Find : $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\arctan \frac{2x^2}{n^2}.$$ Where $x\in \mathbb{R}$.
2 Answers
$\qquad\quad$ There is indeed a very beautiful closed form expression for this series, in terms of
$$k\pi+\dfrac\pi2-\arctan\bigg(\dfrac{\tan\pi x+\tanh\pi x}{\tan\pi x-\tanh\pi x}\bigg)$$
where k is $0$ on the interval $(0,A_0),~1$ on the interval $(A_0,A_1),~2$ on the interval $(A_1,A_2),~$ etc. where $A_k>0$ are the roots of the transcendental equation $\tan\pi x=\tanh\pi x$. The entire graphic is symmetrical with regards to the vertical axis Oy, since the series is even. Also, $A_k\simeq k+\frac54$.
- 48,334
- 2
- 83
- 154
-
The case $2x^2=1$ corresponds to Wilf's constant, mentioned here. – Lucian Oct 03 '14 at 01:18
-
Is it possible to provide/source a proof of that result? – Semiclassical Oct 06 '14 at 16:22
-
@Semiclassical: See Achille Hui's comment on this related question. – Lucian Oct 06 '14 at 16:25
-
That's where I came from, actually. But I still feel like it'd help the answer here to fill that in... – Semiclassical Oct 06 '14 at 16:27
-
@Semiclassical: I agree. :-$)$ Unfortunately, however, I am not the one to have come up with that particular explanation. My approach was based on a combination of high-precision, computer-aided numerical computations, OEIS, ISC, MathWorld articles, and a bit of reverse engineering. – Lucian Oct 06 '14 at 16:41
Hint: Use the Taylor series of $\arctan$ to obtain $$ \sum_{n=1}^\infty \arctan \frac{t}{n^2} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \sum_{m=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^m (t/n^2)^{2m+1}}{2m+1} = \sum_{m=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^m}{2m+1} t^{2m+1} \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{1}{n^{4m+2}} = \sum_{m=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^m \zeta(4m+2)}{2m+1} t^{2m+1} = \sum_{m=0}^\infty \frac{B_{4m+2}(2\pi)^{4m+2}}{(4m+2)(4m+2)!} t^{2m+1}. $$ (I don't know if that actually leads to Lucian's formula, though...)
- 57,157
-
-
The next step would be to relate the final expression to the series $t/(e^t-1)$, though you would have to cancel somehow the terms $B_{4m}$ (which I don't see how), and to take care of the denominator (which is doable). Perhaps you can throw in some effort as well? – Yuval Filmus Oct 03 '14 at 01:08