Questions tagged [bernoulli-numbers]
The Bernoulli numbers are the rational numbers $B_n$ defined as the coefficients in the expansion $\frac{x}{e^x-1} = \sum_{n \geq 0} B_n \frac{x^n}{n!}$. They vanish when $n$ is odd and greater than $2$. They appear in the values at integers of the Riemann $\zeta$ function. These classical numbers play an important role in number theory and in several other places in mathematics.
60 questions
101
votes
10
answers
16k
views
Why do Bernoulli numbers arise everywhere?
I have seen Bernoulli numbers many times, and sometimes very surprisingly. They appear in my textbook on complex analysis, in algebraic topology, and of course, number theory. Things like the criteria ...
45
votes
16
answers
8k
views
What does the generating function $x/(1 - e^{-x})$ count?
Let $x$ be a formal (or small, since the function is analytic) variable, and consider the power series
$$ A(x) = \frac{x}{1 - e^{-x}} = \sum_{m=0}^\infty \left( -\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-x)^n}{(n+1)!}...
- 54.6k
22
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Roots of Bernoulli polynomials - a pattern
Contemplating a question on math.SE, I have stumbled on this:
Here, the point labeled $n$ is that root of the $n$th Bernoulli polynomial which has smallest positive imaginary part.
Does anyone know ...
- 18.4k
19
votes
0
answers
649
views
Bernoulli & Betti numbers (of manifolds) and the prime 34511
The purpose of this question is to resolve a mystery surrounding the prime 34511 that has got me bogged down for a while now. If you only care about the number theory and not the motivation coming ...
- 11.9k
18
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Bernoulli sum meets golden number
Let $B_n$ denote the Bernoulli numbers and let $\phi=\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}2$ be the golden ratio.
I encountered the following infinite sum and would like to ask:
Question. Is this true? If so, any ...
- 43.2k
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Riemann's $\zeta$ function and the uniform distribution on $[-1,0]$
https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/64566/riemanns-zeta-function-and-the-uniform-distribution-on-1-0
Stackexchange isn't getting really excited about this, so here it is.
The $n$th cumulant of ...
16
votes
1
answer
706
views
Connection between Bernoulli numbers and Riemann-Siegel theta function?
I have come across a strange approximation for the Riemann-Siegel theta function involving the Bernoulli numbers - namely that
$$\frac{1}{2} \log \left| B_{2 n}\right|\approx \vartheta (2n)\ ,\quad n ...
- 1,903
16
votes
1
answer
584
views
What is this sequence?
This is again a question that I asked at Stack Exchange, but got no answer so far, so I am trying here.
Let:
$$ a_n=\sum_{k\ge0}(k+1) {n+2\brack k+2}(n+2)^kB_k$$
$B_k$ is the Bernoulli number. ${n\...
- 505
14
votes
1
answer
308
views
For a given even integer $k >14$ is there always a prime $p$ such that $k \leq p-3$ and $p|B_k$?
Let $k$ be a sufficiently large positive even integer. (I think $k > 14$ should do.) Can one always find a prime $p$ such that $p$ divides the numerator of the $k$-th Bernoulli number $B_k$ and $k \...
- 659
13
votes
0
answers
766
views
A conjecture on p-divisibility of Bernoulli numbers
Is anyone aware of the history of the following conjecture on the $p$-divisibility of (the numerators) of Bernoulli numbers?
CONJECTURE: For $p$ an odd prime, and $k$ even with $2 \leq k \leq p-3$, $...
- 659
12
votes
1
answer
598
views
Fermat last theorem : proof of a criterion by Cauchy
In 13 Lectures on Fermat's Last Theorem, Ribenboim states the following theorem (on page 7) attributed to Cauchy:
If the first case of Fermat's theorem fails for the exponent $p$, then the sum:
$$ 1^{...
- 121
11
votes
3
answers
958
views
Why do $12$ and $120$ occur very often in the denominators of $\zeta(-n)$ for odd $n$?
$\zeta(-n) = - \dfrac{B_{n+1}}{n+1}$
$\zeta(-2n) = 0$
$\zeta(-1) = - \dfrac{1}{12}$
$\zeta(-3) = \dfrac{1}{120}$
$\zeta(-5) = - \dfrac{1}{252}$
$\zeta(-7) = \dfrac{1}{240}$
$\zeta(-9) = - \dfrac{...
- 341
10
votes
2
answers
369
views
Do Bernoulli polynomials know about face vectors?
This question is grounded firmly in numerology. It originates in an observation about some Bernoulli polynomials and the regular icosahedron. Let $F_{k+1}(n)=\sum_{i=1}^n i^k$ be the sum of the ...
- 1,277
8
votes
3
answers
759
views
Transformation converting power series to Bernoulli polynomial series
I wonder, can anyone describe an expression or formula of a transform that converts
$$\sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{a_k x^k}{k!}$$
into
$$\sum_{k=0}^\infty \frac{a_k B_k(x)}{k!}$$
where $B_k(x)$ are ...
- 10.1k
8
votes
2
answers
386
views
Coefficients of shifted Bernoulli polynomials
I stumbled across the following curious empirical properties of the
Bernoulli polynomials $B_n(x)$. Can anyone provide a reference or
proof?
Let $k\in\mathbb{Z}$, $k\geq 2$. Then (empirically):
The ...
- 50.8k
7
votes
1
answer
185
views
2-adic valuation of $L(0,\chi)$ for a Dirichlet character
Let $\chi : (\mathbb Z/f\mathbb Z)^\times \to K = \mathbb Q(\mu_{\phi(f)})$ be a primitive Dirichlet character. Assume moreover that it is not quadratic, that is, $\chi^2$ is not the trivial character....
- 7,746
7
votes
0
answers
252
views
Hankel determinants for some convolutions of Catalan numbers
Let $c(x)=\frac{1-\sqrt{1-4x}}{2x}$ be the generating function of the Catalan numbers and let $$x^k c(x)^{2k}=(c(x)-1)^k =\sum_{n\geq0}c(k,n)x^n.$$
Consider the determinants $$D(k,n,m)= \det\left(c(k,...
- 5,622
6
votes
2
answers
502
views
Any reference for the series expansion of $\Bigr[-\log(1-t)\Bigr]^x$?
Any reference that we can find the following $$\Bigr[-\log(1-t)\Bigr]^x = t^x + x t^x \sum_{k=0}^\infty \psi_k(x+k)\,t^{k+1}; \quad \mbox{for all} \, x\in \mathbb R, \, |t|<1$$
where $\psi_k(.)$ ...
- 650
6
votes
1
answer
482
views
A non-$p$-adic proof of a congruence of Bernoulli numbers
In A Multimodular Algorithm for Computing Bernoulli Numbers, Harvey uses the following congruence for Bernoulli numbers:
$$B_k \equiv \frac{k}{1-c^k} \sum_{x=1}^{p-1} x^{k-1} h_c(x)\quad(\text{mod}\ p)...
- 1,241
6
votes
1
answer
520
views
A novel identity connecting permanents to Bernoulli numbers
For a matrix $[a_{j,k}]_{1\le j,k\le n}$ over a field, its permanent is defined by
$$\mathrm{per}[a_{j,k}]_{1\le j,k\le n}:=\sum_{\pi\in S_n}\prod_{j=1}^n a_{j,\pi(j)}.$$
In a recent preprint of mine, ...
- 15.6k
6
votes
1
answer
695
views
An operation is defined on polynomials. How do I generalize it to other classes of functions?
I am currently researching divergent integrals.
Definition. An extended number is an expression of the form $\int_a^b f(x)\,dx$, where $a,b\in \overline{\mathbb{R}}$ and function $f(x)$ is defined ...
- 10.1k
6
votes
0
answers
126
views
divisibility by Bernoulli numbers of discriminant of Hecke algebra over the space of modular forms of level 1
For the space of modular forms and the space of cusp forms (here I only care about the level $1$ case), we have the action by Hecke algebras. Therefore, we can calculate the discriminant of this ...
- 61
5
votes
2
answers
391
views
zeta(3) in Euler's Section 153
Jeffery Lagarias, in his recent article
Euler's constant: Euler's work and modern developments
in the AMS Bulletin, mentions that Euler obtained $\zeta(3)={{2\pi^3 b(3/2)}\over 3}$ for some "Bernoulli ...
- 51
5
votes
1
answer
281
views
How naturally can functions defined by parametric integrals be interpolated from $\mathbb N$ to $\mathbb R^+$?
It is well known that several definite integrals $I_n$ containing a parameter $n\in\mathbb N$ can be expressed recursively (e.g. doing integration by parts) in terms of $I_{n-1} $ or $I_{n-2} $, and ...
- 13.4k
4
votes
2
answers
535
views
computing Bernoulli numbers
Is there a good way to compute the ratio ( B[n] / n! ) that occurs so often in power series coefficients? Good in the sense that you get an answer that does not overflow a double; the largest n such ...
- 1,233
4
votes
1
answer
260
views
Kummer's congruence at $p=3$
Let $B_{2k}$ be the Bernoulli numbers of even index and $\varphi(n)$ be Euler's totient function. We recall one instance of Kummer's congruences: for each integer $m\geq1$ and a prime number $p\geq5$, ...
- 43.2k
4
votes
1
answer
243
views
Estimate of the sum Taylor's coefficients
Let
$f(x) = \begin{cases}\ln\frac{x}{e^x-1}, \quad x > 0; \\ 0, \quad\qquad x=0; \\ \ln\frac{x}{e^x-1}, \quad x < 0. \end{cases}$
Power series in 0:
$f(x) = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n x^n = -\frac{...
- 43
4
votes
0
answers
128
views
A combinatorial triangle for the Bernoulli numbers
Motivation: We informally call an infinite lower triangular matrix
$\operatorname{T}(n, k)$ of integers a combinatorial triangle of a sequence of integers or
rational numbers if it can be obtained ...
- 251
3
votes
2
answers
527
views
Coefficients in Hirzebruch polynomial and divisibility of Bernoulli numbers: reference request
I seek a reference for the fact that "coefficients of the Hirzebruch $L$-polynomial have odd denominators". The coefficients are
$$\frac{2^{2k}(2^{2k-1}-1)B_k}{(2k)!}$$ where $B_k$ is the Bernoulli ...
- 29.1k
3
votes
2
answers
445
views
Where to find or how to prove that the ratio of two Bernoulli polynomials is increasing?
It is well known that the classical Bernoulli polynomials $B_j(t)$ are generated by
\begin{equation*}
\frac{s\operatorname{e}^{ts}}{\operatorname{e}^s-1}=\sum_{j=0}^{\infty}B_j(t)\frac{s^j}{j!}, \quad ...
- 1,101
3
votes
2
answers
241
views
Sign of coefficients
Let $a_0,a_1,\dots$ be the sequence satisfying
$$
\left(\sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^n\right)\left(\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{x^n}{n+1}\right)=1.
$$
This means that $a_0=1$ and $a_{n+1}=-\sum_{j=0}^n\frac{a_j}...
user1688
3
votes
1
answer
537
views
Generalized Bernoulli numbers
In Euler–Maclaurin formula Bernoulli numbers express a finite sum through the integral. In my generalization a finite sum is expressed through another finite sum with a different step. All that is ...
- 125
3
votes
1
answer
437
views
Identities for Bernoulli numbers
I arrived at this formula by inductive reasoning, but I don’t know how to prove it.
For any natural numbers $m$ and $k=0,1,2,\ldots, m-1$, $B_i$ - Bernoulli numbers we have:
$$\sum_{i=0}^k (-1)^{k-i}\...
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
507
views
Conjecture on bernoulli numbers and binomial coefficients
Crossposted from
https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4116414/conjecture-on-bernoulli-numbers-and-binomial-coefficients
In playing around with some formulas, I have come up with the following ...
- 133
3
votes
1
answer
189
views
A question on Bernoulli polynomials
Denote by $B_r$ the $r$-th Bernoulli polynomial. Are there any positive integers $r, x$ such that. $B_r(x)$ divides $B_r(x+1)$ or vice versa ?
- 1,019
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is $p$-adic Fourier series?
Q1: Can we define Fourier series for a function $\mathbb{Z}_p\to \mathbb{Q}_p$?
Q2: There are (in a real case) Bernoulli polynomials which have the most simple Fourier expansion:
$$B_n(\{x\})=-\frac{...
- 12.3k
3
votes
1
answer
149
views
Drunken X-mas polynomials for graphs
Given a finite connected graph $\Gamma$ with vertices $\lbrace 1,\ldots,N\rbrace$,
we can consider the polynomial
$$\sum_{\pi\in\mathcal S_N}x^{\sum_{j=1}^Nd_\Gamma(j,\pi(j))}$$
where $\mathcal S_N$ ...
- 17.9k
3
votes
2
answers
656
views
p-adic poly-Bernoulli numbers
We can define p-adic Bernoulli polynomials by using q-integral on $\mathbb{Z}_p$ and Taekyun Kim's method.
But how can we define p-adic poly-Bernoulli numbers and polynomials by using integral on $\...
user21574
3
votes
0
answers
186
views
Combinatorial interpretation of Sylvester–Lipschitz formula?
If we denote the Bernoulli numbers by $B_n$, then
$$ {a^{k+1}(a^{2k} - 1) B_{2k} \over 2k}\in \mathbb{Z}$$
for any $a\in \mathbb{Z}$ and $k\in\mathbb{N}$. This fact is often called the Sylvester–...
- 82.7k
3
votes
0
answers
145
views
Interpreting umbral calculus in terms of some kind of extended numbers
I know that currently umbral calculus is developed as some kind of theory of operators and functionals but were there any attempts to put it on a more solid philosophical grounds as study of functions ...
- 10.1k
3
votes
0
answers
157
views
Combinatorial interpretation for Möbius-poly-Bernoulli numbers
The Möbius-Bernoulli numbers ,are related to Dedekind Sums
$$\sum_{d|n}\frac{t\mu(d)}{e^{td}-1}=\sum_{k=0}^\infty M_k(n)\frac{t^k}{k!}$$ where $|t|<\frac{2\pi}{n}$, and $M_k(1)=B_k$.
We define the ...
user160903
3
votes
0
answers
237
views
Values of Bernoulli polynomials at roots of unity
I am wondering if there are any nice results on the values of Bernoulli polynomials at roots of unity, besides those at 1 or -1.
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
283
views
Ask for a proof of an identity involving the product of two Bernoulli numbers
It is well known that the Bernoulli numbers $B_{k}$ for $k\in\{0,1,2,\dotsc\}$ can be generated by
\begin{equation*}
\frac{z}{\textrm{e}^z-1}=\sum_{k=0}^\infty B_k\frac{z^k}{k!}=1-\frac{z}2+\sum_{k=1}^...
- 1,101
2
votes
1
answer
307
views
Analogue of Fermat's little theorem for Bernoulli numbers
Is the following analogue of Fermat's Little Theorem for Bernoulli numbers true?
Let $D_{2n}$ be the denominator of $\frac{B_{2n}}{4n}$ where $B_n$ is
the $n$-th Bernoulli number. If $\gcd(a, D_{2n}) ...
- 5,470
2
votes
0
answers
217
views
Zeta function associated with a function $f$
Let the function $f(t) = \cos(at)$, where ($0 < a < 1$). Let us define
$$\zeta(z, f) = \frac{1}{\Gamma(z)} \int_0^{+\infty} \frac{t^{z-1}\cos(at)}{e^t-1}\, dt.
$$
Is there a general formula that ...
- 463
2
votes
0
answers
84
views
Question about infinitude of $m$-irregular primes
Let $p>2$ be a prime, $\zeta$ a primitive $p$th root of unity, and $m >0$ a square-free integer such that $m \not\equiv 3 \mod 4$ and $\gcd(m,p)=1$. Let $\chi$ be the imaginary quadratic ...
- 707
2
votes
0
answers
118
views
Analogues over finite fields of certain integers defined multiplicatively in $\mathbb Z$
For any irreducible polynomial $f$ of degree $d$ in finite field $\mathbb F$ we have that $$x^{|\mathbb F|^d}-x\equiv0\bmod f$$ and thus the polynomial $x^{|\mathbb F|^d}-x$ is the analog of factorial ...
- 1,836
2
votes
0
answers
212
views
show that sequence $\{(-1)^n\Upsilon_n\}$ is convergent and strictly decreasing
Edit: Few years ago, I have posted my claim on $\Upsilon$ function regarding prime number but recently I have observed, last observation turns false that's way, (by putting $\Upsilon$ value in ...
- 599
1
vote
1
answer
168
views
Prove $ \sum_{i=0}^{2a+1} {2a+1 \choose i} B_{2a+1-i} [ (n+1)^i+(-n)^i ] =0 $ for Bernoulli numbers $B_{n}$
Prove for the Bernoulli numbers $B_n$, that for all $a \in \mathbb{N}$, that $ \sum_{i=0}^{2a+1} {2a+1 \choose i} B_{2a+1-i} [ (n+1)^i+(-n)^i ] =0 $. As much as this is a neat identity, it's a crucial ...
- 1,109
1
vote
2
answers
211
views
Bilinear recurrence relation between even Bernoulli numbers
Throughout this question $n$ is a positive integer greater than 1.
Consider the following well-known identity by Euler,
$$\sum_{k=1}^{n-1} \binom{2n}{2k}B_{2k}B_{2n-2k}=-(2n+1)B_{2n}.$$
Rather ...
- 195