I(K , K). (2.18)
Second, set
Z ∞
0 dx
F (θ) := I(K, K ) = √ √ , 0 ≤ θ ≤ π,
−∞ cos(K x) + cosh(K 0 x)
0
where K and K are represented by (2.15) and (2.16), respectively. For brevity, set F (u) :=
1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1
2 F1 ( 2 , 2 ; 1; u), where u = cos 2 θ, and G(u) := 2 F1 ( 2 , 2 ; 1; u), where u = sin 2 θ. Then,
by the chain rule,
√ dF 1 1 0√ dG
π
Z ∞
√ − sin(K x) · − cos 2
θ sin 2
θ + sinh(K x) · sin 12 θ cos 21 θ
0
F (θ) = − x du √ √ du dx
2 −∞ (cos(K x) + cosh(K 0 x))2
√ dF 0√
 
dG
sin(K x) + sinh(K x) sin θ
π ∞√
Z
du du
=− x √ √ dx
4 −∞ (cos(K x) + cosh(K 0 x))2
√ dF 0√
 
dG
Z ∞ Z 0  sin(K x) + sinh(K x) sin θ
π √ du du
=− + x √ √ dx
4 0 −∞ (cos(K x) + cosh(K 0 x))2
π
=: − (I1 + I2 ) . (2.19)
4
6 BRUCE C. BERNDT
0
We now repeat the argument given above, but beginning, by (2.18), with I(K , K) instead
0
of I(K, K ). Accordingly, instead of (2.19), we deduce that
0√ √ dF
 
dG
Z ∞ Z 0  sin(K x) + sinh(K x) sin θ
0 π √ du du
F (θ) = − + x √ √ dx
4 0 −∞ (cos(K 0 x) + cosh(K x))2
π
=: − (J1 + J2 ) . (2.20)
4
Hence, adding (2.19) and (2.20), we conclude that
0 π
2F (θ) = − (I1 + I2 + J1 + J2 ). (2.21)
4
If we replace x by −x in I2 , we find that
√ dF 0√
 
dG
Z ∞ sinh(K x) + sin(K x) sin θ
√ du du
I2 = − x √ √ dx = −J1 . (2.22)
0 (cosh(K x) + cos(K 0 x))2
Similarly,
J2 = −I1 . (2.23)
0
Employing (2.22) and (2.23) in (2.21), we conclude that F (θ) = 0. Hence, as a function
of θ, F (θ) is constant. Since we have already derived this constant from the special case
θ = 21 π, the proof is complete.

3. A G ENERALIZATION OF T HEOREM 1.1 C ONNECTED WITH A M OMENT P ROBLEM OF

I SMAIL AND VALENT
The method that we used to prove Theorem 2.1 can also be used to examine the integrals
Z ∞
x2a+1 dx
,
0 cos x + cosh x
where a is any non-negative integer. The case a = 0 arose in the proof of Theorem 2.1.
These integrals arise in the aforementioned moment problem studied by Ismail and Valent
[11], [10, pp. 566–567]. If a is odd, we are not able to evaluate the integral in closed form,
but instead we can explicitly evaluate a general class of infinite series previously examined
by Ramanujan. If a is even, we can evaluate exactly each such integral. However, it does
not seem possible to establish a general formula. We provide explicit values for a = 2 and
a = 4.
Theorem 3.1. If a denotes any non-negative integer, then
Z ∞ ∞
2a x2a+1 dx π 2a+2 ia X (−1)m (2m + 1)2a+1
(1 + i ) = . (3.1)
0 cos x + cosh x 2a m=0 cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Proof. Consider the integral
z 2a+1 dz
Z
, (3.2)
CR cos z + cosh z
where CR denotes the same positively oriented quarter-circular contour that we used in the
proof of Theorem 2.1. The poles are identical to those from the previous proof. As before,
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 7

only the poles zm , when m ≥ 0 and |zm | < R, are on the interior of the contour, and their
residues Rzm , m ≥ 0, are
1

2a+1
2
(2m + 1)(1 + i)π
Rzm =
(−1 + i)(−1)m cosh{ 21 (2m + 1)π}
(−1)m (2m + 1)2a+1 π 2a+1 (1 + i)eπia/2
=
(−1 + i)2a+1 cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
π 2a+1 ia+1 (−1)m (2m + 1)2a+1
=− . (3.3)
2a+1 cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
By an argument analogous to that in the previous proof, we can readily show that
z 2a+1 dz
Z
= o(1), (3.4)
ΓR cos z + cosh z
as R tends to infinity.
Set z = ir, R ≥ r ≥ 0, in the integral over [0, iR]. Then, invoking the residue theorem,
employing (3.3) and (3.4), and letting R tend to ∞, we conclude that
Z ∞ Z ∞ ∞
x2a+1 dx 2a+2 r2a+1 dr π 2a+2 ia X (−1)m (2m + 1)2a+1
−i = .
0 cos x + cosh x 0 cosh r + cos r 2a m=0 cosh{ 21 (2m + 1)π}
The identity (3.1) now readily follows from the identity above. 
Corollary 3.2. If r is any non-negative integer, then
∞
X (−1)m (2m + 1)4r+3
= 0. (3.5)
m=0
cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Proof. Let a be odd, say, a = 2r + 1, r ≥ 0, in Theorem 3.1. Hence, (3.1) yields (3.5). 
The identity (3.5) was first established by Cauchy [4, pp. 313, 362]. It can also be found
in Section 14 of Chapter 14 in Ramanujan’s second notebook [15], [2, p. 262, eq. (14.2)].
Ramanujan furthermore submitted (3.5) as a problem to the Journal of the Indian Mathemat-
ical Society [13], [14, p. 326]. The identity (3.5) can also be established, at least for special
cases of ‘small’ values of r, through the theory of elliptic functions. See Entry 16 of Chapter
17 in Ramanujan’s second notebook [15], [3, p. 134]. References to several further proofs of
(3.5) may be found in [2, p. 262].
Corollary 3.3. If r is any non-negative integer, then
Z ∞ ∞
x4r+1 dx (−1)r π 4r+2 X (−1)m (2m + 1)4r+1
= . (3.6)
0 cos x + cosh x 22r+1 m=0
cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Proof. Let a be even, say, a = 2r, in (3.1). The evaluation (3.6) follows immediately. 
Let r = 1 in (3.6). We use Entry 16(iii) in Chapter 17 of Ramanujan’s second notebook
[15], [3, p. 134]. In the notation (2.11),
∞
X (−1)m (2m + 1)5 1 6
p
1 = 2
z {1 − 16x(1 − x)} x(1 − x). (3.7)
m=0
cosh{ 2
(2m + 1)y}
8 BRUCE C. BERNDT

Set x = 12 , so that y = π. Using also (2.13), we see that (3.6) and (3.7) yield
Z ∞  √ 6 
x5 dx π6

π 16 1
=− 1−
0 cos x + cosh x 16 Γ2 ( 43 ) 4 2
3π 9 3π 3 Γ6 ( 14 )
= = ,
32Γ12 ( 34 ) 256 Γ6 ( 34 )
which agrees with Chowla’s evaluation [7, eq. (3.2)], [8, p. 156].
Put r = 2 in (3.6). We shall employ Entry 16(v) in Chapter 17 of Ramanujan’s second
notebook [15], [3, p. 134]. Referring again to (2.11), we write this entry in the form
∞
X (−1)m (2m + 1)9 1 10 2 2
p
1 = 2
z {1 − 1232x(1 − x) + 7936x (1 − x) } x(1 − x). (3.8)
m=0
cosh{ 2
(2m + 1)y}

Again, we set x = 21 , which implies that y = π. Hence, (3.6) and (3.8) give us
Z ∞  √ 10 
x9 dx π 10

π 1232 7936 1
= 6 1− +
0 cos x + cosh x 2 Γ2 ( 34 ) 4 16 2
189π 15 189π 15 Γ10 ( 41 ) 33 · 7π 5 Γ10 ( 41 )
= = · √ = .
27 Γ20 ( 34 ) 27 Γ10 ( 34 ) (π 2)10 212 Γ10 ( 43 )

4. R AMANUJAN ’ S Q UESTION 353

We turn now to the integral evaluation that Ramanujan posed in Question 353 for readers
of the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society [12], [14, pp. 325–326].
Theorem 4.1. If n is any odd positive integer, then
Z ∞
sin (nx) π
dx = . (4.1)
0 x(cos x + cosh x) 4
A beautiful proof of (4.1), based on induction of n, was given by V. R. Thiruvenkatachar
and K. Venkatachaliengar [18]. We provide another proof here.
Proof. Consider
einz dz
Z
, (4.2)
CR z(cos z + cosh z)
where CR is the same contour that we considered above, except that now the contour is
indented at the origin by a quarter-circle C of radius .
On C , set z = eiθ , 21 π ≥ θ ≥ 0. Then
Z π/2 iθ
einz dz eine ieiθ dθ
Z
=−
C z(cos z + cosh z) 0 eiθ (cos eiθ + cosh eiθ )
Z π/2
dθ iπ
= −i + o(1) = − + o(1), (4.3)
0 2 4
as  → 0.
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 9

By an argument similar to that which we have previously used,

einz dz
Z
= o(1), (4.4)
ΓR z(cos z + cosh z)

as R → ∞.
We parameterize the integral over [iR, 0] by setting z = ir, R ≥ r ≥ 0. Hence, by (4.3)
and (4.4),
Z ∞ Z ∞
einz dz einx dx e−nr dr
Z
iπ
lim = − − . (4.5)
R→∞ C z(cos z + cosh z) 0 x(cos x + cosh x) 0 r(cosh r + cos r) 4
→0 R

We now evaluate the integral on the left-hand side of (4.5) by the residue theorem. The
poles are exactly the same ones, (2.3) and (2.4), as in the proof of Theorem 2.1. Only the
poles zm , m ≥ 0, |zm | < R, lie on the interior of CR . Since n is an odd positive integer, we
set n = 2a + 1 in our calculation of the residue Rzm at zm , which, by (2.3), is given by
einzm
Rzm =
zm (− sin zm + sinh zm )
einzm
=
zm (−1)m (−1 + i) cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
(−1)m+1 e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2 ei(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2
=
π(2m + 1) cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
(−1)m+1 e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2 i(−1)a+m
= . (4.6)
π(2m + 1) cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Hence, by (4.6), we find that
∞ ∞
X i(−1)a+1 X e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2
Rzm = 1 . (4.7)
m=0
π m=0
(2m + 1) cosh{ 2
(2m + 1)π}
Hence, applying the residue theorem, letting R → ∞ and  → 0, and employing (4.7) and
(4.5), we conclude that
Z ∞ Z ∞
einx dx e−nr dr iπ
− −
0 x(cos x + cosh x) 0 r(cosh r + cos r) 4
∞
X e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2
= 2(−1)a . (4.8)
m=0
(2m + 1) cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Equating the imaginary parts on both sides of (4.8), we conclude that
Z ∞
sin(nx)dx π
= ,
0 x(cos x + cosh x) 4
which completes the proof. 
Note that if we equate the real parts on both sides of (4.8), we can show that a sum of
two certain integrals can be represented a sum of an infinite series. We shall not pursue this
further.
10 BRUCE C. BERNDT

Recall that Theorem 3.1 extends Theorem 2.1. In analogy, the next theorem extends The-
orem 4.1.
Theorem 4.2. If b is a positive integer congruent to −1 modulo 4, and if n is a positive odd
integer, then Z ∞ b
x sin(nx)dx
= 0. (4.9)
0 cos x + cosh x
Proof. Let CR be the same quarter-circular contour that we considered in the proof of Theo-
rem 2.1. We examine
z b einz dz
Z
. (4.10)
CR cos z + cosh z
By the same argument that we have used in previous proofs, the integral over ΓR tends to 0
as R → ∞. For the integral over [iR, 0], setting z = ir, R ≥ r ≥ 0, we find that, since
b ≡ −1 (mod 4),
Z 0 Z R
z b einz dz rb e−nr dr
=− . (4.11)
iR cos z + cosh z 0 cosh r + cos r
We apply the residue theorem, with the poles on the interior of CR being the same ones
zm , m ≥ 0, |zm | < R, as in the previous proof. Set n = 2a + 1, as before, and also set
b = −1 + 4µ, where µ ≥ 1. By (4.6),
b
e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2 i(−1)a+m

(2m + 1)π(1 + i)
Rzm =
2 (−1)m (−1 + i) cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
(2m + 1)b π b i(−1)a+µ+1 e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2
= . (4.12)
2(b+1)/2 cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Hence, by (4.12) and the residue theorem,
∞
z b einz dz (−1)a+µ π b+1 X (2m + 1)b e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2
Z
lim = . (4.13)
R→∞ C cos z + cosh z
R
2(b−1)/2 m=0 cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
Summarizing, by our initial remarks, (4.11), and (4.13), we conclude that
Z ∞ Z ∞ ∞
xb einx dx rb e−nr dr (−1)a+µ π b+1 X (2m + 1)b e−(2a+1)(2m+1)π/2
− = .
0 cos x + cosh x 0 cos r + cosh r 2(b−1)/2 m=0 cosh{ 12 (2m + 1)π}
(4.14)
Equating the imaginary parts on both sides of (4.14), we deduce (4.9). 
Using a different approach by contour integration, Chowla [7], [8, p. 148, eq. (2.3)] also
proved Theorem 4.2. If we equate the real parts on both sides of (4.14), we find that the sum
of two integrals can be represented by the infinite series on the right-hand side of (4.14).

5. A NALOGUES OF T HEOREM 3.1

Next, we calculate the integral
∞
xa dx
Z
, (5.1)
0 cos x − cosh x
where a is a positive integer at least equal to 2.
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 11

Theorem 5.1. For each non-negative integer ν,

Z ∞ ∞
x4ν+3 dx ν+1 2ν+1 4ν+4
X (−1)n+1 n4ν+4
= (−1) 2 π . (5.2)
0 cos x − cosh x n=1
sinh(nπ)
Proof. We examine
z a dz
Z
(5.3)
CR cos z − cosh z
over the same (non-indented) quarter-circular contour as in previous proofs. There are simple
poles when
cos z − cosh z = cos z − cos(iz) = −2 sin{ 21 (z + iz)} sin{ 21 (z − iz)} = 0.
For each pair of non-zero integers m, n, we have simple poles at mπ(1−i), nπ(1+i). Those
lying on the interior of CR are zn := nπ(1 + i), n ≥ 1, |zn | < R. Hence,
zna zna
Rzn = =−
− sin zn − sinh zn (−1)n i sinh(nπ) + (−1)n sinh(nπ)
(−1)n+1 (1 + i)a−1 (nπ)a
= . (5.4)
sinh(nπ)
The integral over ΓR tends to 0 as R → ∞. Hence, by (5.4) and the residue theorem, we find
that Z ∞ ∞
a+1 xa dx X (−1)n+1 na
(1 + i ) = 2i(1 + i)a−1 π a+1 . (5.5)
0 cos x − cosh x n=1
sinh(nπ)
If a = 4ν + 3, then (5.5) reduces to
Z ∞ ∞
x4ν+3 dx ν+1 2ν+1 4ν+4
X (−1)n+1 n4ν+3
= (−1) 2 π , (5.6)
0 cos x − cosh x n=1
sinh(nπ)
which is (5.2). 
In order to obtain more explicit evaluations for the integral on the left-hand side of (5.6),
we appeal to the classical theory of elliptic functions. From Greenhill’s treatise [9, p. 286,
eq. (50)],
∞
2 π 2 X n cos(nπu/K)
sn u = a0 − 2 2 , (5.7)
K k n=1 sinh(nπK 0 /K)
where  
E 1
a0 = 1 − ,
K k2
where K and E are, respectively, the complete elliptic integrals of the first and second kinds.
We convert (5.7) into Ramanujan’s notation via the relations
2 0
x = k 2 , z = K, q = e−y = e−πK /K .
π
Thus,
∞
2 4 X n cos(2nu/z)
sn u = a0 − 2 . (5.8)
z x n=1 sinh(ny)
12 BRUCE C. BERNDT

We now apply Jacobi and Ramanujan’s process of “changing the sign” [3, p. 126], to wit,
x √
x→ , q → −q, z → z 1 − x. (5.9)
x−1
Hence,
∞
8(x − 1) X (−1)n nq n
 
2 2nu
sn u = a0 − cos √
(1 − x)z 2 x n=1 1 − q 2n 1 − xz
∞
4 X (−1)n n
 
2nu
= a0 + 2 cos √
z x n=1 sinh(ny) 1 − xz
∞ ∞ 2j
4 X (−1)n n X (−1)j

2nu
= a0 + 2 √
z x n=1 sinh(ny) j=0 (2j)! 1 − xz
∞ 2j X∞
4 X (−1)j (−1)n n2j+1 2j

2
= a0 + 2 √ u . (5.10)
z x j=0 (2j)! 1 − xz n=1
sinh(ny)

The coefficients of u2 , u4 , and u6 are, respectively,

∞
X (−1)n n3 ∞
8 8 X (−1)n n5
− 4 , , (5.11)
z x(1 − x) n=1 sinh(ny) 3z 6 x(1 − x)2 n=1 sinh(ny)
∞
16 X (−1)n n7
− 2 . (5.12)
3 · 5z 8 x(1 − x)3 n=1 sinh(ny)
On the other hand, recall from Cayley’s book [5, p. 57] (with a misprint corrected) the power
series expansion
u2 u4 u6
cn u = 1 −+ (1 + 4x) − (1 + 44x + 16x2 ) + · · · . (5.13)
2! 4! 6!
Applying the Jacobi–Ramanujan “change of sign” process (5.9) to (5.13), we find that
u2
 4 
x2
  6
x u x u
cn u = 1 − + 1+4 − 1 + 44 + 16 + · · · . (5.14)
2! x − 1 4! x−1 (x − 1)2 6!
Using a standard identity [9, p. 17], we see from (5.14) that
sn2 u = 1 − cn2 u (5.15)
2
u2 u4 x2 u6
    
x x
=1− 1− + 1+4 − 1 + 44 + 16 + ··· .
2! x − 1 4! x−1 (x − 1)2 6!
1
Putting x = 2
in (5.15), we arrive at
2
u2 u4 u6

2
sn u = 1 − 1 − − 3 + 27 + · · · . (5.16)
2! 4! 6!
We now calculate the coefficients of u2 , u4 , and u6 in (5.16) and find them to be, respectively,
1
1, 0, and − .
5
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 13

1
Equating these last three coefficients to those from (5.11) and (5.12) upon setting x = 2
and
y = π and employing (2.13), we conclude that, respectively,
∞
X (−1)n−1 n3 z4 Γ8 ( 14 )
= = , (5.17)
n=1
sinh(nπ) 32 512π 6
∞
X (−1)n−1 n5
= 0, (5.18)
n=1
sinh(nπ)
∞
X (−1)n−1 n7 9z 8 9Γ16 ( 14 )
= = . (5.19)
n=1
sinh(nπ) 28 216 π 12
The evaluation (5.17) is in agreement with that of Chowla [7, p. 275, eq. (3.4)], [8, p. 157],
while that in (5.19) is apparently not found in the literature. The evaluation (5.18) is a special
case of the more general result (5.21) given in Corollary 5.3 below.
If we let ν = 0 in (5.6) and invoke (5.17), we deduce that
Z ∞
x3 dx Γ8 ( 41 )
= ,
0 cosh x − cos x 256π 2
which agrees with an evaluation of Chowla [7, p. 275, eq. (3.5)], [8, p. 157], while if we let
ν = 1 in (5.6) and employ (5.19), we arrive at
Z ∞
x7 dx 9Γ16 ( 14 )
= − 13 4 .
0 cosh x − cos x 2 π
If we suppose that a = 4b in (5.5), we obtain the next identity. However, in contrast to our
work above, we do not possess a means for evaluating the series in closed form.
Corollary 5.2. If b is any positive integer, then
Z ∞ ∞
x4b dx b 2b 4b+1
X (−1)n+1 n4b
= (−1) 2 π . (5.20)
0 cos x − cosh x n=1
sinh(nπ)

Next, suppose that a ≡ 1 (mod 4). Then, writing a = 4b + 1, we deduce from (5.5) the
next identity.
Corollary 5.3. If b is any positive integer, then
∞
X (−1)n+1 n4b+1
= 0. (5.21)
n=1
sinh(nπ)

The identity (5.21) was first proved by Cauchy [4, p. 362]. For references to the many
proofs of (5.21) in the literature, see the author’s paper [1, p. 337].

6. R EPLACING Cos BY i Sin AND Cosh BY Sinh

Our goal is to find evaluations for the real and imaginary parts of the integral
Z ∞
xa dx
, (6.1)
0 sinh x + i sin x
14 BRUCE C. BERNDT

where a is a positive integer. In all cases, we obtain a representation for the integral (6.1) in
terms of a certain infinite series. If a is odd, we are able to use the theory of elliptic functions
to obtain explicit evaluations. If a is even, we are unable to forge such a connection.
Theorem 6.1. Let a be a positive integer, and define the integrals Ia and Ja by the equality
Z ∞ a Z ∞ a
x (sinh x − i sin x)dx a x (sin x − i sinh x)
Ia := Ia + iJa := 2 −i . (6.2)
0
2
sinh x + sin x 0 sinh2 x + sin2 x
Then
∞
(a+1)/2 a+1 πi(a+1)/4
X (−1)n na
Ia = 2 π e . (6.3)
n=1
cosh(nπ)

If a = 2µ is even, then
∞
x2µ (sinh x − (−1)µ sin x)dx
Z
I2µ = (6.4)
0 sinh2 x + sin2 x
and
∞
x2µ ((−1)µ sinh x − sin x)dx
Z
J2µ = . (6.5)
0 sinh2 x + sin2 x
Hence, we see that
J2µ = (−1)µ I2µ . (6.6)
Hence, it suffices to evaluate only I2µ . If a = 2ν + 1 is odd, then
Z ∞ 2ν+1
ν+1 x sinh x dx
I2ν+1 = (1 + (−1) ) 2 (6.7)
0 sinh x + sin2 x
and Z ∞ 2ν+1
ν x sin x dx
J2ν+1 = −(1 + (−1) ) 2 . (6.8)
0 sinh x + sin2 x
Proof. We integrate
z a dz
Z
,
CR sinh z + i sin z
where CR is the same quarter-circular contour as in previous proofs. As in those previous
proofs, the integral over ΓR approaches 0 as R → ∞. We examine the integral over [iR, 0].
Setting z = ir, we find that
Z 0 Z R
z a dz (ir)a idr
=−
iR sinh z + i sin z 0 sinh(ir) + i sin(ir)
Z R
(ir)a idr
=−
0 i sin r − sinh r
Z R
a ra dr
= −i
0 sin r + i sinh r
Z R a
r (sin r − i sinh r)
= −ia .
0 sin2 r + sinh2 r
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 15

Thus, letting R → ∞, we conclude that

Z ∞ a Z ∞ a
z a dz x (sinh x − i sin x)dx x (sin x − i sinh x)
Z
a
lim = 2 −i
R→∞ C sinh z + i sin z
R 0
2
sinh x + sin x 0 sinh2 x + sin2 x
= Ia + iJa , (6.9)
by (6.2).
Our next task is to evaluate
z a dz
Z
Ia = lim (6.10)
R→∞ CR sinh z + i sin z
by the residue theorem. The integrand has simple poles when
sinh z + i sin z = sinh z + sinh(iz) = 2 sinh{ 21 z(1 + i)} cosh{ 21 z(1 − i)} = 0.
Thus, we have one set of poles zn when 12 z(1 + i) = nπi, for each non-zero integer n. Thus,
2nπi
zn := = nπi(1 − i) = nπ(1 + i). (6.11)
1+i
When n ≥ 1, zn lies on the interior of CR when |zn | < R. We have a second set of poles
when 21 z(1−i) = 12 (2m+1)πi, for each integer m, but none of these poles are on the interior
of CR . Observe that, by (6.11),
zna
Rzn =
cosh(zn ) + i cos(zn )
zna
=
(−1)n cosh(nπ) + i(−1)n cosh(nπ)
(−1)n (nπ)a (1 + i)a−1
= . (6.12)
cosh(nπ)
Hence, applying the residue theorem and letting R tend to infinity, we conclude from (6.10)
and (6.12) that
∞
X (−1)n na
Ia = 2πiπ a 2(a−1)/2 eπi(a−1)/4
n=1
cosh(nπ)
∞
(a+1)/2 a+1 πi(a+1)/4
X (−1)n na
=2 π e , (6.13)
n=1
cosh(nπ)
which completes the proof of (6.3). 
We would like to find more palatable evaluations for Ia and Ja , and we can do so if a is
even. We record explicit determinations of the series above for a = 2, 4, 6 and leave it to the
reader to explicitly record the values of Ia and Ja for these values of a. Recall the Fourier
series for the Jacobian elliptic function nd u = 1/dn u, u = 2Kt/π [19, p. 511]
∞
π 2π X (−1)n cos(2nt)
nd u = +
2Kk 0 Kk 0 n=1 2 cosh(ny)
16 BRUCE C. BERNDT

∞ ∞
π 2π X (−1)n X (−1)j (2nt)2j
= +
2Kk 0 Kk 0 n=1 2 cosh(ny) j=0 (2j)!
∞ ∞
π π X (−1)j (πu/K)2j X (−1)n n2j
= + . (6.14)
2Kk 0 Kk 0 j=0 (2j)! n=1
cosh(ny)

On the other hand, from Cayley’s treatise [5, p. 57] (with a misprint corrected),
k 2 2 k 2 (k 2 + 4) 4 k 2 (k 4 + 44k 2 + 16) 6
dn u = 1 − u + u − u + ···
2! 4! 6!
=: 1 − a2 u2 + a4 u4 − a6 u6 + · · · . (6.15)
It follows from (6.15) that
nd u = 1 + a2 u2 + (a22 − a4 )u4 + (a6 − 2a2 a4 + a32 )u6 + · · · . (6.16)
1
Thus, from the definitions of a2 , a4 , and a6 given in (6.15), upon setting k 2 = x = 2
and
y = π, we readily calculate that
1 3 17
a2 = , a4 = , a6 = . (6.17)
4 32 27 ·5
Hence, by (6.16) and (6.17),
1 1 3
nd u = 1 + u2 − u4 − 7 u6 + · · · . (6.18)
4 32 2 ·5
Set x = k 2 = 21 and y = π in (6.14). We equate like coefficients of u2m , m = 1, 2, 3, in
the expansions (6.14) and (6.18). For m = 1,
∞
π 3 X (−1)n n2 1
−√ = ,
2 K 3 n=1 cosh(nπ) 4
or, by (2.11) and (2.13),
∞ √
X (−1)n−1 n2 2Γ6 ( 14 )
= . (6.19)
n=1
cosh(nπ) 28 π 9/2
4
Equating coefficients of u in (6.14) and (6.18), we find that
√ ∞
π 5 2 X (−1)n n4 1
5
=− ,
4!K n=1 cosh(nπ) 32
or, by (2.11) and (2.13),
∞ √
X (−1)n−1 n4 3 2 Γ10 ( 14 )
= . (6.20)
n=1
cosh(nπ) 213 π 15/2
Lastly, equating coefficients of u6 in (6.14) and (6.18), we deduce that
√ ∞
π 7 2 X (−1)n n6 3
− 7
=− 7 ,
6!K n=1 cosh(nπ) 2 ·5
 INTEGRALS ASSOCIATED WITH RAMANUJAN AND ELLIPTIC FUNCTIONS 17

or, by (2.11) and (2.13) √

∞
X (−1)n−1 n6 33 2Γ14 ( 14 )
= − 18 21/2 . (6.21)
n=1
cosh(nπ) 2 π
As remarked earlier, (6.19)–(6.21) can be used to explicitly evaluate Ia and Ja for a = 2, 4, 6,
respectively.
7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are grateful to Albert Tamazyan for informing us that our initial attempt in proving
Theorem 1.1 was fallacious.
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[17] D. Stanton, personal communication, October 15, 2015.
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E-mail address: berndt@illinois.edu