Maths WorkshopMaths problems with full solutions
Exercise 104Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Integration › Riemann integralL1Added 6 Nov 2026

Limit of an integral with cosine and logarithm

#mean value theorem for integrals#cosine#logarithm

Statement

Compute
lim⁡x→1+∫xx2cos⁡(πt)ln⁡t dt.\lim_{x\to1^+}\int_x^{x^2}\frac{\cos(\pi t)}{\ln t}\,dt.

Hint

The integrand is singular at t=1t=1, so rewrite the integral using the mean value theorem with f(t)=tcos⁡(πt)f(t)=t\cos(\pi t) and g(t)=1tln⁡tg(t)=\frac{1}{t\ln t}. Then estimate cx∈[x,x2]c_x\in[x,x^2] and let x→1+x\to1^+.

Show solutionHide solution

Solution

Rewriting the integrand. Note that for t>1t>1,
cos⁡(πt)ln⁡t=tcos⁡(πt)⋅1tln⁡t.\frac{\cos(\pi t)}{\ln t}=t\cos(\pi t)\cdot\frac{1}{t\ln t}.

Mean value theorem for integrals. On [x,x2][x,x^2] (with 1<x1<x), the function t↦tcos⁡(πt)t\mapsto t\cos(\pi t) is continuous and t↦1tln⁡tt\mapsto\frac{1}{t\ln t} is continuous and positive. There exists cx∈[x,x2]c_x\in[x,x^2] with
∫xx2cos⁡(πt)ln⁡t dt=cxcos⁡(πcx)∫xx2dttln⁡t.\int_x^{x^2}\frac{\cos(\pi t)}{\ln t}\,dt=c_x\cos(\pi c_x)\int_x^{x^2}\frac{dt}{t\ln t}.

Compute the remaining integral.
∫xx2dttln⁡t=[ln⁡(ln⁡t)]xx2=ln⁡(ln⁡(x2))−ln⁡(ln⁡x)=ln⁡2.\int_x^{x^2}\frac{dt}{t\ln t}=\bigl[\ln(\ln t)\bigr]_x^{x^2}=\ln(\ln(x^2))-\ln(\ln x)=\ln 2.
So
∫xx2cos⁡(πt)ln⁡t dt=cxcos⁡(πcx)ln⁡2.\int_x^{x^2}\frac{\cos(\pi t)}{\ln t}\,dt=c_x\cos(\pi c_x)\ln 2.

Limit as x→1+x\to1^+. Since cx∈[x,x2]c_x\in[x,x^2] and x→1+x\to1^+, we have cx→1c_x\to1. Thus cxcos⁡(πcx)→1⋅cos⁡(π)=−1c_x\cos(\pi c_x)\to1\cdot\cos(\pi)=-1. Therefore
lim⁡x→1+∫xx2cos⁡(πt)ln⁡t dt=(−1)⋅ln⁡2=−ln⁡2.\lim_{x\to1^+}\int_x^{x^2}\frac{\cos(\pi t)}{\ln t}\,dt=(-1)\cdot\ln 2=-\ln 2.