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benorin
Nov23-05, 10:43 AM
This discussion is that of converting infinite series to infinite products and vice-versa in hopes of, say, ending the shortage of infinite product tables.

Suppose the given series is

\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k

Let S_n[/tex] denote the nth partial sum, viz.

S_n=\sum_{k=0}^{n} a_k

so that, if [itex]S_{n}\neq 0,\forall n\in\mathbb{N} , then

S_n=S_{0} \frac{S_{1}}{S_{0}} \frac{S_{2}}{S_{1}} \cdot\cdot\cdot \frac{S_{n}}{S_{n-1}} = S_{0} \prod_{k=1}^{n} \frac{S_{k}}{S_{k-1}}

which is a pretty basic telescoping product, and it will simplify upon noticing that S_{k}= a_{k} + S_{k-1}, and that S_{0}= a_{0}, whence

S_n= S_{0} \prod_{k=1}^{n} \frac{S_{k}}{S_{k-1}} = a_{0} \prod_{k=1}^{n} \left( 1+ \frac{a_{k}}{S_{k-1}} \right) = a_{0} \prod_{k=1}^{n} \left( 1+ \frac{a_{k}}{a_{0}+a_{1}+\cdot\cdot\cdot + a_{k-1}} \right)

and hence, taking the limit as n\rightarrow \infty, we have

\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k = a_{0} \prod_{k=1}^{\infty} \left( 1+ \frac{a_{k}}{a_{0}+a_{1}+\cdot\cdot\cdot + a_{k-1}} \right)

now you can convert an infinite series to an infinite product.

So the vice-versa part goes like this:

Suppose the given product is

\prod_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k

Let \rho _n[/tex] denote the nth partial product, viz.

\rho_{n}=\prod_{k=0}^{n} a_k

so that, if [itex]\rho_{n}\neq 0,\forall n\in\mathbb{N} , then

\rho_{n} = \rho_{0} + \left( \rho_{1} - \rho_{0} \right) + \left( \rho_{2} - \rho_{1} \right) + \cdot\cdot\cdot + \left( \rho_{n} - \rho_{n-1} \right) = \rho_{0} + \sum_{k=1}^{n} \left( \rho_{k} - \rho_{k-1} \right)

which is a pretty basic telescoping sum, and it will simplify upon noticing that \rho_{k}= a_{k} \rho_{k-1}, and that \rho_{0}= a_{0}, whence

\rho_{n} = \rho_{0} + \sum_{k=1}^{n} \left( \rho_{k} - \rho_{k-1} \right) = a_{0} + \sum_{k=1}^{n} \rho_{k-1} \left( a_{k} - 1 \right) = a_{0} + \sum_{k=1}^{n} a_{0}a_{1}\cdot\cdot\cdot a_{k-1} \left( a_{k} - 1 \right)

and hence, taking the limit as n\rightarrow \infty, we have

\prod_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k = a_{0} + \sum_{k=1}^{n} a_{0}a_{1}\cdot\cdot\cdot a_{k-1} \left( a_{k} - 1 \right)

and now you can convert an infinite product to an infinite series.

So, go on, have fun with it...

P.S. I swipped this technique from Theroy and Applications of Infinite Series by K. Knopp :wink: a very excellent text.

Edit: crap, meant to post this in the Calculus & Analysis forum, please delete this that I not be guilty of double posting...

benorin
Nov25-05, 10:52 AM
Oops, typo: that last tex line should read

\prod_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k = a_{0} + \sum_{k=1}^{\infty} a_{0}a_{1}\cdot\cdot\cdot a_{k-1} \left( a_{k} - 1 \right)