May I know the answer for this with respect to

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of the series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(\frac{t}{2n}-\arctan(\frac{2t}{4n+1}))\) with respect to the variable \(t\). Participants explore various methods for analyzing the series, including series expansion, convergence considerations, and potential connections to special functions.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests expanding the series into two separate sums, noting that the first term diverges unless \(t=0\).
  • Another participant counters that the difference of two divergent series may also be divergent, providing an example to illustrate this point.
  • A different participant proposes finding a function whose derivative or integral corresponds to the series terms and suggests using power series manipulations.
  • One participant presents a series expansion result involving the Psi function, indicating that the series might be expressible in terms of this function and suggesting that it may provide a reasonable approximation.
  • Another participant mentions that the series is related to the Riemann-Siegel Theta function and asserts that it should converge, providing a specific integral representation to support this claim.
  • There is a repeated emphasis on the convergence of the original series, with some participants expressing confidence in its convergence while others remain cautious about the convergence issues.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the convergence of the series and the validity of various methods for evaluating it. There is no consensus on a definitive approach or conclusion regarding the series evaluation.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the limitations of their approaches, particularly regarding the assumptions made about convergence and the handling of divergent series. The discussion reflects a range of mathematical techniques and perspectives without resolving the underlying uncertainties.

dimension10
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May I know the answer for this with respect to t:

[tex]\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(\frac{t}{2n}-\arctan(\frac{2t}{4n+1}))[/tex]

Thanks in advance.
 
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Can I just expand the series as:
[tex] \frac{t}{2}\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n}-\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\tan^{-1}\frac{2t}{4n+1}[/tex]
and the first term is infinite unless t=0.
 


hunt_mat said:
Can I just expand the series as:
[tex] \frac{t}{2}\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{n}-\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\tan^{-1}\frac{2t}{4n+1}[/tex]
and the first term is infinite unless t=0.

No, that won't work. A difference of two divergent series may be divergent. A simple example is

[tex]\sum_{n=1}^{+\infty}{\frac{1}{n}-\frac{1}{n}}[/tex]

I can show that the series of the OP converges using the integral test. But it seems that the OP wants the exact value of the series. I have no clue how to calculate that...
 


I have an idea, but I don't know where to go with it yet; try finding an expression whose derivative or integral is t/2n - arctan(2t/(4n+1)) and make that a function of t, and try to solve with power series manipulations.
 


micromass said:
No, that won't work. A difference of two divergent series may be divergent. A simple example is

There is no such thing as a difference between two divergent series. (sum 1/n) - (sum 1/n) and sum (1/n -1/n) are two very different things (the first one does not make sense at all).

The equivalence (sum a_n) + (sum b_n) = sum (a_n+b_n) is true (and makes sense) if and only if the sums exists (that is, converges).
 


Using a calculator, I got infinity
 


Writing t/(2n)-arctan(2*t/(4n+1)) as a series in t and then summing each coefficient as a series in n (in Maple) gives
(2-3/2*ln(2)-1/4*Pi)*t-1/48*Psi(2,5/4)*t^3+1/3840*Psi(4,5/4)*t^5-1/645120*Psi(6,5/4)*t^7+1/185794560*Psi(8,5/4)*t^9+O(t^11)
Psi(n,x) is the nth derivative of Psi(x), so it seems possible that the series may be expressible in terms of Psi(x). At least, this method might give you a reasonable approximation to the original series. I haven't thought carefully about the convergence issues, but I believe the original series does converge.
 


Donsig said:
Writing t/(2n)-arctan(2*t/(4n+1)) as a series in t and then summing each coefficient as a series in n (in Maple) gives
(2-3/2*ln(2)-1/4*Pi)*t-1/48*Psi(2,5/4)*t^3+1/3840*Psi(4,5/4)*t^5-1/645120*Psi(6,5/4)*t^7+1/185794560*Psi(8,5/4)*t^9+O(t^11)
Psi(n,x) is the nth derivative of Psi(x), so it seems possible that the series may be expressible in terms of Psi(x). At least, this method might give you a reasonable approximation to the original series. I haven't thought carefully about the convergence issues, but I believe the original series does converge.

t is a constant.

Anyway, I realized it should converge. It is related to the Riemann-Siegel Theta function.

[tex]\theta (t) = - \frac{t\, \gamma + t\;\mbox{ln}\: \pi}{2}-\arctan 2t + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(\frac{t}{2n}-\arctan\frac{2t}{4n+1})[/tex]

and this theta function does converge, at least when the Z-function is concerned.
 


dimension10 said:
t is a constant.

Anyway, I realized it should converge. It is related to the Riemann-Siegel Theta function.

[tex]\theta (t) = - \frac{t\, \gamma + t\;\mbox{ln}\: \pi}{2}-\arctan 2t + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}(\frac{t}{2n}-\arctan\frac{2t}{4n+1})[/tex]

and this theta function does converge, at least when the Z-function is concerned.

Put

[tex]\arctan\frac{2t}{4n+1} = \int_0^t \frac{2(4n+1)}{(4n+1)^2+4x^2}dx[/tex]

and interchanging the sum and integral and using Mathematica gives

[tex]\int_0^t \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{2n} -\frac{2(4n+1)}{(4n+1)^2+4x^2} dx<br /> = \frac{\gamma t}{2} + \frac{1}{2i}(\log\Gamma(5/4+it/2)-\log\Gamma(5/4-it/2))[/tex]

It should be possible to put the solution in real form, for example with the right integral representation of log(Gamma).
 

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