Dirichlet Beta Function at Odd Positive Integers

Theorem

\(\ds \map \beta {2 n + 1}\) \(=\) \(\ds \sum_{k \mathop = 0}^\infty \frac {\paren {-1}^k} {\paren {2 k + 1}^{2 n + 1} }\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \frac 1 {1^{2 n + 1} } - \frac 1 {3^{2 n + 1} } + \frac 1 {5^{2 n + 1} } - \frac 1 {7^{2 n + 1} } + \cdots\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \paren {-1}^n \dfrac {E_{2 n} \pi^{2 n + 1} } {4^{n + 1} \paren {2 n}!}\)

where:

$\beta$ denotes the Dirichlet beta function
$E_n$ denotes the $n$th Euler number
$n$ is a non-negative integer.


Corollary

Let $n \in \Z_{> 0}$ be a (strictly) positive integer.

\(\ds E_{2 n}\) \(=\) \(\ds \paren {-1}^{n + 1} \dfrac {2^{2 n + 2} \paren {2 n}!} {\pi^{2 n + 1} } \sum_{j \mathop = 0}^\infty \frac {\paren {-1}^j} {\paren {2 j + 1}^{2 n + 1} }\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \paren {-1}^{n + 1} \dfrac {2^{2 n + 2} \paren {2 n}!} {\pi^{2 n + 1} } \paren {\frac 1 {1^{2 n + 1} } - \frac 1 {3^{2 n + 1} } + \frac 1 {5^{2 n + 1} } - \frac 1 {7^{2 n + 1} } + \cdots}\)


Proof

\(\ds \map \beta {2 n + 1}\) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac 1 {4^{2 n + 1} } \paren {\map \zeta {2 n + 1, \frac 1 4} - \map \zeta {2 n + 1, \frac 3 4} }\) Dirichlet Beta Function in terms of Hurwitz Zeta Function
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac 1 {4^{2 n + 1} } \paren { \dfrac {\map {\psi_{2 n} } {\dfrac 1 4} - \map {\psi_{2 n} } {\dfrac 3 4} } {\paren {-1}^{2 n + 1} \map \Gamma {2 n + 1} } }\) Polygamma Function in terms of Hurwitz Zeta Function
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds -\dfrac 1 {4^{2 n + 1} \paren {2 n}!} \paren {\map {\psi_{2 n} } {\dfrac 1 4} - \map {\psi_{2 n} } {\dfrac 3 4} }\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds - \dfrac 1 {4^{2 n + 1} \paren {2 n}!} \paren {-\pi \valueat {\frac {\d^{2 n} } {\d z^{2 n} } \cot \pi z} {z \mathop = \frac 1 4} }\) Polygamma Reflection Formula for $z = \dfrac 1 4$
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac \pi {4^{2 n + 1} \paren {2 n}!} \valueat {\dfrac {\d^{2 n} } {\d z^{2 n} } \cot \pi z} {z \mathop = \frac 1 4}\)
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac \pi {4^{2 n + 1} \paren {2 n}!} \paren {-1}^n \paren {2 \pi}^{2 n} E_{2 n}\) Even Derivatives of Cotangent of Pi Z at One Fourth
\(\ds \) \(=\) \(\ds \paren {-1}^n \dfrac { E_{2 n} \pi^{2 n + 1} } {4^{n + 1} \paren {2 n}!}\)

$\blacksquare$

Also presented as

This can also be expressed using the alternative form of the Euler numbers in the following form:

\(\ds \map \beta {2 n + 1}\) \(=\) \(\ds \dfrac {\pi^{2 n + 1} {E_n}^*} {2^{2 n + 2} \paren {2 n}!}\)


Examples

Dirichlet Beta Function of $1$

$\map \beta 1 = \dfrac \pi 4 $


Dirichlet Beta Function of $3$

$\map \beta 3 = \dfrac {\pi^3} {32} $


Dirichlet Beta Function of $5$

$\map \beta 5 = \dfrac {5 \pi^5} {1536} $


Source of Name

This entry was named for Johann Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet.


Sources

  • 1968: Murray R. Spiegel: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 19$: Series involving Reciprocals of Powers of Positive Integers: $19.38$
  • 2009: Murray R. Spiegel, Seymour Lipschutz and John Liu: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 21$: Series of Constants: Series Involving Reciprocals of Powers of Positive Integers: $21.38.$