A question

Forum for the GRE subject test in mathematics.
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Nameless
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Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:42 pm

A question

Post by Nameless » Wed May 27, 2009 5:16 pm

Let F(x)=Sum(n=1-->infinity)[ {x^(n-1)}/{n^(2)*(1+x^(n))} ]
find Integral (x=0-->1)[F(x)dx]?

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lime
Posts: 129
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:11 am

Re: A question from Gre Sub exam

Post by lime » Thu May 28, 2009 2:43 am

I got very strange answer:

= int(sum) = sum(int) = sum(int(d(1+x^n)/{n^3*(1+x^n)})) = sum((1/n)*log(1+x^n)|{from 0 to 1}) =
= log2*sum(1/n^3) = log2 * zeta(3),

where zeta(3) - Apéry's_constant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apéry's_constant

qwertyGuy
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2009 1:07 am

Re: A question from Gre Sub exam

Post by qwertyGuy » Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:18 am

i would think that the answer would not be finite, since the integral of each of individual terms is infinite. however, i am not sure about being able to exchange sum and the integral here though.

> int(x^(n-1)/(1-x^n), x = 0 .. 1);

infinity
---------
signum(n)

mag487
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Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:59 am

Re: A question from Gre Sub exam

Post by mag487 » Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:00 pm

Well, |x^(n-1)/(1 + x^n)| < 1 for all x on [0, 1], so |1/n^2 * x^(n-1)/(1 + x^n)| < 1/n^2 on [0, 1]. Since 1/1^2 + 1/2^2 + 1/3^2 + ... converges to zeta(2), the series x^n/[n^2(1 + x^n)] is uniformly convergent by the Weierstrass M-test and so the sum and limit operators should commute.

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lime
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Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:11 am

Re: A question from Gre Sub exam

Post by lime » Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:22 am

Forget about it. Original problem sounded a little bit different and had more decent solution. But we will not discuss it here to prevent breaking the ETS policy.



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