Expressing series in terms of a Power Series

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on expressing the function $$f(x)=\displaystyle \sum_{k=3}^\infty a_k \frac{x^k}{k(k-1)(k-2)}$$ in terms of the generating function $$g(x)=\displaystyle \sum_{k=0}^\infty a_k x^k$$. The user attempts to manipulate the series using summation techniques and integration but struggles to establish a clear relationship with $$g(x)$$. A suggested approach involves changing the summation index to simplify the expression, leading to $$f(x) = \sum_{j=1}^{\infty} a_{j+2} \frac{x^{j+2}}{j(j+1)(j+2)}$$.

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  • Understanding of power series and generating functions
  • Familiarity with summation techniques and index manipulation
  • Basic knowledge of calculus, particularly integration of series
  • Proficiency in LaTeX for mathematical expressions
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  • Explore the properties of generating functions in combinatorics
  • Learn about series manipulation techniques, including index shifting
  • Study integration methods for power series
  • Investigate the convergence criteria for infinite series
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Mathematicians, students studying calculus or combinatorics, and anyone interested in series and generating functions will benefit from this discussion.

pkmpad
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Hello and thank you for trying to help.

In spite of the fact that this seems a very simple problem, I do not find myself able to get a solution. Here it goes:

Let $$f(x)=\displaystyle \sum_{k=3}^\infty a_k \frac{x^k}{k(k-1)(k-2)}$$ and $$g(x)=\displaystyle \sum_{k=0}^\infty a_k x^k$$. Express f(x) in terms of g(x).

My attempt has been to express f(x) as
$$\displaystyle\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}a_k\frac{x^k}{k(k-1)(k-2)}=\frac{1}{2}\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}-\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k-1}+\frac{1}{2}\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k-2}$$

And then

$$f(x)=\frac{1}{2}\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}-x\sum_{k=2}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}+\frac{x^2}{2}\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}$$

What should I do next? I suppose that I have to integrate those series, but I have already tried that and I have not been able to get any relationship with g(x).

Any help will be appreciated.
 
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Your LaTex is not displaying correctly. I have tried 2 different browsers. It looks like you have f(x) = Sum of (k=3 to infinity) (ak xk) / (k(k-1)(k-2)),
then g(x) = sum of (k=0 to infinity) (ak xk), then I get confused trying to follow your workings, after that.
 
scottdave said:
Your LaTex is not displaying correctly. I have tried 2 different browsers. It looks like you have f(x) = Sum of (k=3 to infinity) (ak xk) / (k(k-1)(k-2)),
then g(x) = sum of (k=0 to infinity) (ak xk), then I get confused trying to follow your workings, after that.

Corrected, thank you
 
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pkmpad said:
Hello and thank you for trying to help.

In spite of the fact that this seems a very simple problem, I do not find myself able to get a solution. Here it goes:

Let $$f(x)=\displaystyle \sum_{k=3}^\infty a_k \frac{x^k}{k(k-1)(k-2)}$$ and $$g(x)=\displaystyle \sum_{k=0}^\infty a_k x^k$$. Express f(x) in terms of g(x).

My attempt has been to express f(x) as
$$\displaystyle\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}a_k\frac{x^k}{k(k-1)(k-2)}=\frac{1}{2}\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}-\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k-1}+\frac{1}{2}\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k-2}$$

And then

$$f(x)=\frac{1}{2}\sum_{k=3}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}-x\sum_{k=2}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}+\frac{x^2}{2}\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}\frac{a_k x^k}{k}$$

What should I do next? I suppose that I have to integrate those series, but I have already tried that and I have not been able to get any relationship with g(x).

Any help will be appreciated.

Using summation index ##j = k-2## your sum becomes
$$f(x) = \sum_{j=1}^{\infty} a_{j+2} \frac{x^{j+2}}{j(j+1)(j+2)}$$
 

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