English

A triple integral analog of a multiple zeta value

Number Theory 2020-04-15 v1 Classical Analysis and ODEs

Abstract

We establish the triple integral evaluation 10101dzdydxx(x+y)(x+y+z)=524ζ(3), \int_{1}^{\infty} \int_{0}^{1} \int_{0}^{1} \frac{dz \, dy \, dx}{x(x+y)(x+y+z)} = \frac{5}{24} \zeta(3), as well as the equivalent polylogarithmic double sum k=1j=k(1)k1k21j2j=1324ζ(3). \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \sum_{j=k}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{k-1}}{k^{2}} \, \frac{1}{j \, 2^{j}} = \frac{13}{24} \zeta(3). This double sum is related to, but less approachable than, similar sums studied by Ramanujan. It is also reminiscent of Euler's formula ζ(2,1)=ζ(3)\zeta(2,1) = \zeta(3), which is the simplest instance of duality of multiple polylogarithms. We review this duality and apply it to derive a companion identity. We also discuss approaches based on computer algebra. All of our approaches ultimately require the introduction of polylogarithms and nontrivial relations between them. It remains an open challenge to relate the triple integral or the double sum to ζ(3)\zeta(3) directly.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2004.06232,
  title  = {A triple integral analog of a multiple zeta value},
  author = {Tewodros Amdeberhan and Victor H. Moll and Armin Straub and Christophe Vignat},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2004.06232},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

15 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-23T14:50:05.965Z