Convergence of a double summation using diagonals

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the convergence of a double summation, specifically examining the series ##\sum_{k=2}^\infty d_k## and its relationship to the limit ##\lim_{n\to\infty} s_{nn}##. Participants are exploring concepts related to absolute convergence and the implications of summing entries in a matrix or array structure.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • One participant has demonstrated that the series of absolute values converges but is uncertain about the next steps. Others are questioning the clarity of the original problem statement and discussing the terminology used, particularly regarding the summation of entries in terms of diagonals versus anti-diagonals. There is also a consideration of the properties of scalar addition in relation to convergence.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants expressing confusion about the problem's requirements and exploring different interpretations of the summation process. Some have offered insights into the nature of absolute convergence and its implications, but there is no clear consensus on the direction of the solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating potential ambiguities in the problem statement and the definitions used, particularly concerning the treatment of infinite series and the properties of summation in real numbers. There is an acknowledgment of the need for careful consideration when dealing with infinite sums.

Shawn Garsed
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Homework Statement


Show that ##\sum_{k=2}^\infty d_k## converges to ##\lim_{n\to\infty} s_{nn}##.

Homework Equations


I've included some relevant information below:

Ri4oy.jpg


The Attempt at a Solution


So far I've managed to show that ##\sum_{k=2}^\infty |d_k|## converges, but I don't know how to move on from there.

P.S.
I also posted this question to math.stackexchange but haven't gotten an answer there.
 

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I'm not really sure I understand what the question is?

note: I think your author is abusing language here. The array entries (at least using matrix terminology) are better described as anti-diagonals.

Suppose you have and ##m## x ##n## array. You can sum its entries any way you want: by row, by column, by diagonal or by anti-diagonal, or some more exotic approach -- it doesn't matter as long as you include every number once in your sum, and no numbers twice.

Why? We're dealing with scalars in ##\mathbb R## (and possibly ##\mathbb C##) here, and scalar addition commutes in ##\mathbb R##. It could be instructive to write out the indexing of the sums for these 4 different cases.

Some care is needed when ##\infty## is involved, but you've passed the absolute convergence test based on line 2 of your picture. With absolute convergence out of the way

So the question is either just about indexing or commutativity of addition in reals? Or something else?
 
StoneTemplePython said:
I'm not really sure I understand what the question is?
The question is to prove, that the summation of absolute convergent series doesn't depend on the order.
 
yikes. I didn't read this carefully enough.

To the extent everything is real non-negative (and not identically zero which is easy to handle) the convergent sum in line 2 is #S \gt 0##, and we can renormalize / assume without loss of generality that it sums to one. Since the anti-diagonal summing is just a re-partitioning argument (union of disjoint sets) it would seem to motivate countable additivity axiom in probability. But I don't think this is what the problem is looking for, nor is it restricted to non-negative reals.
 

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