Series Solutions

BMS

1) Prove/remind yourself of the following:

𝒏
(i) The sum of the first 𝒏 terms of an arithmetic series is 𝟐 (𝟐𝒂 + (𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒅)

We write

𝑆 = 𝑎 + (𝑎 + 𝑑 ) + (𝑎 + 2𝑑 ) + ⋯ + (𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑)

We then reverse the sum and write underneath in columns.

𝑆 = (𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 ) + ⋯ + (𝑎 + 2𝑑 ) + (𝑎 + 𝑑 ) + 𝑎

Then add, noting each column adds to 2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑.

Hence 2𝑆 = 2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑 from which the result follows.

𝒂(𝟏−𝒓𝒏 )
(ii) The sum of the first 𝒏 terms of a geometric series is 𝟏−𝒓

We write

𝑆 = 𝑎 + 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑟 𝑛−1

Multiply by 𝑟

𝑟𝑆 = 𝑎𝑟 + 𝑎𝑟 2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑟 𝑛

Hence

𝑆 − 𝑟𝑆 = 𝑎 − 𝑎𝑟 𝑛

Hence

𝑆(1 − 𝑟) = 𝑎(1 − 𝑟 𝑛 )

The result then follows.

𝒂
(iii) The sum to infinity of a geometric series, where |𝒓| < 𝟏 is 𝟏−𝒓

Using our previous result, we let 𝑛 → ∞ and, since |𝑟| < 1, we have 𝑟 𝑛 → 0, hence the result.
 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
2) What is the sum of the first 𝟐𝒏 terms of the series 𝟏, 𝟏, 𝟐 , 𝟐, 𝟑 , 𝟑, 𝟒 , 𝟒, …

1 1
Note this is just asking us to find 1 + 2+ . . +𝑛 and 1 + 2 + ⋯ + 𝑛 and to add the results.

𝑛
Finding the sum of the first n natural numbers is simple: 2 (𝑛 + 1).

1 1
However, there is no simple answer to 1 + 2 + ⋯ + 𝑛 so this is somewhat a trick question.
Perhaps you might like to read up on Harmonic numbers whilst you contemplate this sum!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonic_number

3)
𝟏
(i) Prove that 𝟏−𝒙 = 𝟏 + 𝒙 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒙𝟑 + ⋯ where |𝒙| < 𝟏

We write (1 − 𝑥 )−1 and use the Binomial expansion to obtain the result.

(ii) Hence prove that

∞
𝟏
= ∑ 𝒏𝒙𝒏−𝟏
(𝟏 − 𝒙)𝟐
𝒏=𝟏

We simply differentiate our previous result on both sides, with respect to 𝑥, to obtain the
required identity.

(iii) Hence prove that

∞
𝟐
= ∑ 𝒏(𝒏 − 𝟏)𝒙𝒏−𝟐
(𝟏 − 𝒙)𝟑
𝒏=𝟏

Differentiating each side one more time yields this result.

4) By considering the expansion in powers of 𝒙 of the identity (𝟏 + 𝒙)𝒏 (𝟏 + 𝒙)𝒏 =
(𝟏 + 𝒙)𝟐𝒏 , show that
𝒏
𝒏 𝟐 𝟐𝒏
∑( ) = ( )
𝒔 𝒏
𝒔=𝟎

Clearly the coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in (1 + 𝑥 )2𝑛 is (2𝑛

𝑛
) which is the right hand side of the identity.

The coefficient of 𝑥 𝑛 in (1 + 𝑥)𝑛 (1 + 𝑥)𝑛 is

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
( )( )+( )( )+( )( ) + ⋯+ ( )( )
0 𝑛 1 𝑛−1 2 𝑛−2 𝑛 0

But
𝑛 𝑛
( )=( )
𝑘 𝑛−𝑘
Hence the result.

5) (Grandi’s series)

Show that

(i) 𝟏 − 𝟏 + 𝟏 − 𝟏 + 𝟏 − 𝟏 + ⋯ = 𝟏

By grouping the sum as 1 + (−1 + 1) + (−1 + 1) + ⋯ you can somewhat convince yourself
that the sum is 1.

(ii) 𝟏 − 𝟏 + 𝟏 − 𝟏 + 𝟏 − 𝟏 + ⋯ = 𝟎

Grouping instead as (1 − 1) + (1 − 1) + (1 − 1) + ⋯ you can equally convince yourself the

sum is 0.

𝟏
(iii) 𝟏 − 𝟏 + 𝟏 − 𝟏 + 𝟏 − 𝟏 + ⋯ = 𝟐

Adding our two results we would have 2𝑆 = 1 implying the sum could equally be ½ .

(iv) Which, if any, of these are correct?

In short, none of these are correct. This is known as a divergent series.

More reading on this particular series can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandi%27s_series
6)

(i) Write down (𝟏 + 𝒙)𝒏

𝑛
𝑛
(1 + 𝑥 )𝑛 = ∑ ( ) 𝑥𝑘
𝑘
𝑘=0

(ii) Hence show that 𝟐𝒏 = (𝒏𝟎) + (𝒏𝟏) + (𝒏𝟐) + ⋯ + (𝒏𝒏)

Set 𝑥 = 1 to obtain this result.

(iii) Show that 𝒏𝟐𝒏−𝟏 = (𝒏𝟏) + 𝟐(𝒏𝟐) + ⋯ + 𝒏(𝒏𝒏)

Differentiate our initial result to get

𝑛
𝑛
𝑛 (1 + 𝑥 )𝑛−1 = ∑ ( ) 𝑘𝑥 𝑘−1
𝑘
𝑘=0
Then set 𝑥 = 1 to obtain this result.

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
(iv) Show that 𝒏+𝟏 (𝟐𝒏+𝟏 − 𝟏) = (𝒏𝟎) + 𝟐 (𝒏𝟏) + ⋯ + 𝒏+𝟏 (𝒏𝒏)

This time we integrate our initial result

𝑛
1 1 𝑛
(1 + 𝑥 )𝑛+1 + 𝐶 = ∑ ( ) 𝑥 𝑘+1
𝑛+1 𝑘+1 𝑘
𝑘=0
Setting 𝑥 = 0 tells us
1
𝐶= −
𝑛+1

Then set 𝑥 = 1 to obtain this result.

(v) Show that 𝒏(𝒏 + 𝟏)𝟐𝒏−𝟐 = (𝒏𝟏) + 𝟐𝟐 (𝒏𝟐) + ⋯ + 𝒏𝟐 (𝒏𝒏)

Differentiating our result from (iii) we find

𝑛
𝑛
𝑛(𝑛 − 1)(1 + 𝑥 )𝑛−2 = ∑ ( ) 𝑘(𝑘 − 1)𝑥 𝑘−2
𝑘
𝑘=0
Then set 𝑥 = 1 to obtain
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛−2
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛(𝑛 − 1)2 = ∑ ( ) 𝑘 (𝑘 − 1) = ∑ ( ) 𝑘 2 − ∑ ( ) 𝑘
𝑘 𝑘 𝑘
𝑘=0 𝑘=0 𝑘=0
Hence
𝑛 𝑛
𝑛−2
𝑛 𝑛
𝑛(𝑛 − 1)2 + ∑ ( ) 𝑘 = ∑ ( ) 𝑘2
𝑘 𝑘
𝑘=0 𝑘=0

But by part (iii) this is the same as

𝑛
𝑛−2 𝑛−1
𝑛
𝑛(𝑛 − 1)2 + 𝑛2 = ∑ ( ) 𝑘2
𝑘
𝑘=0

Hence
𝑛
𝑛−2
𝑛
𝑛2 ((𝑛 − 1) + 2) = ∑ ( ) 𝑘 2
𝑘
𝑘=0
And thus

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑛(𝑛 + 1)2𝑛−2 = ( ) + 22 ( ) + ⋯ + 𝑛2 ( )
1 2 𝑛