More Infinite Series Problems to Solve

In summary, the conversation was about solving infinite series problems, specifically two series: \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^4}\) and \(\displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{(n+1) \cdot (n+1)!}{(n+5)!}\). The first series is equal to \(\zeta(4)\), which is also equal to \((-1)^2 \frac{B_4 (2\pi)^{4}}{2 \times 4!}\) where \(B_4\) is a Bernoulli Number. The second series can be solved using partial fractions and
  • #1
DrunkenOldFool
20
0
It looks like you guys love to solve infinite series problems. Here are a few more

\( \displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^4}\)

\( \displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{(n+1) \cdot (n+1)!}{(n+5)!}\)
 
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  • #2
\( \displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^4}\)

\( \displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^4}=\zeta(4)=(-1)^2 \frac{B_4 (2\pi)^{4}}{2 \times 4!}=\frac{\pi^4}{90}\)

where $B_4$ is a Bernoulli Number.
 
  • #3
DrunkenOldFool said:
\( \displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{(n+1) \cdot (n+1)!}{(n+5)!}\)
$\displaystyle \sum_{ n \ge 1}\frac{(n+1)(n+1)!}{(n+5)!} = \lim_{ k \to \infty}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{(n+1)(n+1)!}{(n+5)(n+4)(n+3)(n+2)(n+1)!} = \lim_{ k \to \infty}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{(n+1)}{(n+5)(n+4)(n+3)(n+2)}$

By writing the summand in the partial fractions form and denoting the partial sum by $S_{k}$, we find that$\begin{aligned} S_{k} = \frac{2}{3}\sum_{0 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+5}-\frac{3}{2}\sum_{0 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+4}+\sum_{0 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+3}-\frac{1}{6}\sum_{0 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2}\end{aligned}$Mapping $n \mapsto n-1$ (replacing $n$ with $n-1$ basically) for the first and the third sum then we find$\begin{aligned} S_{k} & = \frac{2}{3}\sum_{1 \le n-1 \le k}\frac{1}{n+4}-\frac{3}{2}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+4}+\sum_{1 \le n-1 \le k}\frac{1}{n+2}-\frac{1}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2} \\& = \frac{2}{3}\sum_{2 \le n \le k+1}\frac{1}{n+4}-\frac{3}{2}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+4}+\sum_{2 \le n \le k+1}\frac{1}{n+2}-\frac{1}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2} \\& = \frac{2}{3(k+4)}-\frac{2}{15}+\frac{2}{3} \sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+4}-\frac{3}{2}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+4}+\frac{1}{k+3}-\frac{1}{3}+\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2}-\frac{1}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2} \\& = \frac{2}{3(k+4)}+\frac{1}{k+3}-\frac{7}{15}-\frac{5}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+4}+\frac{5}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2} \\& = \frac{2}{3(k+4)}+\frac{1}{k+3}-\frac{7}{15}-\frac{5}{6}\sum_{1 \le n-2 \le k}\frac{1}{n+2}+\frac{5}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2} \\& = \frac{2}{3(k+4)}+\frac{1}{k+3}-\frac{7}{15}-\frac{5}{6}\sum_{3 \le n \le k+2}\frac{1}{n+2}+\frac{5}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2} \\& = \frac{2}{3(k+4)}+\frac{1}{k+3}-\frac{7}{15}+\frac{35}{72}-\frac{5}{6(k+4)}-\frac{5}{6(k+3)}-\frac{5}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2}+\frac{5}{6}\sum_{1 \le n \le k}\frac{1}{n+2} \\& = \frac{2}{3(k+4)}+\frac{1}{k+3}-\frac{5}{6(k+4)}-\frac{5}{6(k+3)}+\frac{7}{360}\end{aligned}$Where we of coursed mapped $n \mapsto n-2$ for the sum on the left in the fifth line. Now it's obvious that $\displaystyle \lim_{ k \to \infty}S_{k} = \frac{7}{360}$ and that's value of your sum.
 
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  • #4
sbhatnagar said:
\( \displaystyle \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n^4}=\zeta(4)=(-1)^2 \frac{B_4 (2\pi)^{4}}{2 \times 4!}=\frac{\pi^4}{90}\)

where $B_4$ is a Bernoulli Number.
Another way to do this is to use Fourier theory on the function $f(x)=x^2\;\;(x\in[-\pi,\pi])$. Its Fourier coefficients are given by $\hat{f}(0)=\pi^2/3$, $\hat{f}(n) = 2(-1)^n/n^2\;(n\ne0).$ The result then follows by applying Parseval's theorem.
 
  • #5
Whenever I see factorials, I take advantage of the Gamma and Beta function, so $\displaystyle\frac{(n+1)(n+1)!}{(n+5)!}=\frac{1}{\Gamma (4)}\cdot \frac{(n+1)\Gamma (n+2)\Gamma (4)}{\Gamma (n+6)}=\frac{n+1}{\Gamma (4)}\cdot \beta (n,4)
,$ so the series becomes $\displaystyle\frac{1}{\Gamma (4)}\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty }{(n+1)\int_{0}^{1}{{{t}^{n+1}}{{(1-t)}^{3}}\,dt}}=\frac{1}{\Gamma (4)}\int_{0}^{1}{t{{(1-t)}^{3}}\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty }{(n+1){{t}^{n}}}\,dt}$ and then the series equals $\displaystyle\frac{1}{\Gamma (4)}\int_{0}^{1}{t\left( (1-t)-{{(1-t)}^{3}} \right)\,dt}$ which achieves the same value as shown.
 

FAQ: More Infinite Series Problems to Solve

What are infinite series?

Infinite series are mathematical expressions that consist of an infinite number of terms. Each term in the series is related to the previous term by a specific rule or pattern.

Why are infinite series important?

Infinite series are important in mathematics because they allow for the representation of a wide range of functions and can be used to solve complex problems in various fields, such as physics, engineering, and economics.

What are some common methods for solving infinite series?

Some common methods for solving infinite series include the geometric series method, the telescoping series method, and the ratio test. These methods involve identifying the underlying pattern or rule of the series and using mathematical techniques to determine the sum of the series.

What are some real-life applications of infinite series?

Infinite series have many real-life applications in fields such as finance, computer science, and statistics. For example, they can be used to calculate compound interest, approximate solutions to differential equations, and analyze data sets.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when working with infinite series?

Some common mistakes to avoid when working with infinite series include overlooking the convergence or divergence of the series, incorrectly applying mathematical techniques, and not checking the accuracy of the solution. It is important to carefully analyze the series and double-check calculations to avoid errors.

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