Find the sum(1/4)+(4/8)+(8/12)+

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter hadi amiri 4
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the sum of a series involving factorials and its convergence properties. Participants explore various approaches to analyze the series, including comparisons to known convergent series and integral representations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the series diverges, suggesting simplifications to demonstrate this.
  • Others propose that an upper bound for the series could indicate convergence, referencing a specific convergent series.
  • One participant notes the importance of the number 4 in the series and questions whether it converges to a "nice" value.
  • Several participants mention that the answer may involve constants such as Pi and natural logarithm, with one referencing a result from Mathematica.
  • Some participants suggest using definite integrals to derive the general term of the series.
  • Integral representations are introduced as a method to express the series, with detailed formulations provided by participants.
  • There are multiple formulations of the series presented, indicating different approaches to its evaluation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the convergence of the series, with some claiming divergence and others suggesting it converges. The discussion remains unresolved, with multiple competing perspectives on the nature of the series.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the lack of work shown by the original poster, which may affect the clarity of the discussion. There are also references to specific mathematical techniques and assumptions that are not fully explored.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in series convergence, factorials, and advanced mathematical techniques may find the discussion relevant.

hadi amiri 4
Messages
98
Reaction score
1
find the sum
(1/4!)+(4!/8!)+(8!/12!)+...
 
Physics news on Phys.org


That is clearly divergent. Try to simplify it and you will see.
 


daudaudaudau said:
That is clearly divergent. Try to simplify it and you will see.
Not so!

An upper bound would be 1 + 1/5^4 + 1/9^4 + 1/13^4 + ... which converges.
 


mathman said:
Not so!

An upper bound would be 1 + 1/5^4 + 1/9^4 + 1/13^4 + ... which converges.

Regardless, the OP has shown no work towards the problem.
 


I can't see the trick to solve it offhand. We know it converges, but do you know for sure it converges to something nice? This seems like a somewhat-hard problem because the number 4 is actually important.

[tex]\sum _{n=0}^\infty \frac{(k n)!}{( k (n+1) )!}[/tex]

See if k is 1 then it will be the harmonic series which diverges.
 


(1/4!)+(4!/8!)+(8!/12!)+(12!/16!)+...
 


the answer contains Pi and Ln .
 


hadi amiri 4 said:
the answer contains Pi and Ln .

Yes, according to Mathematica the answer is
[tex] \frac{1}{24}(6\log2-\pi)\approx 0.0423871[/tex]
Did you solve this manually?
 


(1/4!)+(1/8*7*6*5)+(1/12*11*10*9)+...
we can guess the general sentence .after that use definite integrals.
thats all.
 
  • #10


[tex]\sum _{k=0}^\infty \frac{1}{(4k+1)(4k+2)(4k+3)(4k+4)}[/tex]
 
  • #11


hadi amiri 4 said:
[tex]\sum _{k=0}^\infty \frac{1}{(4k+1)(4k+2)(4k+3)(4k+4)}[/tex]

Yes, and using
[tex] a^{-1}=\int_0^\infty{dxe^{-ax}}[/tex]
this can be written as
[tex] \sum_{k=0}^\infty{\int_0^\infty{dx_1e^{-x_1(4k+1)}}\int_0^\infty{dx_2e^{-x_2(4k+2)}}\int_0^\infty{dx_3e^{-x_3(4k+3)}}\int_0^\infty{dx_4e^{-x_4(4k+4)}}}=\int_{[0,\infty)^4}{d^4(x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4)\frac{e^{-x_1-2x_2-3x_3-4x_4}}{1-e^{-4(x_1+x_2+x_3+x_4)}}}[/tex]
Letting [itex]y_n=e^{-nx_n}[/itex] the last expression becomes
[tex] \frac{1}{24}\int_{[0,1]^4}{d^4(y_1,y_2,y_3,y_4)}\frac{1}{1-y_1^4y_2^2y_3^{3/4}y_4}[/tex]
These integrals can be solved explicitly but it's not nice. Did you do it this way?
 
Last edited:
  • #12


[tex]\sum_{k=0}^infty \frac{1} {(4k+1)(4k+2)(4k+3)(4k+4)[/tex]
is equal to
[tex]\sum(\frac{1} {6(4k+1)} - \frac{1} {2(2k+1)} + \frac{1} {2(4k+3)} - \frac{1} {6(4k+1)} )[/tex]
and use integrals
 
  • #13


[tex]\sum(\frac{1} {6(4k+1)} - \frac{1} {2(4k+1)} + \frac{1} {2(4k+3)} - \frac{1} {6(4k+1)} )[/tex]
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
7K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K