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Today I would like to share another amazing property (convergence) of Digamma Functions. I found this one while playing with some integrals and their series expansion :
For all \(x > 0\)
\[\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \psi(nx+n+1)-\psi(nx+1) = \log \left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right)\]
Proof.
Great work by my friends, Ronak and Pratik.
So, here' my method.
Proof 1
We'll compute the following sum in two different ways \[\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{r=1}^n \frac{1}{nx+r}\]
We can convert the above riemann sum into integral as :
\[\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{r=1}^n \frac{1}{nx+r} = \int_0^1 \frac{dt}{x+t} = \log\left(x+t\right)|_0^1 = \log\left(1+\frac{1}{x}\right)\]
Also, we can compute the above sum by noticing that \[\frac{1}{A} = \int_0^\infty e^{-Ax}\ dx\]
Thus \[\begin{eqnarray} \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{r=1}^n \frac{1}{nx+r} & = & \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{r=1}^n \int_0^\infty e^{-(nx+r)t}\ dt \\ \end{eqnarray}\] Because the integral is independent of the sum, we can interchange the sum and integral as \[\begin{eqnarray} \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{r=1}^n \int_0^\infty e^{-(nx+r)t}\ dt & = & \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \int_0^\infty \sum_{r=1}^n (e^{-t})^{r} e^{-nxt}\ dt \\ \end{eqnarray}\] Setting \(y = e^{-t}\) yields, \[\begin{eqnarray} \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \int_0^\infty \sum_{r=1}^n (e^{-t})^{r} e^{-nxt}\ dt & = & \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \int_0^1 \sum_{r=1}^n y^r\ y^{nx}\ \frac{dy}{y} \\ & = & \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \int_0^1 \frac{y^n-1}{y-1} y^{nx}\ dy \\ & = & \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \int_0^1 \frac{y^{nx+n}-y^{nx}}{y-1}\ dy \\ \end{eqnarray}\] Separate the above sum as \[\begin{eqnarray} \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \int_0^1 \frac{y^{nx+n}-y^{nx}}{y-1}\ dy = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \left( \int_0^1 \frac{y^{nx+n}-1}{y-1}\ dy - \int_0^1 \frac{y^{nx}-1}{y-1}\ dy \right) \\ \end{eqnarray}\] Now, remember that by the definition of digamma function, we have \[\psi(s+1) = -\gamma + \int_0^1 \frac{t^s-1}{t-1}\ dt\]
Thus, we can conclude that \[\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{r=1}^n \frac{1}{nx+r} = \lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \psi(nx+n+1) - \psi(nx+1) = \log\left( 1+\frac{1}{x}\right)\]
Proof 2
My other proof was exactly same as Ronak's, which makes use of recurrence function of digamma function.
Furthermore, I make a conjecture here that the above property holds true for some complex \(x\) too but I'm still working on it's proof. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Kishlaya Jaiswal.
Note by
Kishlaya Jaiswal
2 years, 8 months ago
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Top NewestProof is quite simple (simple properties of digamma functions)
We being with the property :
\(\displaystyle \psi{(y+1)}=\dfrac{1}{y} + \psi{(y)} \)
Put \(y=nx+1\) to get :
\( \displaystyle \psi{(nx+2)}= \dfrac{1}{nx+1} + \psi{(nx+1)} \)
\(\Rightarrow \displaystyle \psi{(nx+3)}= \dfrac{1}{nx+2} + \psi{(nx+2)} \)
Continuing like this we finally have :
\( \displaystyle \psi{(nx+n+1)}= \sum _{ r=1 }^{ n }{ \frac { 1 }{ nx+r } } + \psi{(nx+1)} \)
Finally we have :
\(\displaystyle \sum _{ r=1 }^{ n }{ \frac { 1 }{ nx+r } } = \psi{(nx+n+1)} - \psi{(nx+1)} \)
Now I am using another property converting riemann sum into an integral :
\( \displaystyle \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \frac { 1 }{ n } \sum _{ r=1 }^{ n }{ f\left(\frac { r }{ n } \right) } } = \int _{ 0 }^{ 1 }{ f(x)dx } \)
Using this property we have :
\( \displaystyle \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{\frac { 1 }{ n } \sum _{ r=1 }^{ n }{ \frac { 1 }{ x+\frac { r }{ n } } }} =\int _{ 0 }^{ 1 }{ \frac { dt }{ x+t } } \)
Finally getting :
\( \displaystyle \lim _{ n\rightarrow \infty }{ \psi (nx+n+1)-\psi (nx+1) } =log\left(1+\dfrac { 1 }{ x } \right) \)
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I got to that one till the sum but was very confused on how to get that sum. Nice, that was new to me! I didn't know about that conversion until now. Thanks!
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Shame on me , I was working on it from a totally different perspective .
Short and Sweet solution @Ronak Agarwal
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Here's what I did :
As we know, \(\psi(p+1)=H_{p}-\gamma\).
Also, \(H_{p}=\displaystyle\sum_{r=1}^{p} \dfrac{1}{r}=\displaystyle\int_{0}^{1}\dfrac{x^p-1}{x-1}\mathrm{d}x\).
So making use of the above equalities, our expression becomes \[\begin{align} \psi(nx+n+1)-\psi(nx+1)&=\lim_{n \to \infty}\int_{0}^{1} \dfrac{t^{nx+n}-1}{t-1}\mathrm{d}t-\int_{0}^{1} \dfrac{t^{nx}-1}{t-1}\mathrm{d}t\\ &=\lim_{n \to \infty} \int_{0}^{1}t^{nx-1}\dfrac{t(t^n-1)}{t-1}\mathrm{d}t\\ &=\lim_{n \to \infty}\int_{0}^{1}t^{nx-1}\sum_{r=1}^{n}t^r \mathrm{d}t\\ &= \lim_{n \to \infty}\sum_{r=1}^{n}\int_{0}^{1}t^{nx+r-1}\mathrm{d}t\\ &=\lim_{n \to \infty}\sum_{r=1}^{n}\dfrac{1}{nx+r}\\ &=\lim_{n \to \infty}\dfrac{1}{n}\sum_{r=1}^{n}\dfrac{1}{x+r/n}\\ &=\int_{0}^{1} \dfrac{1}{x+y} \mathrm{d}y\\ &=\log(1+x)-\log(x)\\ &=\boxed{\log\left(1+\dfrac{1}{x}\right)}\end{align}\]
NOTE : \(H_p\) is the \(p^{\text{th}}\) harmonic number.
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Hi Pratik , what's with you changing your profile pic . Don't like Federer anymore ?
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I'd never stop liking Federer :) I changed it just like that :P
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:)
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Ok, done! I've added my proof also.
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It must be applicable to complex numbers as well since the property of digamma function I used in the proof holds for complex numbers as well( you can always add 1 to complex number as well and hence create the summation)
Also when I converted riemann sum(right) into an integral the evaluation of that integral is governed by fundamental theorom of calculus and since the anti-derivative I calculated holds for complex numbers as well hence I believe your result is justified for complex numbers as well.
But since I am not being rigourous hence I may not be sure( If I am missing something)
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Is someone trying this problem, or should I post the proof?
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I am trying this.
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Sorry , I couldn't solve it past my initial efforts despite your Hint . BTW Wait for some hours, I'll reshare this note again ,I guess not many people have seen this note .
Looking forward to your proof \(\ddot\smile\)
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ok, as you say. And thanks for resharing it.
Therefore, I guess, I'll post the proof within next 12 hours. \(:)\). Will that be fine?
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Your Wish . Actually the next time I'm on Brilliant will be at night, so I guess it's fine by me \(\ddot\smile\)
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Nice observation skills , Kishlaya Jaiswal :)
We know that \( \psi (z+1) = F(x)\)
So using it , \[\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \psi(nx+n+1)-\psi(nx+1) \\= F(nx + n) - F(nx) \\= \frac{d}{dx} ( ln((nx+n)!)) - \frac{d}{dx} (ln((nx)!)) = \frac{d}{dx} ln (\dfrac{(nx+n)!}{(nx)!}) \]
Where \( \psi(x)\) is the Digamma Function and \(F(x)\) is the logarithmic derivative of the Factorial function defined as \(\dfrac{d}{dx} ln(x!)\)
Any help on how to proceed next ?
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ok, here's another hint for you : try computing the sum of following series in two different ways.
\[\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \sum_{r=0}^n \frac{1}{nx+r}\]
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I too got till this one except I think it should start from \(r=1\). But I am still unable to solve the sum.
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Ok, I'll try using your hint . Thanks
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As usual , your methods are the best :) Thanks and btw I realized the error in my calculations but yours and Pratik's methods are the best . I had tried Pratik's method just before I used the one that I posted . That one seemed to be so close to the final result that I proceeded with it . Can you please check if a proof using it is possible ? Personally, with my limited knowledge I don't think it's possible , but I just can't help stating that it looks quite similar to the final answer .
Thanks for the same :)
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