Can the sums of these strange series be calculated using this method?

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    Strange Sums
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of sums of specific series involving a function f(x). Participants explore methods for summing these series, including the use of differential operators and the concept of an infinitesimal generator. The conversation touches on the rigor of the proposed methods and the definitions of terms used in the context of the sums.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a method to calculate the sums of series in the form of f(x) + f(x+1) + f(x+2) + ... and f(x) + f(2x) + f(3x) + ... using differential operators and the concept of an infinitesimal generator.
  • Another participant questions the assumptions made about the differentiability of f and the validity of the operations involving the exponential of the differential operator, expressing confusion about the terminology used.
  • A third participant asserts that the notation and definitions used in the original post are incorrect and challenges the validity of the method by referencing Euler's work on the sum of positive integers.
  • Further clarification is sought regarding the meaning of F^n and the definition of the function F, with concerns raised about the lack of rigor in the presentation of the method.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement on the validity of the proposed method and the definitions used. There is no consensus on the correctness of the approach or the assumptions made about the function f.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the definitions and assumptions, particularly regarding the smoothness of the function f and the implications of using differential operators in the proposed method.

eljose
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"strange" sums...

Let be the next 2 sums in the form:

f(x)+f(x+1)+f(x+2)+... (1) and

f(x)+f(2x)+f(3x)+... (2)

how would you calculate them?..well i used a "non-rigorous" but i think correct method to derive their sums..let be the infinitesimal generator

D=d/dx (traslation) xD=x(d/dx) (dilatation)

the 2 series above can be "summed" as:

(1+e^{D}+e^{2D}+e^{3D}+...)f(x)

(1+e^{xD}+e^{2xD}+e^{3xD}+...)f(x)

now we put (1/D)f(x)=F(x) and (1/xD)f(x)=F(x)/x

where F(x) is the "primitive" of f(x) then we would have..

\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{B_{n}}{n!}F^{n}(x)

\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{B_{n}}{n!}x^{n-1}F^{n}(x)

these 2 expressions above would be the sum for (1) and (2) respectively where the B are the Bernoulli,s number and (n) means n-th derivative of F.
 
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What on Earth allows you to assume that the f are differentiable? And even then what does raising e to the power d/dx do? Let what be an infinitesimal generator of what? What's the/a primitive of f? Why invent a name for it that you don't ever use again? Not that the primitive makes much sense (inverting d/dx?).

You really need to focus on explaining what you mean properly (not rigorously; you have a completely unnecessary issue with rigour).

If by F^n you mean F raised to the power n (F(x)^n), then it cannot be a correct formula, for obvious reasons which I'll let you figure out (hint what if F(x)=0 for some x).

If it means F applied n times, then my gut reaction is that it still will be false, not that it is clear what F actually is.

Your second sum is also not defined at x=0.
 
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-No... F(x)=\int{dx}f(x) and \frac{d^{n}F}{dx^{n}}=F^(n)(x) by the way you say is not correct Euler himself used (1) in the same manner i do to prove that:

1+2+3+4+5+6+...=(-1/12) just put f(x)=x and apply the differential operator..by the way is a known result that:

e^{aD}f(x)=f(x+a) or e^{xD}=f(2x) just take a look at "Wikipedia" (english version)..chao.
 
There you go again. I didn't say it was not a correct method I said that what you wrote doesn't make sense. You have a very odd sense of what is 'universally known and accepted' terminology, and a poor way of presenting things; partly this is a language problem, partly it is not.

If you ask a question, why not explain the terms properly? However, I'll take a guess that e^D is short hand for the operator

\sum \frac{1}{n!}\frac{d^n}{dx^n}

is that about right?

And you assert Euler proved that the sum of all the positive integers is -1/12, do you? If indeed he did demonstrate that then it hardly implies that the method is correct, does it?

Note that F is only defined up to an additive constant. Which choice of constant should it be?

Anyway, you're still assuming f to be a smooth function, yet you didn't say that did you? It's things like that that you need to be careful about.Was that bit about F^(n) meant to be an answer to the question I asked about whether F^n meant F applied n times or F(x) raised to the power n? Because if it was you've just changed notation from your first post, and your latex is incorrect. You need to enclose all of the things you want in the superscript inside curly braces.
 
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