Fractional Sums and Euler-like Identities

Mathematics – Classical Analysis and ODEs

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

19 pages; inserted a more interesting example of a limit identity

Scientific paper

We introduce a natural definition for sums of the form \[ \sum_{\nu=1}^x f(\nu) \] when the number of terms x is a rather arbitrary real or even complex number. The resulting theory includes the known interpolation of the factorial by the gamma function or Euler's little-known formula \sum_{\nu=1}^{-1/2} \frac 1\nu = -2\ln 2. Many classical identities like the geometric series and the binomial theorem nicely extend to this more general setting. Sums with a fractional number of terms are closely related to special functions, in particular the Riemann and Hurwitz zeta functions. A number of results about fractional sums can be interpreted as classical infinite sums or products or as limits, including identities like \[ \lim_{n\to\infty}[ e^{\frac n 4(4n+1)}n^{-\frac 1 8 - n(n+1)}(2\pi)^{-\frac n 2} \prod_{k=1}^{2n} \Gamma(1+\frac k 2)^{k(-1)^k} ] = \sqrt[12]{2} \exp({5/24} - \frac 3 2 \zeta'(-1) -\frac{7\zeta(3)}{16\pi^2}) \] some of which seem to be new.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Fractional Sums and Euler-like Identities does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Fractional Sums and Euler-like Identities, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fractional Sums and Euler-like Identities will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-436999

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.