Happy New Year: Infinite Sum Question Explanation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the validity of an equation involving infinite sums and finite sums, specifically examining the relationship between the left-hand side and right-hand side of the equation as n approaches infinity. Participants explore the implications of absolute convergence and the conditions under which the equation may hold.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the validity of the equation, noting that the left-hand side is a function of x and does not depend on n, while the right-hand side varies with n.
  • Another participant suggests that the infinite sum could be interpreted as the limit of the finite sum as n approaches infinity, but warns that this requires absolute convergence to maintain validity.
  • It is mentioned that reversing the summation order is valid for finite sums, but caution is advised when extending this to infinite sums due to potential issues with convergence.
  • A participant asserts that the equality holds for finite sums, but challenges the interpretation when considering the infinite case, emphasizing the need for careful treatment of terms involving n.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the validity of the original equation and the implications of taking limits. There is no consensus on whether the equation holds true in the context of infinite sums.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the importance of absolute convergence when discussing the interchange of limits and summation order, indicating that without this condition, the results could vary significantly.

matematikuvol
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Happy new year. All the best.

I have one question. Is it true?
\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}a_kx^k=\sum^n_{k=0}a_{n-k}x^{n-k}
I saw in one book relation
\sum^{\infty}_{k=0}\frac{(2k)!}{2^{2k}(k!)^2}(2xt-t^2)^k=\sum^{n}_{k=0}\frac{(2(n-k))!}{2^{2(n-k)}((n-k)!)^2}(2xt-t^2)^{n-k}
Can you give me some explanation for this step?
 
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hi matematikuvol! :smile:

the RHS is a function of n (ie, it's different for different n), but the LHS isn't …

so that equation can't possibly be correct :redface:

perhaps they mean
\sum^{n}_{k=0}a_kx^k=\sum^n_{k=0}a_{n-k}x^{n-k}
(which obviously is true)
 
Hi matematikuvol,
Hi tiny-tim
I think what is missing in your equations is the term limit.
That is, the infinite sum would be (might be) the limit of the other sum when n goes to infinity.
But in this case, beware that although what tiny-tim says about it being obviously true (you just reverse the summation order) this is not necessarily true anymore when you take the limit.
For it to hold even when n goes to infinity your sum must be absolutely convergent, otherwise changing terms order in interesting ways could lead you to find the limit to be just about anything (0, ∏, whatever)
 
oli4 said:
Hi matematikuvol,
Hi tiny-tim
I think what is missing in your equations is the term limit.
That is, the infinite sum would be (might be) the limit of the other sum when n goes to infinity.
But in this case, beware that although what tiny-tim says about it being obviously true (you just reverse the summation order) this is not necessarily true anymore when you take the limit.
For it to hold even when n goes to infinity your sum must be absolutely convergent, otherwise changing terms order in interesting ways could lead you to find the limit to be just about anything (0, ∏, whatever)


This particular derangement doesn't affect the sum when passing to the limit because \forall n \in \mathbb{N} , \sum_{k=0}^n a_k x^k = \sum_{k=0}^n a_{n-k} x^{n-k}. Thus \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k x^k = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{n-k} x^{n-k}
 
JG89 said:
This particular derangement doesn't affect the sum when passing to the limit because \forall n \in \mathbb{N} , \sum_{k=0}^n a_k x^k = \sum_{k=0}^n a_{n-k} x^{n-k}. Thus \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k x^k = \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_{n-k} x^{n-k}

Your last remark is incorrect, since you are still looking at an n in each term of the infinite sum.
You would need ∞-k, which is meaningless in this context.
 

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