# Basel Problem/Proof 8

## Theorem

$\displaystyle \map \zeta 2 = \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^{\infty} {\frac 1 {n^2}} = \frac {\pi^2} 6$

where $\zeta$ denotes the Riemann zeta function.

## Proof

By Fourier Series of $x$, for $x \in \left({- \pi \,.\,.\, \pi}\right)$:

$\displaystyle x = 2 \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty \frac {\left({-1}\right)^{n + 1} } n \sin \left({n x}\right)$

Hence:

 $\displaystyle \frac 1 \pi \int_{-\pi}^\pi x^2 \mathrm d x$ $=$ $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty \left({\frac{2 \left({-1}\right)^{n + 1} } n}\right)^2$ Parseval's Theorem $\displaystyle \leadsto \ \$ $\displaystyle \frac 2 \pi \int_0^\pi x^2 \mathrm d x$ $=$ $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty \frac 4 {n^2}$ Definite Integral of Even Function $\displaystyle \leadsto \ \$ $\displaystyle \frac {2 \pi^2} 3$ $=$ $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty \frac 4 {n^2}$ $\displaystyle \leadsto \ \$ $\displaystyle \sum_{n \mathop = 1}^\infty \frac 1 {n^2}$ $=$ $\displaystyle \frac {\pi^2} 6$

$\blacksquare$