Solution of an integral equation with a logarithmic kernel (Q2644899)

The integral equation \(\int^{-b}_{-a}\int^{a}_{b}g(x^ 2_ 1)(p+\log 2| x-x_ 1|)dx_ 1=(\pi /2)f(x^ 2);\) \(b<| x| <a\), where \(f(x^ 2)\) is a known even degree function, \(g(x^ 2_ 1)\) an unknown even degree function, p a constant, is studied. Using the classical method, the solution of the above equation may be expressed by means of a constant C, which is to be determined introducing this solution in the initial equation. This procedure conducts, generally, to very tedious calculi. To avoid the unpleasant situation, the authors propose another method consisting in a change of variables: \(x^ 2_ 1=A \cos \theta_ 1+B\); \(x^ 2=A \cos \theta +B\), where A, B are given constants, and in the searching of the unknown function as a Fourier series whose coefficients can be expressed in a simple form. An example is given at the end of the paper.