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for questions about sequences and series, e.g. convergence, closed form expressions, etc. Note that there is a different tag for spectral sequences, and also note that MathOverflow is not for homework. Please consider consulting the online encyclopedia for integer sequences, if you are trying to identify a given sequence that you have found in your research.

49 votes

Calculation of a series

This is the special case $q=3$ of a formula $$ \qquad\qquad \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{2^n}{q^{2^{n-1}}+1} = \frac{2}{q-1} \qquad\qquad(*) $$ which holds for all $q$ such that the sum converges, i.e. suc …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
46 votes
Accepted

Alternating sum of square roots of binomial coefficients

Here's a proof of the positivity of $$ c_n(\alpha) := \sum_{r=0}^n (-1)^r {n\choose r}^\alpha $$ for all even $n$ and real $\alpha < 1$. It follows (via M.Wildon's clever $F(x) F(-x)$ trick at mo.849 …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
38 votes
Accepted

Is there any sequence $a_n$ of nonnegative numbers for which $\sum_{n \geq 1}a_n^2 <\infty$ ...

Yes, such sequences exist. In effect the problem concerns the linear operator, call it $T$, that maps any sequence $(a_n)$ to the sequence whose $n$-th term is $\sum_{k\geq1} a_{kn}/k$. The problem …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
37 votes
Accepted

The function $\sum_{0}^{\infty} x^n/n^n$

[Edited to outline the end of the argument that $f(-M) \rightarrow 0$ (and to correct a few typos etc. while I'm at it)] Yes, $F(x) \rightarrow 0$ from below as $x \rightarrow -\infty$. The convergen …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
23 votes
Accepted

No Tonelli or Fubini

Since there's a "number theory" tag, I suggest the quasimodular form $E_2(\tau)$, defined for $\tau$ in the upper half-plane as a multiple of $\sum_{m\in\bf Z} {\sum_{n\in\bf Z}}' (m\tau+n)^{-2}$ whe …
20 votes
Accepted

Infinite series and sum of two squares

Expanding on my comments: $a(n)$ is congruent mod 5 to the number of two-square representations $n = r^2 + s^2$ (allowing each of the integers $r,s$ to be positive, negative, or zero). Thus if $n$ has …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
18 votes
Accepted

Asymptotics of a Bernoulli-number-like function

[Revised and expanded to give the answer for all $k>1$ and incorporate further terms of an asymptotic expansion as $n \rightarrow \infty$] Fix $k>1$, and write $a_1=f(1,k)=1$ and $$ a_n = f(n,k) = \f …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
14 votes
Accepted

Vanishing of certain periodic series: A question related to $L(1 , \chi) \neq 0$.

Not necessarily. The first counterexample might be $q=14$ and $f(n)=1, -1, -1, -1, -1, 1, 0, -1, 1, 1, 1, 1, -1, 0$ for $n=1,2,3,\ldots,14$.
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
13 votes

In search of an alternative proof of a series expansion for $\log 2$

Write the $n$-th term, $(-1)^{n-1} \!\left/ \bigl(n {2n \choose n} 2^n\bigr) \right.$, as the definite integral $$ \frac14 \int_0^1 \left(-\,\frac{x-x^2}{2} \right)^{n-1} dx $$ using the formula for t …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
12 votes

Probability of winning game whereby $T+1$ heads in a row of a coin flip is required to win w...

The probability of not winning is $$ \prod_{T=1}^\infty \left(1 - \frac1{2^T} \right) = \frac12 \frac34 \frac78 \frac{15}{16} \cdots = 0.28878809508660 \ldots ; $$ that's a well-known constant (equal …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
8 votes
Accepted

Complexity of computing expansion of a newform level 18 weight 3 and character [3] - OEIS A1...

[More a comment than an answer, but too long for the comment space] Call this form $$ \varphi := \frac{\eta(q^3)^2 \eta(q^6)^3 \eta(q^9)^2}{\eta(q^{18})} = q - 2q^4 - 4q^7 + 6q^{10} + 8q^{13} \cdots. …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
8 votes

Asymptotic behavior of a certain trigonometric partial sum

The desired inequality should be true iff $$ c < c_0 := (r - \sqrt{r^2-1})^2 \quad\ \text{where} \quad\ r = \frac{|a|}{2b} $$ (NB the hypotheses $b>0$ and $a < -2b$ imply $r>1$, so $0 < c_0 < 1$). Num …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
8 votes
Accepted

Express $\int_0^{\pi/2}\{ \operatorname{gd}^{-1}(x)\}dx$ as series of special functions, wit...

The integral is twice Catalan's constant $$ G = L(1,\chi_4) = 1 - \frac1{3^2} + \frac1{5^2} - \frac1{7^2} + \frac1{9^2} - + \cdots. $$ This constant can be computed efficiently to high precision, even …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
6 votes
Accepted

Approximate the following series on the euclidean grid

You're surely right that there cannot be a "closed form" for such a series; but it can still be approximated to any desired precision. The defining sum $$ x = x(a) = \sum_{i=0}^\infty \sum_{j=0}^\in …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar
6 votes

On the continuity of $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sin(nx) / n^\alpha$

For small $x>0$ we can write $$ f(x) = x^{\alpha-1} \cdot x \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\sin nx}{(nx)^\alpha}, $$ which is $x^{\alpha-1}$ times a Riemann sum for $$ I_\alpha := \int_0^\infty \sin u \frac{ …
Noam D. Elkies's user avatar

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