Evaluating Summation Problem: Floor Function Solution

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the summation problem involving the floor function and the Riemann zeta function. Participants explore the convergence of the series and the implications of the floor function on the result. The scope includes mathematical reasoning and exploration of series convergence.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how to proceed after rewriting the double summation and seeks guidance.
  • Another participant references a previous demonstration that relates the summation to the zeta function, suggesting that the sum can be expressed as $\sum_{k=2}^{2014} \zeta(k)$ and provides an inequality to support their claim.
  • A later reply emphasizes the need to prove that $\sum_{k=2} \zeta(k) - 1 = 1$ and suggests that interchanging sums could facilitate this proof.
  • Some participants note that $\zeta(k) > 1$ for all $k \geq 2$, leading to implications about the convergence of the series.
  • There is a repeated assertion that the floor of the sum is 2013, but the reasoning behind this is not universally accepted or elaborated upon in detail.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints regarding the evaluation of the summation and the implications of the zeta function. There is no consensus on the final result or the methods to prove the necessary conditions for convergence.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the convergence of the series and the properties of the zeta function are not fully explored or justified, leaving certain aspects of the discussion unresolved.

Saitama
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Problem:
Evaluate:
$$\left[\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \frac{1}{n^k}\right]$$
where $[x]$ denotes the floor function.Attempt:
I can see that the above can be written as:
$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2}+\frac{1}{n^3}+\frac{1}{n^4}+\cdots + \frac{1}{n^{2014}}$$
$$=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2}\left(\frac{1-1/n^{2013}}{1-1/n}\right)$$
$$=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{2014}}\left(\frac{n^{2013}-1}{n-1}\right)$$

How do I proceed after this? :confused:

I am not sure if this belongs to the Algebra section.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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Pranav said:
Problem:
Evaluate:
$$\left[\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \frac{1}{n^k}\right]$$
where $[x]$ denotes the floor function.Attempt:
I can see that the above can be written as:
$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2}+\frac{1}{n^3}+\frac{1}{n^4}+\cdots + \frac{1}{n^{2014}}$$
$$=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2}\left(\frac{1-1/n^{2013}}{1-1/n}\right)$$
$$=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^{2014}}\left(\frac{n^{2013}-1}{n-1}\right)$$

How do I proceed after this? :confused:

I am not sure if this belongs to the Algebra section.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

In...

http://mathhelpboards.com/challenge-questions-puzzles-28/not-too-challenge-question-562.html

... it has been demonstrated that...

$\displaystyle \sum_{k=2}^{\infty} \{ \zeta(k) -1\} = 1\ (1)$

... so that we can write...

$\displaystyle S = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \frac{1}{n^k} = \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \zeta(k) = 2013 + \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \{ \zeta(k) -1\} < 2014\ (2) $

... so that is $\displaystyle \left[ S \right] = 2013$...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
chisigma said:
In...

http://mathhelpboards.com/challenge-questions-puzzles-28/not-too-challenge-question-562.html

... it has been demonstrated that...

$\displaystyle \sum_{k=2}^{\infty} \{ \zeta(k) -1\} = 1\ (1)$

... so that we can write...

$\displaystyle S = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \frac{1}{n^k} = \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \zeta(k) = 2013 + \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \{ \zeta(k) -1\} < 2014\ (2) $

... so that is $\displaystyle \left[ S \right] = 2013$...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

Nice!

And it's not a $B, \Gamma, W, $ or $A$ function! ;)

If we expand the proof for $\sum\limits_{k=2}^{\infty} \{ \zeta(k) -1\} = 1$, there is not even a zeta function.
 
We need only prove that

$$\sum_{k=2} \zeta(k)-1 = 1$$

which can be done by interchanging the two sums.

It is clear that $\zeta(k)>1$ for all $k\geq 2$

so it must be the case that $ \sum_{n=2}^k \{\zeta(n) \} $ is less than $1$ .
 
chisigma said:
In...

http://mathhelpboards.com/challenge-questions-puzzles-28/not-too-challenge-question-562.html

... it has been demonstrated that...

$\displaystyle \sum_{k=2}^{\infty} \{ \zeta(k) -1\} = 1\ (1)$

... so that we can write...

$\displaystyle S = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \frac{1}{n^k} = \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \zeta(k) = 2013 + \sum_{k=2}^{2014} \{ \zeta(k) -1\} < 2014\ (2) $

... so that is $\displaystyle \left[ S \right] = 2013$...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$

Thank you chisigma! :)
 

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