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26 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is there any sequence $a_n$ of nonnegative numbers for which $\sum_{n \geq 1}a_n^2 <\infty$ and $\sum_{n \geq 1}\left(\sum_{k \geq 1}\frac{a_{kn}}{k}\right)^2=\infty$?

Is there any sequence $a_n$ of nonnegative numbers for which $\displaystyle\sum_{n \geq 1}a_n^2 <\infty$ and $$\sum_{n \geq 1}\left(\sum_{k \geq 1}\frac{a_{kn}}{k}\right)^2=\infty\quad?$$ See ...
a_MSE_user's user avatar
25 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can we just use the linear term of exponential sums to sum divergent series

Suppose you want to compute the sum $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n $ You could consider the expression $f(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} e^{a_n x}$ and try to compute the coefficient of an $x^1$ term in the ...
Sidharth Ghoshal's user avatar
21 votes
6 answers
1k views

What is the relationship between $\sum_{n=0}^\infty f(n) x^n$ and $-\sum_{n=1}^\infty f(-n) x^{-n}$?

Background Taking a relatively arbitrary combination of exponential and polynomial terms, for instance $$\sum_{n=0}^\infty \left(n^{2}\sin\left(n\right)+n\cos\left(3n-2\right)\right)\cos\left(5n+1\...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
16 votes
0 answers
1k views

Regularizing the divergent sum $1^k + 2^k + \cdots$

EDIT: Under this "regularization", the harmonic series can be interpreted as $s_{-1}$ and assigned a value $$s_{-1} = \lim_{k \rightarrow 1} \zeta(k) (2-2^k) = -2 \log 2$$ I was looking at ...
user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
473 views

Generalizations of summation methods of divergence series

If one looks at the "summation proofs" of divergent series such as Grandi's series, one might see a pattern that most of the computation rely on linearity and comparability with the shift ...
Serge the Toaster's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
782 views

Cesaro(?)/Euler(?) - summation of the $s(p)=\sum_{k=0}^\infty (-1)^{H(k)} (1+k)^p$ for $p=1,2,3,...$ (where $H(k)$ is the Hamming-weight)

In another thread (in MO) there was a question about a series where the signs at the terms alternate with the "Hamming-weight", that means according to the number of bits in the binary representation ...
Gottfried Helms's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

Divergent series summation beyond natural boundaries

I'm hoping to investigate the effects of divergent summation methods on series which cannot be analytically continued due to a dense set of singularities. At least a priori, it doesn't seem that a ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
12 votes
1 answer
742 views

If the generating function summation and zeta regularized sum of a divergent series exist, do they always coincide?

One could assign a value to divergent series by means of several summation methods. One summation method we could consider is the generating function method. Let's sum, for example, the fibonacci ...
Max Lonysa Muller's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
4k views

Defining the slowest divergent series

This question might seem too fuzzy, and if so, I will be happy to withdraw it. Until then, here it is: I know that a method of slowing a divergent series of positive reals is to replace the $n$-th ...
Mircea's user avatar
  • 2,041
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Value of divergent sum $\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n n^n$

I'm hoping to find a reasonable value to assign to the divergent series $\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n n^n$ and $\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n (xn)^n$. For the first one, I have obtained something around 0.71, ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Divergence of Dirichlet series

Suppose $s$ is a complex number with $\Re(s) \in (0,1]$ and $\{a_n\}$ is a complex sequence converging to $a \neq 0$. Must the Dirichlet series $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{a_n}{n^s}$$ diverge? I asked ...
Richard Hevener's user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
313 views

Switching the order of a summation and replacing a series by its analytical continuation

Background A useful trick when trying to analyze a series $\sum_{n=0}^\infty f(n)$ is to expand $f(n)$ as some kind of series, swap the order of summation, and then evaluate the inner infinite sum. ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
7 votes
1 answer
337 views

If $f(x) = \sum_{n=0}^\infty a_n x^n$, then $\int_{-\infty}^\infty f(x^2) dx = \pi i a_{-\frac{1}{2}}$

I've noticed a curious relationship between the coefficient $a_n$ for a power series and the integral of the real line. For instance, take $f(x) = e^{-x} = \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^n}{n!} x^n$. ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
7 votes
2 answers
976 views

Regularizing the sum of all primes

In the spirit of a similar question for the harmonic series, is there a way to regularize the (divergent) sum of all primes? $$ \sum_{p \text{ prime}} p $$ Neither of these questions obtained a ...
user76284's user avatar
  • 2,203
7 votes
0 answers
306 views

Gottfried Helms' tetra-eta series

Here Gottfried Helms introduces the following fascinating divergent series $$ T_2(x)=- \sum_{n=1}^\infty (-1)^n n^{n^x}$$ The terms don't go to zero, so technically the series does not converge ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
6 votes
1 answer
454 views

Efficient (divergent) summation for sum of zetas at negative arguments?

In a question in MSE (see bottom of my own answer) I'm considering the following series, depending on a parameter m: $$ L(m) = -\zeta(1m)/1 - \zeta(2m)/2 - \zeta(3m)/3 - \ldots $$ where I want to make ...
Gottfried Helms's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
241 views

Fractional integrals and $\sum f(n) n^x$

Preamble The following is a rather unrigorous way to obtain the Euler-Maclaurin formula. Consider some $\sum_{n=1}^\infty f(n)$. We may rewrite this as $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty f(n)=\sum_{n=1}^\infty \sum_{...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
6 votes
1 answer
644 views

How to find the coefficients of a poor-converging series?

I have the series $\psi(r,\theta;p)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n J_{\pi n/\Phi}(p r)\cos(\pi n \theta/\Phi)$ and the boundary conditions $\psi(r,\pm\Phi;p)=\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n J_{\pi n/\Phi}(p ...
Igor Kotelnikov's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
171 views

Computing residues at $\infty$

As an initial note, let me show by example what I mean by the terminology 'residue at $\infty$' I use in the title. I assume there is some standard terminology for this stuff, so I'd appreciate it if ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
6 votes
0 answers
2k views

Do smooth cutoff functions analytically continue functions?

My goal is to prove (or disprove) that sufficiently smooth and quickly decaying cutoff functions being tacked on to a Taylor series correctly extend the radius of convergence to the analytic ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
5 votes
3 answers
343 views

Evaluating the series $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} n! x^n$ and inverse variable-fractional-derivatives

So I was interested in formally assigning values to the completely divergent series $G(x) = \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} n!x^n $. I guess the question COULD end here if you already have an idea of how to ...
Sidharth Ghoshal's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
742 views

mertens-function in the light of divergent summation - what summation method were best adapted

Just reading about the Mertens-function in the other thread Mertens function I remember an earlier attempt to apply divergent summation to the series which is constructed of the Moebius-function at ...
Gottfried Helms's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
418 views

Series convergence if $\sum a_n^2 < \infty$

There are quite a few simple results about convergent/divergent series derived from similar ones. Here is a question in the same spirit that I saw posted on another forum. Unfortunately, I don't have ...
Ivan's user avatar
  • 689
4 votes
1 answer
205 views

Is there a superpolynomial sequence which is Abel-summable?

A sequence $a_n \in \mathbb{C}, \ n = 1, 2, 3, \dots$ is Abel-summable if for all $|x| < 1$ the sum $$g(x) = \sum_{n = 1}^{\infty} a_n x^n$$ converges and the limit $\lim_{x \to 1^{-}} g(x)$ exists....
Random's user avatar
  • 2,404
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Exchanging series and integrals

I know that I can use Lebesgue or monotone convergence theorem to exchange limit of partial sums and a Lebesgue integral, given a power series or a generic function series. But in general given a ...
Coltrane8's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
160 views

Correct way to extend a sequence defined on the naturals into the complex plane

Preamble Sequences $a_n$ defined on the natural numbers are clearly not uniquely interpolated by only one function. In particular, given an interpolation $f(n) = a_n$, then $f(n) + \sin(2\pi n)$ is ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
4 votes
0 answers
289 views

Is there a conjecture about the bounds (constant or a function) of $\sum_{n \le x} \mu(n)/\sqrt{n}$

Here $\mu(n)$ is Möbius function and $M(x)$ is Mertens function. The computations show that the partial sums $\sum_{n \le x} \frac{\mu(n)}{\sqrt{n}}$ stays between $-0.2$ and $-1.2$ when $10^1<x<...
Shree's user avatar
  • 203
3 votes
2 answers
462 views

A proposition for summing divergent series, but how should partial summation be defined at non-natural values?

Introduction I have been in search of methods of assinging values to divergent series that have a nice intuitive or geometric interpretation. One fairly straightforward method I've considered for ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
3 votes
1 answer
285 views

Is there an asymptotic bound between converging and diverging series? [closed]

Let us define for every $k\in\mathbb{N}$ and every large enough $x\in \mathbb{R}$, $$ \log^{[k]}(x) = \begin{cases} \log^{[k-1]}(\log(x)) & k>0 \\ x & k=0 \end{cases}. $$ It is well known, ...
Niv Sarig's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
184 views

A suggestion for a superlimit

I have a question about summation methods. A value is assigned to a divergent sum. All methods agree that $\texttt{super-}\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} k^p = -\frac{B_{p+1}^{+}}{p+1}$ where $B_{p}$ are ...
Menno van der Ploeg's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
281 views

Linear combinations of geometric series

Consider the uncountable-dimensional vector space $V$ consisting of finite linear combinations of infinite sequences of the form $(1,z,z^2,z^3,\dots)$ with $z \neq 1$ in $\mathbb{C}$. Since the ...
James Propp's user avatar
  • 19.7k
3 votes
1 answer
578 views

What is the (fractional) half-derivative of zeta at $s=0$ (and how to compute it)?

(I asked this in MSE before but there was only a general reference which did not help for my specific question) I think I understood the concept of fractional derivatives applied to ...
Gottfried Helms's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
171 views

The divergent sum $\sum_{n=1}^\infty (-1)^n (n^2)! x^n$

Question I'm interested in assigning a value to the divergent series $F(x)=\sum_{n=1}^\infty (-1)^n (n^2)! x^n$. I'm hoping that (1) the definition for $F(x)$ has (one-sided) derivatives of $(-1)^n (n^...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
3 votes
0 answers
276 views

Evaluating $\sum_{n=0}^\infty n^k n!$ in p-adics, and its connection to the summation of divergent series

Often, in the discussion of the regularization of the geometric series it is mentioned that $\sum_{n=0}^\infty p^n$ converges in the p-adics, and indeed, that it converges to $\frac{1}{1-p}$. I had ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
3 votes
0 answers
79 views

Some exercise on the regularity of a summability method

I was reading the book of Johann Boos "Classical and modern method in summability theory" and I came across an exercise from the Chapter 2 (page 50, exercise 2.3.15). Here is the statement ...
popa13's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
2 answers
260 views

Laurent Series $\sum_{n=-1}^\infty a_n x^n$ when $a_{-1} = \infty$

When dealing with complex functions, if $f(x)$ has a simple pole, then we can find the coefficient $a_{-1}$ in the Laurent expansion $f(x) = \sum_{n=-1}^\infty a_n x^n$ by evaluating the limit $\lim_{...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
2 votes
2 answers
385 views

What is the growth rate of the sum of powers of distinct primes closest to a given a integer?

Let $n$ be a positive integer, and $$2 = p_1 < p_2 < \dots < p_m \le n$$ be the sequence of all primes less than or equal to $n$. For each index $j$ let $p_j^{e_j}$ be the largest power of $...
Naysh's user avatar
  • 557
2 votes
1 answer
254 views

New (?) Regularization Method for Divergent Series [closed]

Playing with identities ($1$) and ($2$) from this blog post and infinite geometric series, I've noticed the following. For $x > 1$, the following series is convergent: $$\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} e^{(2n ...
Emmanuel José García's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
247 views

List of assigned values of divergent series

I'm hoping to find a list of divergent sums where the assigned value is generally accepted. For instance $\sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^n$ is generally accepted to be $\frac{1}{2}$. Moreover, its agreed upon ...
Caleb Briggs's user avatar
  • 1,730
2 votes
0 answers
209 views

A problem about the series $\sin(n^p)$ [closed]

Prove that when $p>0,$ the series $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \sin(n^p)$$ is divergent
adobereader's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
90 views

Equality of bivariate formal series

Is it possible to prove algebraically that the two series uniquely defined by the following equations are equal: $L_1=uz+zL_1^2+z \partial_uL_1$ and $L_2=uz+z^2+z L_2^2+2z^4 \partial_zL_2$
Olivier Bodini's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
232 views

Did anyone ever propose the distinction between "divergent to infinity" as opposed to "divergent but with finite average"?

There are different regularization methods that allow us to ascribe finite values to divergent integrals, series or sequences. Still, in my view there is fundamental difference between divergent ...
Anixx's user avatar
  • 10.1k
2 votes
0 answers
109 views

What is the generalized sum of the following series? $\sum _{x=1}^{\infty } \sqrt{s^2 x^2-1}$ [closed]

I tried Mathematica, various regularization methods, including Borel, with no result. On Math.SE the question was attacked with claims that divergent series cannot have a sum, so I decided to ask at ...
Anixx's user avatar
  • 10.1k
2 votes
0 answers
143 views

Numerical algorithm for extracting the coefficients of transseries

Assume a function $f(x)$ is given numerically for $x>0$, i.e. for any $x>0$ there is a numerical procedure to obtain $f(x)$ to any desired precision. Also assume that the function $f(x)$ has a ...
Fetchinson0234's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
117 views

On summation methods of divergent series

$\newcommand{\R}{\mathbb R}\newcommand{\N}{\mathbb N}\newcommand{\si}{\sigma}\newcommand{\CC}{\mathcal C}$This previous question introduced the following notion of a summability space. Let $\N:=\{1,2,\...
Iosif Pinelis's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
88 views

Convergence properties of related series

Let $u_m = \ln ^2 m$. Does there exist a non-increasing sequence of positive numbers $\{g_n\}_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$, $g_n \to 0$, such that $$\sum\limits_{n \in \mathbb{N} } g_n = \infty, \ \ \ \ \...
Viktor B's user avatar
  • 724
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Interchange summation order in the limit of number of elements going to $\infty$

Considering the sum $\sum_{i=0}^{\infty}\sum_{j=0}^{\infty} a_{ij}$, in general we are not allowed to interchange the summation order (i.e. pass to $\sum_{j=0}^{\infty}\sum_{i=0}^{\infty} a_{ij}$) but ...
user1172131's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
604 views

Generalized limits

Cross-posted from Math SE. The linked question explores the concept of a "generalized limit" that assigns values to sequences which diverge in the Cauchy sense. It asks the following question: ...
user76284's user avatar
  • 2,203
1 vote
2 answers
115 views

Summation mollifier to ensure a certain alternating series has the correct value

I would like the function $f(n,M)$, where $n$ and $M$ are integers and $n\le M$, so that $f$ satisfies the following two conditions: (1) $\sum_{n=0}^M (-1)^n f(n,M) = \tfrac{1}{2}$ (2) $f(n,M) \...
John Jumper's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
270 views

Calculus of variation with discontinuous solutions?

I'm thinking of the following question: Consider a function $f: U\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ where $U=[0,L_1)\cup(L_1,L]$, and an energy functional $$F=\int_{U}\Big (\frac{\mathrm{d}f}{\mathrm{d}x}\Big)^2\...
hsnms's user avatar
  • 9