In a recent work [JNT \textbf{129}, 2154 (2009)], Gun, Murty and Rath (GMR)
have introduced a "theorem" asserting that the series
$\sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty}{1/(n+\alpha)^k} $ yields a transcendental number for
all $ \alpha \in \mathbb{Q} \backslash \mathbb{Z} $, $k$ being an integer
greater than 1. I show here in this short paper that this conjecture is
\emph{false} whenever $\alpha$ is a half-integer and $k$ is odd. I also prove
that this infinite discrete set comprises all possible counterexamples to the
GMR conjecture, which allows for its correct reformulation.
In a recent work [JNT \textbf{118}, 192 (2006)], Dancs and He found an
Euler-type formula for $ \zeta{(2 n+1)}$, $ n $ being a positive integer, which
contains an alternating series that seems not to be reducible to a finite
closed-form. This certainly reflects a greater complexity in comparison to
$\zeta(2n)$, which is a rational multiple of $\pi^{2n}$ according to a
well-known formula by Euler. For the Dirichlet beta function, the things are
"inverse": $\beta(2n+1)$ is a rational multiple of $\pi^{2n+1}$, whereas no
closed-form expression is known for the numbers $\beta(2n)$.
I present here a simple approximate expression for $\zeta{(3)}$, the
Ap\'ery's constant, which is accurate to 21 digits. This closed-form expression
has been found experimentally via the PSLQ algorithm, with a search basis
composed by some suitable real numbers involving $ \pi$, $ \ln{2} $, $
\ln{(1+\sqrt{2})}$, and $G$ (the Catalan's constant). The very simple
\emph{Maple} code written for finding the rational coefficients of this
expression is also shown.
In a recent work [JNT \textbf{118}, 192 (2006)], Dancs and He have found new
"Euler-type" formulas for $ \ln{2} $ and $ \zeta{(2 n+1)}$, $ n $ being a
positive integer, each containing a series that apparently can not be evaluated
in closed form, providing some insight into why the odd case is more difficult
than the even, for which the Euler's formula applies, showing that $ \zeta{(2
n)} $ is a rational multiple of $\pi^{2 n}$.
In this short paper, I introduce a simple method for exactly evaluating the
definite integrals $\int_0^{\pi}{\ln{(\sin{\theta})} d\theta}$,
$\int_0^{\pi/2}{\ln{(\sin{\theta})} d\theta}$,
$\int_0^{\pi/2}{\ln{(\cos{\theta})} d\theta}$, and
$\int_0^{\pi/2}{\ln{(\tan{\theta})} d\theta}$ in finite terms. The method
consists in taking into account certain products of trigonometric functions at
rational multiples of $\pi$ whose logarithm yields sums that can be promptly
written in the form of Riemann sums, and then to take the limit as the number
of terms tends to infinity.
In a recent work published in this journal [JNT \textbf{129}, 2154 (2009)],
it has been argued that the numbers $\log{\Gamma(x)} + \log{\Gamma(1-x)}$, $x$
being a rational number between 0 and 1, are transcendental with at most
\emph{one} possible exception, but the proof presented there is
\emph{incorrect}. Here in this paper, I point out the mistake committed in that
proof and I present a theorem that establishes the transcendence of those
numbers, with at most \emph{two} possible exceptions.