Why is $\log(\sqrt{x^2+1}+x)$ odd?

Solution 1:

If$$f(x) = \log(\sqrt{x^2+1}+x)$$ then $$f(-x) = \log \left(\sqrt{(-x)^2+1}-x\right)=$$ $$= \log \left((\sqrt{x^2+1}-x)\cdot\frac{\sqrt{x^2+1}+x}{\sqrt{x^2+1}+x}\right)=$$ $$= \log \left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+1}+x}\right)=- \log({\sqrt{x^2+1}+x})=-f(x)$$

Solution 2:

Hint: $(\sqrt{x^2+1}+x)(\sqrt{x^2+1}-x) = 1$.

Solution 3:

We have $f(-x)=\log \left(\frac{(\sqrt{x^2+1}-x)(\sqrt{x^2+1}+x)}{(\sqrt{x^2+1}+x)}\right)=\log\left(\frac{x^2+1-x^2}{\sqrt{x^2+1}+x}\right)=-\log(\sqrt{x^2+1}+x)=-f(x)$.

Solution 4:

Another thing to add is that the Taylor series (of odd functions, if it exists) has only odd powers

$$ x-{\frac {1}{6}}{x}^{3}+{\frac {3}{40}}{x}^{5}+\dots.$$