TITLE: Evaluate $\int_\frac12 ^2 \frac1x\tan(x-\frac1x)dx $
QUESTION [5 upvotes]: $$\int\limits_\frac{1}{2} ^2 \frac{1}{x}\tan\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)\mathrm{d}x$$
I have tried substitution and by parts and it seems failed at all. Can anyone give me some hints?

REPLY [2 votes]: Let $$ I = \int_{\frac{1}{2}}^{2}\frac{1}{x}\cdot \tan \left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)\,dx$$
Now Let $\displaystyle\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right) = t\;,$ Then $\displaystyle \left(1+\frac{1}{x^2}\right)\,dx = dt\Rightarrow \left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)\,dx = x\,dt$
and Changing Limits
Now Using $$ \left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)^2 -\left(x-\frac{1}{x} \right)^2 = 4\Rightarrow \left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)=\sqrt{\left(x-\frac{1}{x}\right)^2+4}=\sqrt{t^2+4}$$
So Integral $$ I = \int_{-\frac{3}{2}}^{\frac{3}{2}}\tan t\cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{t^2+4}}\cdot \frac{x}{x} \, dt = \int_{-\frac{3}{2}}^{\frac{3}{2}}\tan t\cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{t^2+4}} \, dt$$
So we get $$ I = \int_{-\frac{3}{2}}^{\frac{3}{2}} \underbrace{\frac{\tan t}{\sqrt{t^2+4}}}_{\textbf{odd function}} \, dt = 0$$
Above we have used the formula $$\displaystyle \int_{-a}^a f(x) \, dx = 0\;,$$ If $f(x)$ is odd function.