Calculating the Sum of Odd Digits in Powers of 2: A Fascinating Number Property

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The discussion centers on the series sum of odd digits in powers of 2, represented as ∑_{n=1}^{∞} o(2^n)/2^n = 1/9, where o(2^n) counts the odd digits of 2^n. Participants express excitement about the mathematical properties of this series, referencing sources like MathWorld and a JSTOR paper for further insights. The book "Experimentation in Mathematics" is also mentioned as providing an accessible proof of the summation. The conversation highlights the intriguing nature of these number properties and the ease of understanding them through geometric series and modular arithmetic. Overall, the series and its implications spark interest among those exploring mathematical curiosities.
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\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{o(2^n)}{2^n} = \frac{1}{9}
where o(2^n) is the number of odd digits of 2^n.

Found it in
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/DigitCount.html
equation (9)
 
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That's a pretty amazing series. I found some more information about it in the following paper. See : http://www.jstor.org/view/00029890/di991774/99p0626c/0
 
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Curses, JSTOR!
 
uart said:
That's a pretty amazing series. I found some more information about it in the following paper. See : http://www.jstor.org/view/00029890/di991774/99p0626c/0

Fantastic! Thanks a lot!
Also found it in
Experimentation in Mathematics: Computational Paths to Discovery
By Jonathan M. Borwein, David H. Bailey, Roland
pag 14-15

here's a google link:
http://books.google.com/books?id=cs...over&sig=yE9mO3b-YA9lLjAq6Nt4ED4bn1g#PPA15,M1

I'm no mathematician, but found really interesting some of these strange number properties.
 
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Zhivago said:
...here's a google link:
http://books.google.com/books?id=cs...over&sig=yE9mO3b-YA9lLjAq6Nt4ED4bn1g#PPA15,M1

I'm no mathematician, but found really interesting some of these strange number properties.

Thanks for the link Zhivago. Yes that book provides a nice accessible proof of that summation. In the link I posted they only really hinted at how that series was handled but in your link they nail it (only really needing knowledge of geomeric series and modolu athrithmetic to follow it). Good stuff!
 
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