(a) The Beta function is defined by
B(p,q)=∫01xp−1(1−x)q−1dx
Show that
B(p,q)=∫1∞x−p−q(x−1)q−1dx
(b) The function J(p,q) is defined by
J(p,q)=∫γtp−1(1−t)q−1dt
where the integrand has a branch cut along the positive real axis. Just above the cut, argt=0. For t>1 just above the cut, arg (1−t)=−π. The contour γ runs from t=∞e2πi, round the origin in the negative sense, to t=∞ (i.e. the contour is a reflection of the usual Hankel contour). What restriction must be placed on p and q for the integral to converge?
By evaluating J(p,q) in two ways, show that
(1−e2πip)B(p,q)+(e−πi(q−1)−eπi(2p+q−1))B(1−p−q,q)=0,
where p and q are any non-integer complex numbers.
Using the identity
B(p,q)=Γ(p+q)Γ(p)Γ(q)
deduce that
Γ(p)Γ(1−p)sin(πp)=Γ(p+q)Γ(1−p−q)sin[π(1−p−q)]
and hence that
π=Γ(q)Γ(1−q)sin[π(1−q)]