What is sum_(k=0)^(4n+2)1/(k+1)+1/(k+3)4n+2k=01k+1+1k+3 ?

1 Answer
Jun 20, 2018

S=2H_(4n+3)+1/(4n+4)+1/(4n+5)-3/2S=2H4n+3+14n+4+14n+532

Explanation:

We seek a way to evaluate the sum

S=sum_(k=0)^m(1/(k+1)+1/(k+3))S=mk=0(1k+1+1k+3)

Note:

  • The substitution color(red)(m=4n+2m=4n+2, is made for simplicity

Definition:

The nn-th harmonic number H_nHn is a number on the form

color(blue)(H_n=sum_(k=1)^(n)1/kHn=nk=11k

Our goal will be to express the original sum in terms of a harmonic number.

It may seems strange to express the original sum, by another sum. But, you may think of the harmonic numbers, similar to the factorial, in the way evaluate them.

Express the sum in terms of a harmonic number:

Using some basic summation identities

S=sum_(k=0)^m1/(k+1)+sum_(k=0)^m1/(k+3)S=mk=01k+1+mk=01k+3

color(white)(S)=sum_(k=1)^(m+1)1/k+sum_(k=3)^(m+3)1/kS=m+1k=11k+m+3k=31k

color(white)(S)=sum_(k=1)^(m+1)1/k+sum_(k=1)^(m+3)1/k-3/2S=m+1k=11k+m+3k=11k32

color(white)(S)=2sum_(k=1)^(m+1)1/k+1/(m+2)+1/(m+3)-3/2S=2m+1k=11k+1m+2+1m+332

Or in terms of a harmonic number

S=2H_(m+1)+1/(m+2)+1/(m+3)-3/2S=2Hm+1+1m+2+1m+332

For your problem you may substitute back color(red)(m=4n+2m=4n+2

S=2H_(4n+3)+1/(4n+4)+1/(4n+5)-3/2S=2H4n+3+14n+4+14n+532

Bonus info

A fairly reasonable approximation of a harmonic number is

H_n~~ln(n)-gammaHnln(n)γ

The drawing at the upper right hand corner illustrates this quite well